Tips on putting variety into your Instagram Feed

Remember when Instagram came out? It was all about beautiful curated photos. Seven years later, awesome pictures are still crucial for your Instagram visual content strategy, but there are other elements you should consider when posting to your social media.

What should you consider when developing your social marketing media plans? Here a few formulas I use when strategizing content:

Photography

Yes, surprising, well-lit photography is STILL a pivotal element to branding your Instagram feed, but you want to make sure you’re featuring a variety of imagery such as using people in your photos, flat lay photography, and scenery. One thing I want to stress, don’t post the same types of images over and over (such as “flat-lay city” as I call it or just scenery). Your audience will get bored with your content and move on. And lastly, try to avoid stock photography when possible. Since it is so accessible, it this type of photography gets overused.

Pro tip: don’t want to show faces of your models, use their hands, feet, back of the head to bring the human element factor into your imagery.



Video or Motion

Along with your photography, consider motion such as a short video, boomerang or rewinds, GIFS or stop motion to grab users attention and stand out. Studies show that video also gets more engagement than a single image https://www.videoshop.net/features

Pro tip: I use the VideoShop App to make fun stop-motion videos. With tools like a tripod and white form board, practice the easy art of stop-motion animation.

Graphics

Want to tease a blog post you spent time writing, editing, etc. or want to highlight a quote that means a lot to you? Pull quotes out of the post and develop consistent on-brand graphics in a free web-based graphics program like Canva. Sure, you could re-share a post from someone else but why not take the extra time to make it your own and stand out with some consistency. Going the extra mile will be worth it.

Pro tip: take some time to learn the free web-based graphics program, Canva.



Multiple Images

Have several photos available from your photoshoot on the topic you're writing about? You can upload up to 10 images for one Instagram post. Just like I stated above with video, there have been studies that show multi-image posts do get more engagement.

If you’re struggling to have a variety of visual content in your Instagram and social media channels, I hope this blog has given you some ideas to spice it up a bit.

Get planning in 2019

I’ve been all sorts of talk about holiday planning lately that you’ve got it down (I hope) and you’re probably nodding your head as you read this.

Nodding Yes - The Little Mermaid GIF from Thelittlemermaid GIFs

So, it’s only natural that I start nagging you that in over 60 days, 2019 begins and if you haven’t started thinking about it, NOW is the time.

Have no fear; your favorite social media gal has you covered with my 1st Quarter Planning Guide!

What's included ...

✔️ National days of the month calendars for Jan, Feb, and March

✔️ Blank planning calendars for Jan, Feb, and March

✔️ Brainstorming worksheets (that you will need to make copies of)

✔️ Checklists and timelines to keep on track

To get the 1st quarter freebie, head over here and get it RIGHT in your inbox!

As always, feel free to send me any questions or concerns on social AND I’d love to for you to tag your work with #shannonleestrategy on social.

3 Simple Steps to Success with your Facebook Events

Creating a Facebook Event is an excellent way to communicate with your audience about events your business is having, but often, too many times, companies will post their event, leave it there and do nothing. Please don't do this as it will make me cry 😭

via GIPHY

Here are THREE simple tips for successful Facebook events ...

✔️ invite your friends and family

✔️ have employees ask friends and family

✔️ schedule posts and content inside the event because anyone invited will get an email right in their inbox! So many people don't realize this that scheduling is now possible and post the event and do nothing.

Simple and easy, right?

ACTION STEP: take these extra steps next time and report back to me!

The holidays are coming ... are you prepared?

I recently mentioned in an Instagram Story that I was working on holiday web and social strategies for a client and someone direct messaged me and said, "Already?" 

Yes, I'm working right now on what October, November and December promotions will be and any content needed around it. You might think it's too soon but it's better to be prepared than have it sneak up on you. 

Cat Toddler GIF from Cat GIFs

The holiday season is the biggest time of year for consumer spending so being prepared is a must. I've been on the end of a well planned holiday strategy and a thrown together, not well thought out strategy and guess which one brought in more revenue? (Do I really need to tell you?)

If you're new to setting up promotions around the holiday or just have never really been prepared and "winged it" -- have no fear, I developed a fun download to keep you organized over the next few months. 

It includes:
Monthly Checklist to keep you on track
National Days of the Month Calendar for September - December
Blank Planning Calendars for September - December
Brainstorming Worksheets
Content Planning Spreadsheet 

If you've found this helpful or you're still confused, please let me know. I'd be happy to walk you through the steps in a free 15-minute call.

Welcome to our new name ... Shannon Lee Strategy

You may have typed makeplusdrink.com and noticed there's a new name  --Shannon Lee Strategy  -- with different colors, contents, logo and photos. While Make+Drink Strategy was a fun name that I started going by in 2016, my client based and business vision shifted last spring from helping makers, craft food, and beverage companies strategize their online marketing to helping small businesses without marketing departments with their online strategy AND  I added small business coaching for those who wanted to learn how to effectively build their online presence on a budget. 

