Digital marketing skills

are you making these social media mistakes?

14 March 2025

4 Social Media Mistakes That Could Be Hurting Your Brand

faflikovaterezie Digital marketing skills

As a social media manager, I see businesses making a lot of mistakes online. On the one hand, if something works for you, great! You can continue doing what you do. But, from my experience, here are the top 4 mistakes I see companies making on social media that could be holding them back from achieving their full potential.

1. Not Optimising Your Profile

Many businesses overlook this crucial step: profile optimisation. Whether you’re using hashtags in your bio or failing to write a keyword-rich ‘About’ section on LinkedIn, this can drastically affect your visibility.

Example:

Imagine someone searching for a fitness coach on Instagram and finding a page with no contact details or bio explaining what the business offers. The visitor is likely to skip over your profile and go to a competitor with a clear description.

Pro Tip:

Ensure that your bio is clear and concise, listing what your business does, and include relevant keywords. On LinkedIn, for instance, your ‘About’ section should briefly describe your services while incorporating the right terms for search optimisation.

2. Prioritising Quantity Over Quality

Posting 7 times a week for the sake of posting isn’t effective if the content isn’t valuable. It’s far better to post consistently, even if it’s fewer times per week, as long as each post has purpose and quality behind it.

Example:

Let’s say you post 7 times a week, but your content isn’t resonating with your audience. Now compare that to posting just 3 times a week with posts that are visually appealing, well-written, and relevant to your audience’s needs. The second option will almost certainly drive better engagement and build stronger brand credibility.

Pro Tip:

Quality content that educates, entertains, or solves a problem for your audience will always perform better than simply posting for the sake of staying active. Consistency is key, but don’t sacrifice quality for quantity.

3. Ignoring Community Engagement

It baffles me how many accounts have unanswered comments. Not only does this signal to the algorithm that you’re not active, but it also breaks trust with your audience. When you ignore comments and DMs, people feel like they’re talking to a wall, leading to lower engagement and a weak community.

Example:

If someone takes the time to comment or message your brand and gets no response, they’ll likely disengage. The next time they have a question or comment, they might not even bother. In contrast, when you engage with your community, they feel valued, and it encourages more people to interact with your brand.

Pro Tip:

Respond to comments and messages as quickly as possible. It doesn’t always have to be lengthy, but acknowledging your audience makes them feel heard, which in turn strengthens your brand’s loyalty.

4. Not Optimising Your Content

I’m talking about post sizes here. Many businesses repurpose content across platforms without considering the proper dimensions for each platform. This can distort your posts and make them look unprofessional.

Example:

Posting a square Instagram post on LinkedIn can look awkward. The same goes for using the wrong size for Stories. It’s great that you’re repurposing content, but if the format is wrong, it might appear sloppy, which could damage your brand’s reputation.

Pro Tip:

Always check the recommended post sizes for each social platform. A well-sized post ensures a polished, professional look, which helps to maintain brand credibility.

Fixing these mistakes will take some time, but trust me – they are well worth it. When you optimise your profile, focus on quality over quantity, engage with your community, and make sure your content looks professional across platforms, you’ll start seeing improved results and a more connected audience.

Let me know if you want to hear more tips—I’ve got plenty more ideas to help level up your social media game!

12 February 2025

Engage to Elevate: Social Media Engagement Strategy

faflikovaterezie Digital marketing skills

Are you having a hard time reaching the right audience? Do you have views and followers, but no conversions? It’s time to shift your focus and implement an engagement strategy that works.

Step 1: Research First

Before diving into your content strategy, research is key. Think of it as scouting the internet for valuable insights to refine your approach.

Instagram Research Made Simple

Use the Search Bar:

Type a word associated with your business or content (e.g., “tattoo”).

Press enter and explore the results—this one keyword can provide a wealth of information to save for later.

Focus on Content:

What type of content appears under this keyword? Is it reels, carousels, or static photos?

What audio is being used?

Are there compelling hooks or calls to action (CTAs) you can adapt for your own content?

Dive Deeper:

Click on at least five posts under each keyword.

Take note of the hashtags used.

If you want to go further, click on these hashtags to check their popularity and content trends. Focus on hashtags with fewer than 50,000 users for better visibility.

Study Competitors:

Identify profiles that frequently appear during your research.

Note down at least 10 competitors to engage with later.

Expand Your Keywords:

Repeat this process with at least five keywords. Don’t forget to include location-based terms or other specific criteria.

