Media by Melissa

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Media by Melissa

Social Media Manager & Content Creator
🪄Tailored Solutions for Social Success.

12/19/2024

We’re in the final countdown: Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are all next week!

Keep it simple and clear — your audience is busy, so meet them where they’re at.

Try posts like:

🎁A quick clip of you or your team packing orders.
🎁A post highlighting gift certificates as a great last-minute option
🎁Stories reminding your followers of order deadlines or pick-up times

Remember, posts don’t have to be complicated or grand in order to make an impact.

12/10/2024

I’d rather be curled up under a cosy blanket watching Christmas movies and ignoring my endless to-do list.

The days are flying by but somehow dragging too, and my creativity feels like it’s in hibernation. If you’re feeling the same, know you’re not alone.

This isn’t the time to reinvent the wheel. Use the content you already have. Revisit old posts, tweak them, and let them do the heavy lifting.

What’s helping you keep it together during this busy season?

12/05/2024

As the year wraps up, here’s a friendly reminder:

You don’t need to:
❌ Stress about the algorithm (it will always change—don’t let it dictate your peace).
❌ Master every new feature or trend.
❌ Have a perfectly planned content strategy for January 1.

You do deserve to:
✔️ Celebrate how far you’ve come this year.
✔️ Rest without guilt (seriously, social media will still be here when you get back).
✔️ Focus on honest storytelling instead of chasing trends.

Social media can feel overwhelming, but here’s the truth: consistency beats perfection, authenticity beats trends, and your business is so much more than any platform’s rules.

Take a breath, reflect on your wins, and step into the new year with your priorities in focus. You’ve got this.

12/02/2024

December is here, and with it comes the hustle and bustle of the season. As small business owners, we’re juggling holiday promotions, year-end planning, and everything else that comes with running a business—while still trying to soak in the magic of the season.

I’ve put together a calendar of December dates to inspire your content, but more than anything, I hope you take a moment to breathe. Whether it’s a quiet cup of coffee, a long walk, or a day to unplug, find pockets of peace and rest. You deserve it.

Here’s to a December that’s as calm as it is productive—because we all know how rare that balance can feel. 💻🎄✨

11/21/2024

The holiday season is here, and let’s be honest—juggling work, holiday plans, and a never-ending to-do list feels like a full-time job on its own.

This year, I’m determined to work smarter, not harder. That means:

🎯 Prioritizing tasks that actually move the needle.
📆 Planning out my content ahead of time (hello, scheduling tools).
✨ Saying no to anything that doesn’t align with my goals (or my sanity).

If you’re in the same boat, remember: You don’t have to do all the things. Focus on what matters, and give yourself some grace—it’s okay to take shortcuts if it means staying sane! How are YOU staying on top of things this season? 👇 Drop your tips below—I need them!

11/12/2024

Feeling like you’re constantly playing catch-up on social media? You’re not alone. The landscape keeps shifting—what worked in 2023 may not fly today, and by 2025, it’ll be different yet again. 😮‍💨

Don’t give up. Instead,

✅ Stay curious: Explore new features as soon as they launch. Early adopters often see a boost!
✅ Watch analytics: Pay attention to what resonates with your audience. If videos or polls are hitting, lean into those.
✅ Engage and learn: Your audience’s feedback is key. Use it to shape content that truly connects.

Social media rewards those who can adapt and experiment. Take breaks if you need to but don’t throw in the towel. Every shift is a new opportunity.

11/07/2024

Black Friday is huge for big box stores, but small businesses play by different rules.

Whether you’re joining in or opting out, here are ideas and insights to help you decide what’s right for you and your business.

11/04/2024

One of the things I love about the last 2 months of the year is that there’s no shortage of content!

What with the holidays fast approaching, a new season, preparing for a new year, I’m sure you won’t have trouble coming up with ideas.

But just in case, here’s a friendly reminder for what’s coming up this month. 🫶🏻

10/31/2024

Proof that not even Death can escape the social media grind. 🫠 😂

10/29/2024

Tapping into the emotional side of your audience’s journey is a way to connect through shared experiences. It builds trust and shows your clients you truly understand their needs.

