Are you someone who lives for social media and is active on every platform out there? Or perhaps you’re a newbie who doesn’t know the first thing about hashtags and handles. Regardless of where you are on your social media journey, we have an excellent session coming up that you won’t want to miss.
We’re kicking off the fall season of our Business Workshops for Artists series on September 20 with “Social Media Management Basics: Tools and Tactics,” a free, information-packed session led by our friends and members at HeyOrca.
Social media offers many advantages, from giving you the ability to share your story your way, to connecting with new audiences (wherever they may be) and building your following. But what kind of content speaks to your audience best? How often should you post? And what platforms should you be using?
During this session, HeyOrca’s Nabeel Mansoor (Customer Care Specialist) and Stephanie Schwartz (Director of Product) will share some practical tips and tools, and free resources, to help you get the most out of your social media strategy (or where to start if you don’t have one).
We caught up with Nabeel and Stephanie to talk platforms, content and how to best connect with followers. (Join us on September 20 to learn more!)
Business & Arts NL: Social media can feel overwhelming at times – there are so many options out there for platforms, with pros and cons to each, and things are always changing (and quickly). For those who are new to the world of social media and want to build an audience, where’s the best place for them to start?
Stephanie & Nabeel: We can empathize with how hard it is to keep up with the fast pace of social media! If you’re just getting started, the good news is that there are a lot of free resources and technology out there that can help. Picking one or two things to focus on consistently is a good way to start building your presence.
If you’re new to the world of social media, it helps to understand how your audience consumes content. Depending on your brand and your goals, different platforms may suit your needs better. For example, if you are a musician trying to reach a younger audience, then TikTok may be a good place to start. If you are selling hand-made goods locally, then creating a profile showcasing your products on Facebook or Instagram might be a better fit. Can you think of any artists in your discipline that you are already following, and might have a similar audience to you? Where are they most active? There is no one-size-fits-all approach, but understanding your audience and your goals will help you identify where to focus your efforts and get the most out of your social media strategy.
Business & Arts NL: Some folks might be of the view that they need to be on every platform available, while others would say to pick just a couple that you like and stick with it. What are some considerations people should take into account when deciding which platforms to use?
S & N: If you are just starting out, we would definitely recommend just picking one or two things to start. You might need to do some experimentation before you start to see positive results, so reposting your content on different platforms and in different formats is a good way to test the waters without having to invest a lot more time creating brand new content for each platform.
Starting from scratch is hard work! So if you already have a small following, or are starting to see engagement rise slowly, then consider doubling down on your existing presence.
When selecting what platforms to use as part of your social strategy, here are some considerations to keep in mind:
* Who is my target audience? Determining your target audience helps to figure out what platforms best suit your content strategy.
* What type of content suits my brand the best? Different platforms are suited for different content types. Determining what type of content (images, videos, text-based, or a combination of all) helps to narrow down what platform you should target.
* How much time and energy do I want to spend on my social strategy? Understanding how much time and energy you’re able and willing to spend on your social strategy will help to determine which platforms you should focus your efforts on. Do you have the time to learn a completely new platform, and actively engage with your potential audience there, or would you be more successful if you invested that time into a platform you are already familiar with?
Business & Arts NL: What do you see as some of the biggest advantages of social media, for artists particularly?
S & N: One of the biggest advantages of social media is the ability to connect with a wider audience and showcase your work. Connecting with more people can lead to increased opportunities, such as landing gigs, and making sales.
Managing your personal or professional brand on social media lets you tell your own story and stand out from the crowd! With your online presence, you can find a relevant audience, connect with similar creators and showcase your work for the world to see!
The other advantage of social media is that you can start creating and posting content today without any financial investment or having to pay for exposure. Although having a budget to pay a professional social media manager, or invest in social media ads, can help fast-track things, it’s not a barrier to getting started. The biggest investment with social media is time, but thankfully there are also many free or low-budget tools and resources that are available to help you plan and schedule content consistently. Social media is an accessible way to start promoting your content organically and potentially have it discovered by users all over the world!
Business & Arts NL: Who would you recommend attend this upcoming workshop?
S & N: I would recommend this workshop to anyone who is interested in learning social media strategy basics and looking for some practical advice about how to get started. Whether you’re an artist, small business or freelancer, if you want to grow your brand and business on social media then we would love to connect with you in this workshop! We’ll be sharing background information about how social media can be helpful for artists, best practices and tactical tips. You’ll also walk away with some free resources that can help you get started!
Business & Arts NL: Is there anything you’d like to add about this workshop?
S & N: If you are considering attending, please do! We’ll have some time for a Q&A so come with any questions you have about social media marketing. If we don’t have the answer, we might be able to connect you with someone who can help. If you’d like to sign up for a trial of HeyOrca to see how social media management platforms work, you can go to: https://app.heyorca.com/signup
Workshop: Social Media Management Basics: Tools and Tactics
Date/Time: Wednesday, September 20 from 1- 2 pm NST
Location: Online via Zoom
Price: Free
Registration: Click here to register for the workshop “Social Media Management Basics: Tools and Tactics”