Document all hashtags, keywords, hooks, CTAs, and competitors in a sheet or document for future use.

Step 2: Understand Your Audience

By researching your competitors and industry trends, you’ll gain insights into what resonates with your audience. This understanding will grow with practice and consistent interaction.

Step 3: Engagement Strategy

Engagement is the heart of reaching the right audience.

Here’s how to do it:

10-20 Minutes Before Posting

Spend time engaging with your audience and competitors before you post:

Inbound Engagement:

Interact with people you already follow.

Like their posts, leave thoughtful comments, and respond to their stories.

Outbound Engagement:

Seek out new accounts and engage with people who don’t follow you yet.

Focus on big industry professionals or potential clients to expand your reach.

Step 4: Recap and Action Plan

Here’s a quick summary to get started:

Conduct Instagram research to identify the best keywords for your niche.
Analyse content formats, keywords, hashtags, and competitors.
Document your findings in an organised way.
Use engaging hooks to attract your ideal clients.
Prioritise engagement—build a community and increase awareness.

By following these steps, you’ll create a strong foundation for reaching the right audience and converting them into loyal followers or clients.

3 February 2025

Mastering Hooks for Social Media: Keep Your Audience Hooked! 🎣

faflikovaterezie Digital marketing skills

Hooks are the secret sauce for grabbing attention on social media.

Whether it’s a post, a caption, or even a landing page, a strong hook gets people intrigued and keeps them engaged.

Here’s how to craft hooks that work:

Make them elaborate enough to spark curiosity.
Keep them engaging to capture attention in seconds.
Stay on brand—your hooks should reflect your unique style and voice.
Ensure they’re appealing and resonate with your audience’s interests.

Why Hooks Matter

In the fast-paced world of social media, attention spans are fleeting. With just a few seconds to capture interest, your hook becomes the deciding factor in whether someone pauses to engage with your content or scrolls past it. A well-crafted hook draws people in, makes your content stand out, and boosts engagement.

1. Visual Hooks:

A visual hook is any action or movement that grabs attention immediately. Even the simplest gestures can work wonders.

Think about:

➡️ Pouring a drink or setting down a cup of coffee.

➡️ Unboxing a product or showcasing a quick setup.

➡️ Adding a slow zoom or pan to highlight an important detail.

It doesn’t have to be over the top—focus on details that align with your content. Movement adds energy and intrigue, making viewers pause and watch.

2. Text Hooks:

Text can add an extra layer of engagement to your visuals or captions.

Consider these tips:

➡️ Add bold or animated text to your videos to emphasise key points.

➡️ Use a catchy line or question at the start of your caption to draw readers in.

➡️ Experiment with compelling phrases like:

Tattoo Text Hooks to use in your next post "You didn’t know you needed a tattoo like this.” “Let’s tattoo a [x] together!” “This tattoo will blow your mind.” “Today I’ll show you a big project finally being finished!” “Your day will probably get better with a new tattoo.” "Here are tattoos, even your mom will approve of."

3. Audio Hooks

Sound is a game-changer for grabbing attention.

Consider:

➡️ Use a trending or relevant sound to complement your content.

➡️ Starting with an intriguing phrase like “Stop scrolling for this…” or “Wait till you hear this…”.

➡️ Adding satisfying sound effects (like a click, chime, or whoosh) to match a visual cue.

Audio hooks make your content more dynamic and memorable, giving people a reason to stay engaged.

Final Thoughts

In a sea of endless posts, a little effort in crafting the perfect hook can make all the difference. By leveraging visual, text, and audio hooks, you’ll stop your audience mid-scroll and keep them intrigued.

Next time you create content, think about what will make your audience pause and pay attention.

A strong hook isn’t just an add-on—it’s the foundation for boosting your engagement and leaving a lasting impression. 🌟 Check out my other marketing blog posts here.

24 October 2024

Crafting Your Personal Brand: Authenticity, Strategy, and Standout Identity

faflikovaterezie Digital marketing skills, Social Media Tips

Personal Branding ✨

Let’s be honest—personal branding is just a professional way of saying, “making a name for yourself.”

But it’s more than just recognition. It’s about showing the world who you are, what you stand for, and how that translates into your business.

Take Simone Biles’ iconic goat necklace or Sabrina Carpenter’s unforgettable espresso campaign—they’re perfect examples of carefully crafted personal brands. Every detail is thought through, from visual cues to personal values.

