Instagram - Shannon's Social Media

Have you tried writing your Instagram captions BACKWARDS?

Sounds strange, doesn’t it? But hear me out. This tip might help when you get stuck writing captions. A “normal” Instagram caption goes like this: 👇🏻 Paragraphs of information/commentary/instructions/info on whatever topic you are posting about 👇🏻 Followed by a Call To Action (CTA) 👇🏻 Then Hashtags I know that some people struggle when writing their Insta captions, and if this is you, try starting from the bottom instead. Let me explain: HASHTAGS: I keep a Word Doc with all the hashtags I regularly use. I have these broken down into a number of unique sets so they are ready…

Sounds strange, doesn’t it? But hear me out. This tip might help when you get stuck writing captions.

A “normal” Instagram caption goes like this:

👇🏻 Paragraphs of information/commentary/instructions/info on whatever topic you are posting about
👇🏻 Followed by a Call To Action (CTA)
👇🏻 Then Hashtags

I know that some people struggle when writing their Insta captions, and if this is you, try starting from the bottom instead. Let me explain:

HASHTAGS:

I keep a Word Doc with all the hashtags I regularly use. I have these broken down into a number of unique sets so they are ready to modify and paste into the bottom of my captions. Start here.

CALL TO ACTION (CTA):

When I plan content, the first thing I do is look at the goals I’m trying to achieve that month. This helps me come up with the CTA’s that you should be putting at the bottom of each post (yes, EACH post!). I also keep a list of CTA’s in a Word Doc that I can copy and paste from when I need ideas.

So, I write my CTA’s with a clear focus on what I want my audience TO DO after reading my post. For example…
👉🏻 Follow me for more tips
👉🏻 Visit my website for plans and prices

Once you know what you want to achieve from that post, pop your CTA above the Hashtags.

PARAGRAPHS:

Start writing about whatever it is you have decided to cover today. This will depend on your industry, niche and audience. I spent most of the day writing captions for a butcher shop, so I legit wrote a caption specifically about “Sausages” today lol.

So now you have your PARAGRAPHS (about Sausages)… followed by a CTA (Come on in and buy some tasty sausages!)… followed by your Hashtags (#sausages lol).

Now what?

Well, now I can go and create my graphics. With the caption done (Paragraphs + CTA + Hashtags), most of the work is complete already! I can head on over to Canva and create the image/video I’d like to pair with the caption.

This caption-writing method really helps me stay on track when creating client content! It also helps me to focus on creating content that aligns with our strategy and my client’s goals.

Do you do this too? Give it a try and see if it works for you!

Tired of writing captions and searching for hashtags? Are you ready to outsource your social media marketing to a professional?

Click here to send me a message!

👉 I can help you with Instagram, Facebook, Google My Business, LinkedIn as well as Facebook Ads. I’m a social media expert ready to help business owners just like you!

Instagram Reels finally land on Facebook in Australia

Ok, so it’s been a few weeks since Aussies got to catch up to the rest of the world with this. Instagram Reels have been available on Facebook overseas for like *ever*… but they only arrived on Facebook down under a few weeks ago in February 2022 (along with 150 other lucky countries). And we all know this is Facebook trying to compete with TikTok, but I kinda wish they’d stop. TikTok is its own separate platform with its own features and demographics. I like Facebook, and I like Facebook for BUSINESS because it allows conversations and connection in the…

Ok, so it’s been a few weeks since Aussies got to catch up to the rest of the world with this.

Instagram Reels have been available on Facebook overseas for like *ever*… but they only arrived on Facebook down under a few weeks ago in February 2022 (along with 150 other lucky countries).

And we all know this is Facebook trying to compete with TikTok, but I kinda wish they’d stop. TikTok is its own separate platform with its own features and demographics.

I like Facebook, and I like Facebook for BUSINESS because it allows conversations and connection in the comments that isn’t quite replicated on other platforms, in my opinion.