By framing your solution with a relatable story, you make your message more memorable and authentic, turning followers into loyal supporters. This is more than selling—it’s building a community around your brand.

Stories peak our curiosity.
Stories entertain.
Stories educate.
Stories help us relate to each other.

Stories work because connection creates a lasting impact.

10/24/2024

The algorithm isn’t out to get you, but it does favour certain habits.

I think what frustrates people is that the algorithm changes. There’s a reason why universities don’t offer courses on “Beating the IG Algorithm”, or why you won’t find a definitive book on the subject: social media moves too quickly.

Should you try to understand how it works? Of course. Will you ever master it completely? Probably not.

Don’t let the idea of an almighty Algorithm stop you from making the type of content you want to make, for the people you want to make it for. The funny thing is, when you do that, suddenly the algorithm starts “working”…

10/15/2024

Ask me how I can spot ChatGPT.

Delve.
Dive.
Explore.
Unleash.
Unlock.

Some words have become dead giveaways.

Also an extremely peppy tone with lots of 🚀💫🌟

Now maybe I’m a little more sensitive to it because I’m very familiar with it and I read a lot of copy on socials.

But even if that’s true it won’t be long before everyone will have ChatGPT radar.

I think ChatGPT is great for getting started, for getting ideas, for improving a piece of writing… but simply copying and pasting a caption whipped up for you lacks any personality, any —excuse the buzzword — authenticity.

You, your personality, and your business are unique, and that should come through in your content.

Do you use ChatGPT?

10/10/2024

Since May my posts haven’t been doing very well — in comparison to my posts before that anyway.

I’m not gonna lie, it bugs me.

The tried-and-tested content I’ve come to rely on just isn’t getting the same amount of engagement…likes, saves, shares, comments…you name it, it’s gone down.

I’m trying new formats, trying to change things up to see if I can get the momentum going again, but so far I haven’t had much luck.

There’s a part of me that wants to stress and worry and ask myself why I’m a social media manager if I can’t even do it for myself.

Thankfully, it’s a very *small* part of me.

The other, bigger part of me is thinking, “This isn’t something I’m willing to lose precious sleep over.”

Social media is constantly evolving and it *never* sleeps. There’s simply no way we can keep up, all the time. Luckily, for many of us, our businesses won’t combust if we’re not killing it on socials.

Remember that social media platforms are a business. Their goal is to keep us there as much as possible. I refuse to let them profit from my insecurities and stress.

🧠💗Mental health tips:
Set boundaries by scheduling dedicated ‘offline’ time. Don’t answer DMs after business hours. Use scheduling tools to batch your content in advance, so you can step away from social media without feeling constantly tethered to your phone.

Mental health matters. 🫶🏻

10/08/2024

Last week I asked you to answer a few polls in my Stories, and you delivered! 💌

Content creation ideas were the top struggle based on your poll responses, so I’ve crafted 20 ideas to help you overcome that hurdle.

Whether you’re looking for fresh inspiration or a new direction, I hope these tips will kickstart your creativity.

💾 Save these for later when you’re ready to create some content!

10/01/2024

There’s nothing worse than trying to plan your content for the month ahead and your mind is simply… blank. 💭

While I do recommend looking at the month as a whole and aligning your content with your business goals, sometimes that can feel overwhelming.

When that happens a good place to start is by looking at the holidays, observances and highlights of the month.

✍️Which should you include in your calendar?
✍️How do they align with your business?
✍️Is there a way you can post about them while at the same time connecting it to your business?
✍️Are any of them a fun and easy way to generate engagement with your audience?

Don’t worry about creating content just yet. Now is the time to jot down ideas and brainstorm.

Do you find it difficult to create a monthly content calendar?

09/24/2024

How do you grab your audience’s attention and keep them hooked?

That’s where edu-tainment comes in—teaching something useful while keeping it fun.

Whether it’s through humour, storytelling, or quick how-tos, mixing education with entertainment is a powerful way to stand out.

Have you seen any fun, educational posts lately? Is there a creator you love to watch for their edu-tainment? Let me know in the comments or tag a friend who would love this strategy!

