What are the best apps to use in creating web & social media content?

There are some amazing web & phone apps that spice up your brand and user experience.

Here are just a few I use daily, with clients and teach to my coaching students ...

1. If you're a horrible speller or bad with grammar ... Grammarly is your friend! Get the paid version if you struggle with mistakes in your copy.

2. I use Google Drive for collaboration with clients, writing copy, presentations, etc.

3. Canva Pro to make on-brand graphics for just about EVERYTHING! The paid version is worth the money. Before dropping the cash, try out the paid version so watch tutorials.

4. I record all my videos on my iPhone. No fancy camera ... 18 months later, #TipTuesday is still recorded and edited on my phone.

5. It's a splurge but Wave.video is an amazing web app to add on-brand graphics and more to your video. Once you get the hang of video, upgrade to Wave to make them pop. There is a learning curve so watch tutorials. (affiliate link)

6. I schedule Instagram using Planoly and Facebook through Facebook Creator Studio. Once I get access to IG/IGTV scheduling through Creator Studio, I plan on switching to that platform. (affiliate link)

What are some of your favorite tools for webs & social content creation?

psst … if you’re struggling to get your web & social content planned out, I’ll be doing a free training on October 8 at 10 am PST on planning, consistency, etc. Want in? Join the Simplify Tribe Group on Facebook where you can join OR watch the replay.

SLS on I am Sherri Goodall podcast

I had the honor of sitting down with my East Coast bestie, Sherri Goodall to talk about the important questions to ask when you are looking to hire a marketing consultant.

I met Sherri through Marie Forleo’s B School and we’ve been fast friends ever since! Sherri is one of those folks who keeps inspiring me and pushing me everyday.

Listen on iTunes.

There is also a video recording below!

5 Tips for being consistent on social media

My most asked question: How do I become consistent

on social media? Many of you go out the gate, go gangbusters on social media and then, you get burned out by scheduling tons of posts that aren't relevant.

Here are some steps to take to ensure that doesn't happen.

📌 If you're just starting out, pick only TWO topics to consistently post about on a regular basis. That's exactly what I'm doing with this #TipTuesday. You know me for this and you come here for it! If it went away, I'm sure I'd hear about it.

📌 Grab social content from your website. These can be items from your FAQ page, services/products info, customer testimonials or blog content.

📌 Grab social content from your website. These can be items from your FAQ page, services/products info, customer testimonials or blog content.

📌 Google National Days of the Month for social media content ideas relevant to your business

📌 Start out posting your social content on social media channels your ideal client hangs out. Not everyone's ideal client is on Instagram or LinkedIn so figure out where they will best consume your social content.

ACTION ITEM: Pick only TWO topics to consistently post about on a regular basis. Block out an hour each week to prep the photos, video or graphics you need THEN write up the copy. Schedule them or post on that day and you'll be thanking me for this hack later.

Four things you need to know about web content

Let's help you build a Web Content plan …

Marketing folks, including myself, need to stop using industry jargon words like content, batch, etc because I'm finding out, it really confuses our audience.

I hear the word "content" and instantly think the blogs, podcasts, and videos that live on websites.

Another person hears "content" and they think the graphics, videos, captions, and photos on your social media.

Today's focus is on WEB CONTENT and how you can then use it to post onto your social platforms.

Let's talk Web Content! What is it?

It's the words, podcasts, videos that live on your website.

- Web Content helps with search engine optimization and make brands the go-to in their industry.

- Web Content should provide value and answer the questions of your ideal client (think 80/20 rule)

- Web Content can (and should) be repurposed into Social Media Content

- Blogging is the most popular but studies are showing podcasts and videos make brands more relatable

ACTION ITEM: Brainstorm FOUR topics that serve your audience and create web content around it. Put it into a blog, podcast or video for your website. THEN repurpose it for your social media. Bonus points if you send a newsletter out.

Once you do that, tag me! I'd love to see the work in action.

Who's in?

Tips for creating quality video content when you're a newbie

Video dominating the Internet. It's easy to consume and makes products and services more relatable when there is a face to it.