I don’t go out of my way to go and watch TikToks, unless a friend messages me the link to a funny one. The same way that I don’t sit down and go “I’m going to watch some Instagram Reels for 20 minutes”. They aren’t my preferred platform when I want to be entertained or educated.

And there are PLENTY of people like me out there. Despite the fact that I’m a full-time Social Media Manager, I rely on Facebook to give me my entertainment, news, information as well as updates on my family and friends. I post regularly about my kids and I enjoy seeing and reading what my mates are up to.

I only turn to Instagram for work purposes. To see what is trending over there. To get the latest info, updates, algorithm changes, hashtag news, hacks etc. This is where I do my WORK and my industry research… it’s not the place where I actively search out things that interest me (like wine, cheese and crime docos).

The managing director for Meta in AU and NZ, said: “We know that video is key to engaging audiences, and short-form video, in particular, is growing quickly in popularity.” And this is true. But Reels and TikToks are not appropriate for EVERY business.

I mean, would you hire a Divorce Lawyer who was busy jumping around pointing and dancing? I wouldn’t. When I hired one, I wanted the meanest bad-ass around haha. Not the one with the best lip-syncing and dance moves.

I will say this though… these pesky Facebook Reels have been sliding onto my feed these last few weeks. And some of them have suckered me in to keep scrolling for longer than I normally would have! But then again… that IS the whole point of them, right?

Are you being overwhelmed by your social media? Don’t you wish you could just give it to someone else to take care of? Well… YOU CAN!

Click here to send me a message!

Or visit my store and check out my Monthly Social Media Plans and packages.

👉 If you are ready to hand over the management of your social media, need a hand with getting set up, creating a strategy, or generating a few hashtag sets, contact me! I’m a social media expert ready to help business owners just like you!

VIP DAYS Coming Soon!

This one is for all the entrepreneurs and business owners out there who need my help! Ok, so I know what it’s like to run a business. I have a loooong history of working in local businesses, small businesses, family-owned businesses (and I did my time in the construction industry too). And I know a LOT of the struggles that business owners face. ✅ You feel like you have to try and figure everything out by yourself. ✅ You feel like you have to DO everything yourself. ✅ And importantly, you know you need to be on Social Media or…

This one is for all the entrepreneurs and business owners out there who need my help!

Ok, so I know what it’s like to run a business. I have a loooong history of working in local businesses, small businesses, family-owned businesses (and I did my time in the construction industry too).

And I know a LOT of the struggles that business owners face.

✅ You feel like you have to try and figure everything out by yourself.

✅ You feel like you have to DO everything yourself.

✅ And importantly, you know you need to be on Social Media or want to run some Facebook Ads and you just don’t know where to start.

So… you contacted an agency in the past and they quoted you some PHENOMENAL sum of money to do the work for you, you freaked out a bit, decided you couldn’t afford it, and you haven’t looked back at it since.

So, I just want to let YOU know that NOW is your chance to WORK WITH ME, and have all your social media dreams come true for an amazing AFFORDABLE one-off price!

I am gearing up for a BIG BIRTHDAY in a few days … so what better time to launch a Special Offer, right?

So stay tuned…. next week is BIRTHDAY WEEK… and I will let you know exactly what I am cooking up to help biz owners and entrepreneurs LIKE YOU!

More to come later!

Happy weekend everyone!

There will be only 4 slots available each month, so if you are too impatient to wait and see what I have in store, contact me with the words BIRTHDAY BASH and I’ll fill you in with all the juicy details.

Click here to send me a message!

More to come later!
Happy weekend everyone!

Have you updated your Instagram Highlights lately?

There are so many ways you can make your Instagram Highlights work for you! 👉 But first, for the newbies and the business owners who aren’t quite up to speed with the social media lingo yet, your Highlights are the little circles shown below your bio and above your feed. Here you can see I have Hire Me, Client Work and Results in this screenshot: I don’t recommend having too many highlights. Still, many businesses can benefit by having a few that describe your business, products, services, pricing and other information that potential clients might like to know. For…

There are so many ways you can make your Instagram Highlights work for you!