09/16/2024

I work from home.

It’s awesome, but it means I’m not getting in as much walking as someone who has a job away from home.

I knew I *wanted* to make time for walks, I knew I *needed* to make time for walks, but I didn’t know how.

First, I thought about what was stopping me: finding time, hot weather (hello California 🥴).

I didn’t want to take time after taking the kids to school because 9am - 12pm is when I do my best work, plus the temperature is often already too high for my liking by then.

I didn’t want to take time in the evenings because dinner, homework, lunches, nighttime routine, take up most of my time.

When I searched my schedule for free time, I realized I had 45 minutes between dropping off the younger kids and the eldest at school.

Perfect! The temperature isn’t too bad (even during a heatwave!) and it’s the same routine, 5 days a week. I drop off, come home, grab my AirPods and hat, and go for a 30 minute walk around the lake. I come home, drink water, check my phone for emails or messages, and then it’s time to take the oldest to school.

I now walk 5 mornings a week because it’s baked into my routine, because it ticks off all of my “must haves” (or “must not have”), and because it’s realistic *for me*.

This is how you need to approach content creation.

Come up with a plan, something that will realistically work for you, something that will be sustainable long term.

Do you habit stack?

09/09/2024

Do you know how to read the feedback on your content?

Not all engagement is created equal, according to the algorithm.

A quick tap to “like” a post is not “worth” as much as a save, for example.

The more people engage with your content, i.e. the more time they spend with it, the more the algorithm will get the message, “Hey! This is valuable content! You should show it to more people!”

Right now sharing content is a key signal to the algorithm.

Personally, I’m not thrilled about this because I tend to share silly reels or funny quotes. I won’t necessarily share educational content or a beautiful photo I’ve come across.

I understand that social media platforms are businesses and that their goal is to keep people on their apps as long as possible. They want quality content, much like Netflix wants to offer top tier movies and TV series to keep people coming back.

But much of the content on social media apps is created by your average person, not professional creatives who do this for a living. Most business owners simply want their business to be seen/heard.

Perhaps the algorithm bar has been set too high. What do you think?

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Napa, CA

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http://www.mediabymelissa.com/

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Videos

Content creation doesn’t take a holiday. Either I’m planning ahead and creating in advance to carve out time off, or I’m working as I go—but one way or another, it has to get done. Then there’s double-checking that posts went live, monitoring comments, making sure everything is running smoothly. But here’s the beauty of what I do: this job lets me work whenever I want—whether that’s 9 a.m. or 9 p.m.—and gives me the flexibility to pick my kids up from school, take them to appointments, show up for school events, and take care of myself, anything from workouts to massages. It’s not a traditional 9-to-5, and that comes with its own challenges, but the freedom it gives me to be present for my family and work on my own terms is something I’m so grateful for. To all the hustlers who never really clock out—especially during the holidays—I see you. You’re doing amazing, and I hope you find a moment to pause and enjoy the season. #paintingtherosesred #aliceinwonderland #socialmediatrends #trendingaudio #socialmediamanager #contentcreator #freelancelife

I don’t know any social media manager or content creator who actually looks forward to an update from Adam Mosseri, the CEO of Instagram. But introducing a new feature 2 weeks before Christmas seems especially not cool. #lifeofasocialmediamanager #socialmediamanagerlife #instagramupdate #newfeature #socialmediaforbusiness #therock #kevinhart

As a small business, you don’t need to offer everything to everyone. Your social media presence should reflect who you are and who you’re here to serve. True connection happens when you embrace your brand’s unique voice. Focus on reaching your ideal audience—they’re the ones who will truly value what you offer. #SocialMediaManager #CaliforniaBusiness #SmallBusinessMarketing #CaliforniaSocialMedia #SocialMediaTips #MarketingMadeSimple #DigitalMarketingExpert #SocialStrategy #AuthenticBranding #SmallBizTips #GrowYourBrand #CaliforniaEntrepreneur #ContentThatConnects #BrandVoice

Behind every great post is a patient husband! 😆 #contentcreatorlife #contentcreation #socialmediamanagerlife #socialmediashenanigans