It became really apparent that Make+Drink Strategy didn't make any sense when I went to an intensive workshop in Boston held by my business coach and mentor, Sue B. Zimmerman that I was the only person (outside of Bend, Oregon) that didn't get my cute name.   

After months of going through names, Shannon Lee Strategy was where I landed. Lee is my given middle name and often times, I'm called Shannon Lee as Hinderberger is just too long for some to remember. 

I have many changes in the works like tactical blog posts on how to simplify the sometimes technical world of social media and online strategy, downloads to keep your business organized and helpful videos that will explain this confusing medium.  

3 reasons your brand should use video on social media

Last week, we covered the simple equipment needed to make your own videos so onto why videos are important. The big three are 1) SEO 2) Facebook ads LOVE video 3) People are more vision. Watch the video to learn more!

Shannon Hinderberger from Make + Drink Strategy why you need to add videos to your social media strategy. Make + Drink Strategy is a social media and digital marketing consultant group located in Bend, Oregon specializing in small business, craft beverage brands, makers and more.

Fun content ideas around national days of the month

Stuck on what sort of content you should be creating with your National Days Calendar? Think of fun videos, blogs, imagery that showcase how your brand partakes in that national day. .

I used National Beer Day (April 7 🍻) as an example in this video to get the creative juices flowing. 

Here are some quick ideas:
✓create a promotion around beer ✓show a fun photo drinking a beer
✓post a beer quote you love
✓create a blog post of your favorite beers
✓create a multi-image post on Instagram featuring your favorite beer
✓share a favorite recipe that uses beer on a blog, video or image

I'd ❤️ to see what you post so tag #makeplusdrink

Shannon Hinderberger from Make + Drink Strategy creating content around National Days. Make + Drink Strategy is a social media and digital marketing consultant group located in Bend, Oregon specializing in small business, craft beverage brands, makers and more.

Pink Boots Doyenne Collaboration Ale

It's not a secret how much I love craft beer. If you've followed my social channels (especially Instagram), you've seen my craft beer consumption, working in the craft beer industry and enjoying Bend, Oregon's craft beer lifestyle.  A recent survey of friends, family, and colleagues for a course I'm taking asked my strengths and I was floored that in my top 3 superpowers was I am viewed as a "craft beer genius." (their words, not mine)

It's also not a secret that I don't know how to brew beer. I know the general process, but I've never done it myself (even though I worked in a brewery for a short period).  So when a local brewer asked me to join other women brewers in developing a collaboration beer for the Pink Boots Society, I was honored and floored. Sign me up!

The Pink Boots Society (PBS) is a non-profit organization with international membership which supports women working in the brewing profession, especially in creating craft beer. These ladies know the science behind making an IPA spectacular. 

PBS sent the Bend Chapter an exclusive YCH HOPs blend for this project and Mecca Grade Estate Malt donated some fun malts for the cause.  Brewers from Worthy, Deschutes and Bridge 99 were on hand to brew the beer, and I did what I do best, took photos and documented the whole process.

“This brew day is an amazing way for us to celebrate the intelligent, strong, and crafty women of the Bend brewing community. Having suppliers, like Mecca Grade and YCH HOPs, support this event is extremely inspiring. We are lucky to have a community that encourages the growth and equal involvement of Women in our workforce.” Chapter Co-leader Victoria Chaplin.

The result was Single Batch Doyenne Collaboration Ale. The meaning of Doyenne -- the most experienced, and often most respected woman involved in a particular type of work -- was fitting for this beer and International Women's Day. I sampled it, and it's a nice hazy session ale coming in at 4.7% ABV and 15 IBUs.  The description the group came up with -- "brunch in a glass and an Orange Julius. Featuring tangerine, pineapple, papaya, citrus, banana, hop resin, cheerios, cookie dough and pancake-like aromas."  Yum, right? My official description would have been "tastes like amazing beer. "

Launching on National Beer Day, April 7, come down and try it for yourself from 1-8pm at Bridge 99 located at 63063 Layton Ave in Bend, Oregon.  It will be in limited quantities so it will go fast! 

For each pint, growler or crowler sold, Bridge 99  will donate back to the Pink Boots Society for scholarships for women in the brewing industry. 

Hope you can join me!

How to archive and download your personal Facebook data

With everyone panicking about their Facebook data, you can download everything you have uploaded since joining the social network. It's hidden, so let me show you how to do it this week.

Shannon Hinderberger from Make + Drink Strategy talks about how to archive and back up all your personal Facebook Data. Make + Drink Strategy is a social media and digital marketing consultant group located in Bend, Oregon specializing small businesses and organizations.