Whether or not what you’re doing right now is ‘right,’ it’s getting you closer.
And it will be a hell of an inspiration story to tell.
Cyndi
#storytellingmarketing #contentwriting #freelancingfemales #shareyourstory #contentmarketing101 #perspectivequotes #contentdevelopment #marketingforcreatives
Your audience is both.
Our role is educator and encourager.
Validate their struggles. Tackle shared common enemies:
—Anxiety
—Perfectionism
—Imposter syndrome
Validate their dreams:
—Paint a picture of success
—What does the good life look like?
Educate with the skills to succeed:
—Lead by example
—Teach through you story
The world needs more empathetic leaders.
Light the way through your content.
Happy Storytelling!
Cyndi
#storytellingmarketing #storytellingforbusiness #marketingforcreatives #freelancingfemales #freelancecopywriter #freelancewriter #femaleentrepreneur #femaleentrepreneurship #copywritersofinstagram #marketingtools #contentmarketing #copywritingforbusiness #onlinebusiness #femalefounders #contentdevelopment #contenttips #contentwriting #contentmarketing101 #onlinepresence #onlinebusinessowners #storytellingcontent
The growth metric IG insights won’t tell you.
Whether or not a post performed well doesn’t matter as much as the insights you’ll gain from reflecting on it.
Sometimes we have to acknowledge the words didn’t land, and question how it can be improved upon. Iteration is an underrated skill.
This is not to be confused with overthinking whether it’s good enough.
It’s about the practice of getting better at expressing your ideas.
It’s about taking a beat to refine the message that’s always on the tip of your tongue but never quite translates to the page.
Happy Creating!
Cyndi
#storytellingmarketing #storytellingforbusiness #marketingforcreatives #freelancingfemales #freelancecopywriter #freelancewriter #femaleentrepreneur #femaleentrepreneurship #copywritersofinstagram #marketingtools #contentmarketing #copywritingforbusiness #onlinebusiness #femalefounders #contentdevelopment #contenttips #contentwriting #contentmarketing101 #onlinepresence #onlinebusinessowners #storytellingcontent
What’s the opposite of crickets? 🦗
According to Harvard this is the way to grab and keep your audience’s attention so they follow through on the action you want them to take.
Save it for your next content creation session 📝
Happy Creating!
Cyndi
#engagingcontent #contentdevelopment #instagramengagement #contentmarketingtips #contentwritingtips
Better content starts here 📆🖋️
You don’t need to start from scratch when it comes to creating content!
Imagine making the most out of the content you already have, allowing yourself to indulge in some much-needed downtime this summer.
Picture yourself basking in the warm sun, while your content works tirelessly for you in the background. ✨
Sounds like a dream, right?
Well, here’s the thing. It’s not just a dream; it’s a reality. And it’s all thanks to the exact model I teach my members inside Content Crafters!
Yes, I’m talking about the ACE method – a game-changing approach to maximizing your existing content effortlessly.
With just three simple steps, you can transform your content into a goldmine of endless content ideas.
🖋️A - Adjust
🖋️C - Combine
🖋️E - Expand
By the way…
Content Crafter members just got an entire workshop and worksheet on how to audit their Instagram for Q3 using the ACE model and they are celebrating with consistency and landing new clients 🥳
If you’re looking to balance strategy with creativity, join us inside the Content Crafters Membership. $35 a month for pre-planned, creative inspiration, practical know-how to get results, and a community that supports you back.
But if you’re more of a go-it-alone type of marketer, respect. Save this post for later to repurpose like the pros.
Happy Creating!
Cyndi
#engagingcontent #contentcreationtips #contentmarketingtips #instagramgrowthtips #contentideas #instagramcontent #contentdevelopment #instagrammarketingtips #instagramengagement #contentmarketing101 #contentwriting #instagramstrategy #instagrammarketingstrategy #socialmediamarketingstrategy #instagramgrowthstrategy #instagramcontentstrategy #contentstrategy #contentmarketingstrategy #contentstrategytips #contentcreationstrategy #contentwritingstrategy #socialmediacontent #socialmediahelp #searchenginemarketing #contentmarketingagency #igstrategy #contentcreationideas #marketingconte
Are you a fan of the hustle? 🥵
I am. 🙋🏼♀️
Right now I’m working 14 hour days on a project that so near and dear to my heart that it doesn’t matter.