Sharing my post to my Stories thinking I was doing something? Guilty. 🙋🏻‍♀️ But let’s be real, how often do you tap forward in someone’s Stories when they share a post without any context or explanation? Probably a lot. Or maybe you’ve already seen the post. Why would you tap on it? Why *wouldn’t* you tap forward to the next Story? Put Stories to work for you. Use it to boost engagement and connect with your audience. It’s a great place to be a little more informal, a little more relaxed, and share behind the scenes or thoughts you’d like to add about your post. Stories can be a goldmine! You just need to know where to dig. ⛏️💎 #contentcreationtips #socialmediatipsforbusiness #socialmediamarketing #socialmediaforbusiness #socialmediatips #socialmediamanager #instagramtipsforbusiness #instagramstories

When you spend 2 hours crafting the *perfect* reel, only to get 10 likes… but the one you threw together in 5 minutes goes viral! 😒😄 It’s a mystery we all face as content creators—sometimes the simplest, most spontaneous posts get the most love. My takeaway? Don’t overthink it! Genuine, unfiltered content often resonates just as much (if not more) than polished, time-consuming creations. So, keep experimenting and remember, you never know which post will be a hit! 🎯 #contentcreation #contentcreationtips #contenttips #socialmediatips #reeltips #socialmediamanager #contentcreator #socialmediaforbusiness #socialmediabusiness #businessowners #smallbusinessowners

This is why it’s so helpful to have a team when you’re making reels! 😂 I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve asked my kids and my hubby for help with a reel! Do you always make your reels alone, or do you make *ahem* ask someone for help? #contentcreator #reels #makingreels #socialmediamanager #igetbywithalittlehelpfrommyfriends

Does it feel like you’re posting into a huge void? Like no one is listening? People may not be commenting. People may not be sharing. People may not even be liking. But they’re watching and listening. Don’t forget that you’re creating content for your specific audience. Stay the course. You’ve got this! #socialmediatips #socialmediaforbusiness #targetaudience #contentcreationtips #consistencymatters #encouragement #findingnemo

This week we celebrated our 1 year Cali-versary. A year ago we packed up our life in Montreal, Canada and moved to California for hubby’s job in Napa. Not pictured: the hard work it took to get here; the tears and frustration of starting over somewhere new and all that goes with that; the patience to take it one day at a time. In some ways it feels like we just arrived, and in others it already feels like home. I’ve learned I can do hard things My hubby is my home Take each day as it comes I’m grateful for this adventure. #movingtocalifornia #californialiving #discoveringcalifornia

When I was new to social media I would look at other people’s grids and think mine had to look like that too. I’d look at other people’s reels and carousels and wonder how I could get mine more like that. It’s an awful feeling not knowing what you should be doing, but it seems like everyone else does. (Hello imposter syndrome!) It was only when I sat back and asked myself what I *wanted* to create, what I *wanted* to share with the world, that I finally found peace on socials. Just as your business and the story behind your business is unique, so too is your social media presence. We’re not going to look the same, we’re not going to have the same vibe — and that’s a good thing! I truly believe the people who are meant to find you will find you… as long as you remain true to yourself. #be you #businessvalues #businessownerlife #socialmediapresence #socialmediatipsforbusiness

Ok, ok, so maaaaybe not 24/7… When your job IS social media, it can be hard to disconnect — especially if you scroll on socials to unwind. Some ways I disconnect: 🔌 Walk 🔌 Work out 🔌 Puzzles 🔌 Board games 🔌 Reading before bed (devices put away for the night) 🔌 Play piano Do you have to consciously disconnect from socials or does it come naturally to you? How do you disconnect?? #socialmediamanager #socialmediaaddict #socialmediahumor #thedevilwearsprada

Who can relate?? 🙋🏻‍♀️😂 After I’ve finished a reel I have dozens upon dozens of video snippets that didn’t make the cut for one reason or another. The longer the reel, the more outtakes I’ll have. 😅 Does your phone photo storage look like mine after you film a reel? My fellow SMMs, I know you do!! 😆 #socialmediamanagerlife #iykyk #socialmediamanager #haveyoueverbeeninlove