But here’s the thing: you don’t need to be a superstar or have millions of dollars to build a strong personal brand. All you need is to be authentically you.

Let’s look at some more great examples of personal branding:

Taylor Swift

Known for reinventing herself with every album era, Taylor Swift’s personal brand is built on storytelling and connection. Her ability to stay true to her values while adapting keeps fans engaged and loyal.

Rihanna (Fenty Beauty)

Rihanna didn’t just lend her name to Fenty Beauty; she made inclusivity her brand’s core value. Her focus on diversity and representation has made her brand authentic and groundbreaking in beauty.

Nike’s “Just Do It” Campaign

While not a person, this campaign is a perfect example of branding tied to identity. When you think of Nike, you think of drive, ambition, and action.

So, how does this all tie into social media marketing?

Elevate your personal brand:

Create a strategy that reflects your values.

What do you care about? What are your goals? Every piece of content you share should have a purpose and represent your true self.

Special tip:

Spend time identifying three to five core values that define you or your business. Use these as a filter for your content and decisions. This will ensure your message stays consistent across every platform.

Perfect your branding.

Think about your colour scheme, fonts, or even the tone of your captions. Make sure it’s consistent across all platforms.

Special tip:

Pick a colour palette and design elements that resonate with your personality or business values. Use tools like Canva to build templates and maintain brand consistency.

Have something memorable.

Whether it’s a signature font, your unique voice, a go-to outfit, or even the way you interact with your audience, having something people instantly associate with you is essential.

Special tip:

Choose one defining characteristic that will stick—whether it’s a distinct catchphrase, a quirky sign-off, or a specific type of content you post regularly (e.g., motivational Monday videos). Over time, this will become a recognizable part of your brand identity.

But here’s the best part: building a personal brand isn’t something you do once and forget about.

It’s an ongoing journey that grows and evolves as you do.

So, are you ready to level up your personal brand? Let’s make it happen! Contact me today for social media and content creation services, and let’s craft your story together.

12 May 2024

Creating an Authentic Personal Brand

faflikovaterezie Digital marketing skills

In today’s digital age, social media has become an essential tool for businesses and individuals alike.

Many find themselves struggling to generate warm leads and meaningful connections on social media.

Building an authentic personal brand can be your guiding light in the social media landscape, leading you towards warmer leads and genuine engagement.

Here’s how you can create a personal brand that resonates with your audience:

Recognise Your Audience:

The foundation of any successful personal brand lies in understanding your audience.

Take the time to identify who you’re speaking to:

their interests
pain points
aspirations.

Building trust starts with acknowledging and empathising with your audience’s needs.

Remember, it’s not just about sharing your message. It’s about engaging in meaningful conversations and forging lasting relationships.

So, listen attentively, respond authentically, and let the connection be your guiding force.

Define Your Brand Values:

What principles do you and your brand hold dear?

Whether it’s:

integrity
innovation
empathy

…defining your brand values is crucial in shaping your identity and setting the tone for your interactions.

Your values serve as the guiding star that directs your decisions and actions.

By staying true to your values, you not only build credibility and trust but also attract like-minded individuals who resonate with your beliefs.

Embrace Your Brand Purpose:

Why do you do what you do?

Your brand’s purpose is more than just a statement; it’s the driving force behind everything you undertake.

Whether your purpose is to inspire, educate, or entertain, understanding your ‘why’ adds depth and meaning to your journey.

Embrace your purpose with passion, and let it permeate every aspect of your personal brand. From the content you create to the products or services you offer.

By aligning your actions with your purpose, you not only create a more meaningful brand but also attract your target audience.

Envision Your Brand’s Future:

Where do you see your brand heading?

Envision the future you’re working towards and the impact you aspire to make.

Your brand vision serves as a roadmap, guiding you towards your goals and inspiring others to join you on your journey.

Share your vision with authenticity and enthusiasm.

Remember, building a personal brand is not just about achieving a destination.

It’s about embracing the journey with authenticity, resilience, and commitment to your values.

In conclusion:

Creating an authentic personal brand is a journey of self-discovery, connection, and growth.

By:

– recognising your audience

– defining your values

– embracing your purpose

– envisioning your brand’s future

… you can create a compelling narrative that resonates with your audience and attracts warm leads on social media.

So, embrace authenticity, stay true to your values, and let your personal brand shine brightly in the digital realm.