It’s worth sitting alone with my notebook on a sunny Friday when my friends wanna grab tea and hang out.
It’s worth the sacrifice now.
But it’s not worth it forever.
Content creation will always be the monster under the bed until you learn how to prioritize. The sacrifices you make in times of hustle should paying off during times of rest.
Whether you’re in full creator mode like me, or are looking to get out and enjoy the weather, here are six content ideas you can create in less than five minutes to show up and serve well even when it’s hard.
💡 Rewrite the headline of your top-performing post and re-share it.
💡 Text-based posts: Write a quick post sharing your thoughts, opinions, or tips related to your industry or niche.
💡 Google the latest news and trends in your industry or niche and offer your insights or analysis on how it may impact your audience.
💡 “What’s on my desk?”: Share a story of your workspace and describe the items on your desk that help you stay productive or inspired.
💡 Resource roundup: Share a post or video listing your favorite resources, such as books, podcasts, or tools.
💡 If you’re not sure what content you should be committing yourself to move the needle and grow something you are proud to post, swipe the Content Strategy Starter Kit ➡️ @ascent_storycraft
Happy Creating!
Cyndi
#soloprenuer #contentideas #contentmarketingideas #ideasforcontent #onlinemarketingstrategies #instagrammarketingguide #instagramstrategy #instagrammarketingstrategy #instagramgrowthstrategy #instagramcontentstrategy #contentstrategy #contentmarketingstrategy #contentstrategytips #contentcreationstrategy #socialmediastrategist #socialmediamarketer #socialmediacontent #socialmediahelp #igstrategy #contentcreationideas #marketingcontent #content
You 💯% CAN do storytelling in your marketing! 🖋️ 💪
“My brand story is boring”
OR
“I don’t have a story”
Are two sticking points most business owners talk to me about when it comes to using storytelling in their Instagram or content marketing.
But here’s the thing… If you desire to inspire through your brand, fostering a community of engaged readers is a must.
Brand storytelling will get you there faster.
If you’re new to brand storytelling, the HSO copywriting formula is a great place to start.
HSO stands for Hook, Story, Offer.
The hook is the relatable, compelling first line of copy.
Followed by a story that paints the picture of an ideal outcome and concludes with an offer to solve the problem at hand.
Swipe this story theme: A time when you overcame something hard
🖋️ H (Hook): “I didn't envision {how you're out of your element} when I started {your thing}.
🖋️ S (Story): But there I was at 1 a.m. {doing something your audience hates in detail}. Just before I closed my eyes, I Googled {vague industry advice}.
🖋️ O (Offer): } {Lightbulb moment that you found the solution and how it works better than what's on the market}. Swipe my {offer} and kiss those 1 a.m. {pain point} sessions goodbye.
Save it for your next content creation session.
And swipe another storytelling caption formula on the blog.
https://www.cyndizaweski.com/articles/how-to-use-storytelling-to-write-engaging-instagram-captions
Happy Creating!
Cyndi
Get More Clicks with this Copywriting Tip
A call to action is typically written as a command or action phrase, such as "Sign Up" or "Buy Now."
But this super simple copywriting tip gets way more than typical results.
Be descriptive! But that doesn't mean long.
For example, instead of the boring (and overused) "Click here;" swap it for a short but informative CTA such as "Download Your Free Guide to CTAs."
Why does it work?
✍️ Readers crave clarity. A descriptive CTA makes the outcome as crystal clear.
✍️It improves your SEO ranking. Include your target keyword as the descriptor within the CTA in your website copy.
Save this for your next sales page, landing page, blog, or social media post.
How often should you post to see results?
🤔 7 days a week?
🤔 Multiple times a day?
🤔 2 Reels a day?
You can get all the advice in the world about how much you should post on Instagram — but it doesn’t mean a whole lot unless you can make the schedule work for you.
When I started my business, creating content consistently was so challenging.
I was stuck on the content creation hamster wheel — in a never-ending content creation cycle switching between making Instagram posts for a client, then changing hats to write an email newsletter for my business, then back to writing a blog for another client, and so on.