👉 But first, for the newbies and the business owners who aren’t quite up to speed with the social media lingo yet, your Highlights are the little circles shown below your bio and above your feed. Here you can see I have Hire Me, Client Work and Results in this screenshot:

I don’t recommend having too many highlights. Still, many businesses can benefit by having a few that describe your business, products, services, pricing and other information that potential clients might like to know.

For example, a Social Media Manager like me might have Highlights set out for
🟣 About Me / How to work with me
🔵 Pricing and packages
🟢 Products for sale
🟡 Samples of client work
🟠 Testimonials / Examples of results achieved

And then, within each highlight, you can upload photos and videos providing the information for each section.

I recommend introducing yourself through an About Me section with a few short videos. And yes, I realise I haven’t done this myself lol (it’s on my list!). You need to let your potential clients know exactly what services you provide, why they should hire you (how you will solve their problems and make their life easier), HOW they can hire you, and how they can contact you with any questions.

A simple “DM Me with questions!” or “Head to my website to select your plan” usually does the trick.

You can put your pricing details under a “Packages and Plans” Highlight, with a Link Sticker that sends them to your website for more detailed information. And I think this is a great idea, as potential clients will know how much your packages cost before contacting you, which reduces enquiries from leads who can’t afford your services.

It’s also good to include samples of Client Work, Results and Testimonials as proof and “social proof” of your talents and abilities.

I have so much more info to share on Highlights, so keep an eye out for a future post.

And in the meantime, if you’d like my help setting up your Highlights or brainstorming the best info to include in them, get in touch! We can schedule a 1:1 session to nut this all out and get them up for you.

Click here to send me a message!

Or visit my store and select Let’s Set Up Your Socials

👉 And if you are ready to hand over the management of your social media, need a hand with getting set up, creating a strategy, or generating a few hashtag sets, contact me! I’m a social media expert ready to help business owners just like you!

Try this Instagram Live Hack

Do you want a simple way to get more eyes on YOUR Instagram posts and stories? Well, we all know that you have to GIVE engagement in order to GET it in return. So here is a nice easy way to do just that. 👉🏻 Go ahead and watch some Instagram Lives. These usually appear at the top of your feed alongside the Stories. 👉🏻 While you are there, leave a thoughtful comment. The key here is “thoughtful” comment… people appreciate quality engagement over general copy and paste remarks like “oh this is so cool!” 👉🏻 YOUR posts and stories…

Do you want a simple way to get more eyes on YOUR Instagram posts and stories?

Well, we all know that you have to GIVE engagement in order to GET it in return. So here is a nice easy way to do just that.

👉🏻 Go ahead and watch some Instagram Lives. These usually appear at the top of your feed alongside the Stories.
👉🏻 While you are there, leave a thoughtful comment. The key here is “thoughtful” comment… people appreciate quality engagement over general copy and paste remarks like “oh this is so cool!”
👉🏻 YOUR posts and stories will now start showing up in that person’s feed!

Instagram has just rolled out a new feature so that you can set REMINDERS for upcoming lives! So if you see someone in your feed announcing they’ll be going Live soon, tap the icon to set a reminder (it’s a little bell icon that hovers over the feed post). Also, if someone has scheduled an upcoming Live video session, this will be shown under the bio on their profile page and you can add the reminder from there. This way you can show up, comment thoughtfully, and get more eyes on your posts and stories!

If you are struggling with growing your Instagram account, and aren’t quite getting enough engagement, I can help!

Click here to send me a message!

I have monthly social media plans that include Engagement activities. We’ll interact with your followers and your industry-specific hashtags in an authentic way. This will help us build a community and attract genuine followers to your page by utilising our proven and strategic engagement methods.

👉 In addition to being a full-service social media manager, I can also run your Facebook and Instagram Ads! I’m a social media expert ready to help business owners just like you, so don’t hesitate to get in touch for a free chat.

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Category: Instagram

Instagram Reels finally land on Facebook in Australia

Have you updated your Instagram Highlights lately?