9 April 2024

Here is why you need a social media manager for your business.

faflikovaterezie Digital marketing skills, Social Media Tips

In this article, we will discover why is social media managers an essential part of any business or brand.

Ok, I’m all about giving you free advice but there’s more to it than creating content and engaging with your community.

Here is a list of things that a social media manager does for you.

You might not know, but these are all the things SMM does ⤵️

Social media audit

Before any action, an audit of your profile is needed to create a tailored strategy.

After that, there is a lot of research ⤵️

– Keyword research

– Hashtags

– Competitor research

After all of this is established and recorded, it’s time to create an actual strategy.

Content pillars

But first, content pillars are needed for creating a cohesive content strategy.

Those are created based on our research.

Content strategy

Finally getting to the juicy stuff. Strategy is where we set an objective and create a journey on how we get there.

Content creation & calendar

The strategy wouldn’t be anywhere without content.

Content pillars are broken into small pieces of content and put into a cohesive calendar with engaging copies.

After all of this, there is still the actual content left to create.

That is the video and graphic you actually see on social media.

We are almost there!

Scheduling

Drafting and scheduling to ensure everything is ready for posting.

Community engagement

(my bread and butter – find out more on my Instagram)

Where would we be without other’s support? Creating community is the essence of social media growth.

Metrics

Analysing your content along the way is also a part of the social media manager’s job.

Evaluating the strategy and adjusting along the way is a crucial part of social media growth.

Contact me today for diverse social media management packages.

In conclusion, a social media manager is an important part of any business, small or big.

3 April 2024

Identify and attract your target audience

faflikovaterezie Digital marketing skills

How to identify your target audience?

The target audience is the people whom you are creating content for.

Your content should be adjusted to your ideal clients.

Your content NEEDS to include content pillars which resonate with your audience.

But how do you do that?

Identify your niche

Identify what type of content you are comfortable creating and what type of audience your content might attract.

Competitor research

Watching your competitor’s audience will help you identify yours.

Buyer persona

Each customer or client has its own journey.

Recognising demographics, interests, challenges, and goals can help you identify your target audience.

Now, that you know your ideal clients, connecting with them shouldn’t be as difficult.

But how do you attract them? 🤔

Connecting with your audience through your content essentially comes down to these 5 points ⬇️

Content Strategy

Create content pillars (topics), that resonate with your ideal clients.

Your strategy should be cohesive and based on your content pillars.

The content should be relevant and valuable.

Keywords

Yes, those are the KEY here.

Research keywords that attract your target audience.

Use them thoroughly in your content and ensure they fit seamlessly into your content strategy.

Engagement

Connecting with your audience is as important as your strategy.

Engage with others and create real relationships.

Create a community and be a valuable part of it.

Metrics

Identifying what works and what doesn’t is the key to a successful social media strategy.

Keeping track of your analytics and understanding how your target audience reacts to your content is crucial.

Consistency

Don’t give up!

It takes time to spread the message and to connect with your target audience.

Stay consistent with your strategy and create meaningful relationships within your community.

Find more social media tips on my Instagram.

28 March 2024

Search engine optimisation on social media

faflikovaterezie Digital marketing skills

What is SEO?

Search engine optimisation on social media is about helping search bots understand your content.

It’s about optimising your content so users can find it when looking for keywords included in your posts or website.

How it works on social media?

All apps have bots/algorithms scanning your content and sorting it out according to the words and phrases you include.

We call those keywords. These are the key words or phrases that you want to repeat within your content strategy.

Your content with certain keywords will then be shown to people who have previously shown interest in content with similar keywords.

This can mean that they have previously liked, commented, saved or searched for similar content to yours.

Why should you care?

Optimising your content, so people can find it more easily will increase your visibility and reach.

When you include those keywords in your content you are a wide audience, but at the same time sorting the audience out.

How to optimise your profile so search engines can find you?🤔

BIO

The BIO (the about you section) on your social media profile should be optimised and include keywords that will let the audience know what your profile is about.

This should include what you do and ideally where.

So when people search for it, your profile will most likely come up.

Name

Most social media (like Instagram, TikTok and Linkedin) allow you to have two names (user name and a handle) or have a longer name.

Use that to your advantage.

Use keywords related to your industry or niche so people can easily find your profile.

Keywords

To keep things short – include chosen keywords in your content to make it more discoverable.