Like all good business owners, clients come first, which means all the content I needed to support my business growth came second.
Until I realized the two aren't mutually exclusive.
After a while, I settled into this sustainable posting schedule — which makes it super simple to batch create multiple posts in a sitting.
🖋️ Feed posts: Monday thru Thursday, rotating Carousels and Reels. (More when I have extra time or a lightning bolt of inspiration)
🖋️ Stories: 5 days a week.
🖋️ IG Lives: At least twice a month — I aim for Fridays when I don't post to my feed.
This has been my posting strategy for months and the results speak for themselves — but most importantly keep me booked out without being stressed out (🙏).
The moral of the story is you don't need any extreme posting schedule (or to follow mine), you just need one you can stick to for the long haul.
Happy Creating!
Cyndi
#contentplanning #marketinghelp #instagrammarketingstrategy #contentmarketer #contentcreationtips #contentmanagement #contenttips
It’s hard not to take it personally when your Instagram engagement goes down.
We put so much of our heart and soul into these posts. It definitely can sting.
Sometimes you just have to ask for the engagement you want from your readers. Example: “What's your experience with XYZ topic?" Pointed open-ended questions spark conversations.
Remember that you have to give the engagement you want and bare in mind it's almost summer!
Can’t fix that one, but we can all embrace a slower season when most people are spending less time on their phones.
This is extra true this summer as restrictions are practically non-existent (🙏) after years of uncertainty. It’s not just social media engagement. Website traffic is trailing off too. Don’t focus on what you can’t control.
Have you seen a drop in engagement recently?
I’d love to hear some way you engage your community.
Happy Creating!
Cyndi
Struggling to niche down?
Know your audience. Know your audience. KYA.
No matter your niche, knowing your audience is universally accepted advice for successful content marketing.
But it's kinda a lie.
Don't get me wrong knowing your audience is important, but it’s more about understanding their needs and wants and giving them something that they can use.
With any truth in life; the opposite is also true. Knowing who your audience isn't is an effective strategy if you're struggled with niching down in the past to serve one specific target audience.
As service providers, 9 out of 10 times, the gut reaction is to help people. to help EVERYONE with our expertise.
This is why starting to weed out undesirable clients helps you create content that people you do aspire to work with want to be read.
The real key to niching isn't about eliminating prospects, it's about attracting the right ones.
Because... When you speak to everyone, you speak to no one... But you already knew that 😉
Happy Creating!
Cyndi
#nichehelp #findyourniche #targetaudience #contentmarketingtips #contentmarketingstrategy #socialmediastrategies #contentdevelopment #socialstrategy #growyourinstagram
Sick of stressing about what to post?
I'm not sure about you but I hate putting myself in that position, which is why having a content bank of ideas at the ready is crucial for avoiding stress while staying consistent.
Honestly, the process of creating a content bank is pretty fun if you let it be!
Just me, tea, and content prompts that encourage me to reflect.
It’s a no-pressure zone — and I never use my brain dump ideas on the same day I jot them down.
When I return to them a few days later I have a rich content bank that helps me flesh out and formulate original blogs and social media posts.
And, honestly, some of them just stink and never see the light of day 😅 — it's a creative process after all.
Here are two ways to start filling your bank:
1️⃣ Write down 5 different ways to answer your 5 most FAQs. That's 25 posts that you can spread out over time.
2️⃣ Prompts! Prompts help get the creativity flowing. The best part is your answers are unique to you, which helps you stand out. My bank is filled with prompts that keep me thinking outside the box.
Are you ready to start working on your content bank?
Short on time?
Being crunched for time often leads to skipping a day — or several days — of posting for your audience. But I call BS on that excuse!
Here are three quick ways to make an impact even when the clock is against you:
🖊️ A Quick Win for Your Ideal Clients
🖊️ Repurpose Your Most Shared Piece of Content
🖊️ Put Your Spin on a Social Media Holiday
Having a bank of ideas along with plug-and-play templates also helps you create something wonderful to share in 20 minutes — or less!
How long do you normally spend creating content for Instagram?
Happy Creating!
Cyndi
.#contentideas #contentmarketingideas #contentideasforsocialmedia
One word makes all the difference.