Questions like this typically come from someone who has not leaped into putting themselves on video, and they're worried about the technical barriers as well as how they look, feel, or sound.
Here are a few steps you can take to get going and comfortable when creating quality videos.
✔️ Start small by showing up in your Instagram Stories. Good jumping-off points include introducing yourself, show behind the scenes of your day, and show your struggles.

✔️ When you start to feel comfortable on video, start with mini-trainings based off solving the issues of your ideal clients in your IG Stories. This will lead to longer-form video, and you'll begin to feel more confident from all the IG Stories you've been doing.

✔️ Pick up simple tools like a tripod, selfie light, and watch tutorials on editing on-phone videos (for example iPhones have iMovie you can edit on your phone with). Once you've mastered on-phone editing, move on to using a video enhancement program like Wave.video.

✔️ Don't sit around another day wishing you could be on video. It takes baby steps, time, and patience. I didn't start using a video enhancement program until last spring and edited and uploaded everything from my iPhone to the social networks.

What scares you the most about video? The technical aspect? Your appearance?

SLS on Biz Babes with Soul podcast

In July, I sat down with fellow entrepreneur, Melody Spencer, to talk about hiring mentors and moving on. Listen to the whole episode on Apple Podcasts.

Tips on building Know, Like & Trust with your audience

You've heard building "know, like and trust" brings in the sales, but you are not exactly sure what that statement means or how to even go about getting started.

Here are some tips and steps I take for people to get to know what it is like to work with me. ✔️ PROVIDE EDUCATION CONTENT THAT IS VALUABLE ... speak to the needs of your audience. What are the struggles they're dealing with you're going to solve
✔️ REMEMBER THE 80/20 RULE ... only see 20% of the time on your website and most social channels. The exception to this rule is to talk about your products and services daily in your Instagram Stories. We'll talk about that more in the coming weeks.
✔️ ALWAYS BE ASKING YOUR AUDIENCE THEIR STRUGGLES ... knowing your ideal client's struggles is the best way to understand them. I ask in Facebook Groups, send emails surveys often, post polls and stickers on social media, and I'm regularly taking notes of items I'm asked when speaking.
✔️ Compile those struggles into content tops. I assign my students this task and ask they collect 12 topics to execute over 3 months.
✔️ Be patient as warming up your audience does take time. I didn't see much movement until after 3 months.

What of these tips are you working on? If you're not working on this, which tip will you start with?

Tips for getting more customer reviews

You're customers love your product or service but you need some testimonials to help your website or review site.

Here are some simple steps to getting reviews....

✔️ Direct there to where you'd like them to post the review by passing along the direct link or directions on how to get a video over to you
✔️ ASK! If you know they're a raving fan, reach out in person or via email to get that review
✔️ Video is best but a professional headshot with written testimony will do
✔️ Direct there to where you'd like them to post the review by passing along direct link or directions on how to get a video over to you
✔️ Give them an outline to follow like what life was before/after using your product or service, the result of your product or service and anything they'd like to add.
✔️ Promote the review!

Easy peasy! Action steps: ask 5 of your raving customers for reviews and report back!

Simple video outline tips for beginners

You're ready to start recording and posting videos but you're unsure on how to structure your videos? Here's a simple outline I use to keep myself (and coaching clients) on track when developing your video script.

✔️ Start with a 10 second lead in on your topic. This should be something that pulls the viewer in and gets them to stay. I often start with a question.
✔️ Introduce yourself and what you do in 10 seconds. This is where an elevator pitch comes in handy
✔️ It's time to talk about your topic! This is the bulk of your video. Solve those problems and answer those struggles
✔️ Finally, end the video with a call-to-action. This can be as simple as if you want more info about what I do, visit my website or I always leave it simple and say "If you have any questions about XYZ or anything online marketing related, leave a comment and I'll get back to you."

SO, are you ready to start making videos and sharing your gifts with the world? If yes, tell me your speciality. If not, what's holding you back?

What type of Instagram Account should you have?

Did you know there are THREE types of Instagram Accounts? As an account holder, you can choose between Personal Account, Business Account and Creator Account.
In today's Tip Tuesday, I'll go over what each has and doesn't have and the right account for you!

What type of account do you have and why do you like it?