A call to action is typically written as a command or action phrase, such as "Sign Up" or "Buy Now."
But this super simple copy swap gets way more than typical results.
A split test compared two sign-up pages that were identical except for the call to action at the bottom of the page.
One page asked site visitors to “start your free 30-day trial period.”
The other page asked them to “start my free 30-day trial period.”
The results: the “my” page resulted in *90 percent* more clicks than the “your” page.
That’s a game-changer when conversions are the goal.
Save this for your next sales page or landing page.
Happy Creating!
Cyndi
Photo dumps are a trend taking over Instagram
Hey, even the head of Instagram is doing it. But can it work for your brand?
Think of it this way: Recap your month. Round up screenshots of a client win, snapshots of you working on exciting projects, how you’re unwinding, what you are reading.
This is one content trend that's best to keep low effort.
Wait! Before you post that Marie Forelo quote...
You know *that* quote — maybe it's not "Everything is Figureoutable" for you — but you know the types that are passed around social media like stuffing at the Thanksgiving table.
Just remember we've seen it too — like a lot, a lot — already.
So is it really helping you stand out?
You know the answer.
We tend to default to popular quotes when we need something quick and easy to post that still has a message that aligns with your brand.
Good news — you can still have that out without relying on popular quotes.
Here are two easy ways:
1) Extract the sentiment from the popular quote you resonate with and create your own quote
2) Find an eye-popping industry stat and show how it impacts your client in real life.
Which one will you try first?
Happy Creating!
Cyndi
———
P.S. Originally matters for your post ranking. Don't shoot the messenger.
Last Wednesday, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri announced that Insta is making updates to the way that it ranks content, in order to put more focus on original work.
The big takeaway: The more original and fresh your content is, the better.
(But that's not such a bad goal to strive for anyway).
Not all content ideas are created equal.
Some, like a listicle of the latest cat memes or a how-to on how to make your own bath bombs, can generate lots of clicks and views… but when it comes down to it, they don't actually provide value to your audience.
The hard truth is, that if you're not understanding what your audience wants, it's difficult to get the engagement you need to grow.
If you're looking for those ideas that will get people talking about your brand, you'll have to do some digging — or hire someone to do the digging for you.
Here are three tactics you can use right now to find content ideas your audience actually wants to learn about from you.
Happy Creating!
Cyndi
#longislandsmallbusiness #contentideas #contentideasforsocialmedia #contentideasforyou #contentideasforsmallbusinesses #contentmarketingideas #contentcreationideas #instagramcontentideas
“Consistency is Key” 🙄
Do you also roll your eyes when you hear the all too familiar phrase “Consistency is Key” when it comes to succeeding on social media?
There is a lot of wisdom in these words, but the saying is so often used that it has seemed to have lost its true meaning.
What does it mean to be consistent on social media anyway? Consistency compasses three separate but related categories that ultimately boils down to your brand being instantly recognizable when someone is scrolling through their feed.
Branding, messaging, and frequency all factor into consistency when it comes to content creation for social media. Swipe for a handy guide to each element to streamline your on-brand posting strategy.
Happy Creating!
Cyndi
#brandyourbusiness #instagramtips101 #contentplanner #contentideasforsocialmedia
*Hears the Sound of My Voice* *Dies a Little Inside* Talking directly to the camera recording a tutorial is — in a lot of ways — easier than lip-syncing or doing the Macarena.And inherently allows you to voice your authority. Reels are most associated with dancing, pointing, and complicated transitions, which has alienated a lot of business owners who aren't interested in learning dance routines or simply don't have the bandwidth to keep up with the latest viral trend. The good news is that they don't have to adopt those early practices to succeed with Reels now. The tutorial style of Reels builds authority and trust with current followers while attracting more of the right followers because Reels are still top for increasing reach. A simple and effective formula for making this work is to share three niche-related tips as if you were speaking to a client. The more a business owner can include storytelling and quick tips the more authentic and valuable the content. Help me help you, what tutorials would you like to see here? Happy Creating! Cyndi .#instagramgrowthtips #smallbusinessgrowth #contenttips #instagramtipsandtricks #girlsinmarketing