Content strategy

The strategy will help you keep your content in alignment with your keywords (essentially content pillars).

Make sure you keep your content cohesive and provide your audience with a clear message.

That essentially provides a clear message for bots searching your content.

Find out more about content strategy here.

Consistency

Optimising your profiles and building strong search engine optimisation on social media takes time.

Stay consistent and make sure to adjust according to analytics if needed.

Alt text

Alt text is one of the best ways how to sneak in your keywords and keep your content discoverable.

Alt text is a description of images on your website or social media (like Instagram posts).

This description helps bots understand what your content is about.

Disposing yourself to others and creating engaging content can encourage others to share your content

and give it bigger exposure. Read more here.

19 March 2024

The Power of Emotional Marketing

faflikovaterezie Digital marketing skills

Emotional marketing is a marketing strategy that focuses on appealing to consumers’ emotions.This creates a connection between the brand and its audience. This approach involves creating marketing messages, advertisements, and campaigns that evoke specific emotional responses.

Here are some key insights and tips to help you tap into the emotional marketing:

Forget About Followers

In the age of social media, it’s easy to get caught up in the numbers game.

However, the true measure of success lies in the quality of your connections rather than the quantity of your followers.

Focus on building authentic relationships with your audience.

Follower Count Isn’t Everything

While a large following may seem appealing, it’s not the be-all and end-all.

Instead of fixating on numbers, prioritise engagement and interaction with your audience.

The Importance of Engagement

Engaging with other accounts will not only create brand awareness but also help you create bonds with your audience.

Creating connections with your followers on social media will likely get you loyal clients or customers you’ve dreamed of.

You must constantly be creating an emotional bond with your audience.

Targeting Emotions Through Content

In the realm of emotional marketing, transparency and authenticity are not just buzzwords; they are the foundation upon which genuine connections with consumers are built.

Transparency

Firstly, transparency is key.

It’s about peeling back the curtains and letting your audience see the REAL you.

Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or a large corporation, allowing your personality to shine through in your content makes you relatable.

Authenticity

Authenticity goes hand in hand with transparency.

It’s about staying true to your brand values and identity.

Authenticity resonates with consumers because it fosters trust and credibility.

When your audience senses that you’re being genuine and sincere, they are more likely to engage with your brand and remain loyal over time.

Behind the scenes

Moreover, emotional marketing thrives on sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses.

In today’s digital age, consumers are hungry for authenticity and crave the “juicy details” behind the products or services they love.

By offering a peek into your operations you humanise your brand and foster a sense of connection with your audience.

Introduce your team

Introducing your team is another powerful way to create connections.

Putting faces to names and sharing the stories of the people behind your brand adds depth and relatability.

It humanises your business and builds trust.

Consumers are more likely to connect with real people.

Don’t forget to create real relationships.

Ultimately, emotional marketing is about creating genuine connections with your audience.

By following these tips, you lay the groundwork for meaningful relationships that go beyond transactional interactions.

It’s these connections that drive loyalty, advocacy, and long-term success in the ever-evolving landscape of marketing.

Find out more on my blog and don’t forget to follow my Instagram for more social media and content creation tips.

26 January 2024

Why is consistency in branding important?

faflikovaterezie Digital marketing skills, Social Media Tips

Here are 5 reasons why is consistency in branding important:

The source is LinkedIn.

Memorability

Repetition is a powerful tool in marketing, and the more people experience your brand consistently, the more likely they are to remember it.

The “rule of seven” suggests that people need to encounter a message at least seven times before recalling it, highlighting the importance of repetition.

Brand Recognition

Consistency contributes to brand recognition.

When your audience can instantly identify your brand, it builds trust and familiarity.

Recognisable brands are more likely to be chosen by consumers.

71% stated they are more likely to buy from a brand they recognise. 👁️

Building Awareness

Brand consistency helps build awareness.

Businesses that maintain consistency in their branding efforts are 3.5 times more visible to customers.

This increased visibility allows your brand to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Revenue Increase

Marketing consistency can lead to a significant increase in revenue.

On average, businesses that prioritise brand consistency experience a 23% revenue increase.

Choosing consistent brand colours can further boost recognition by up to 80%.

Consumers prefer brands that maintain consistency in messaging, logos, and overall marketing efforts.

Trustworthiness

Consistency creates trust.

In the same way, consistent behaviour builds trust in personal relationships.

Trust is a crucial factor for 81% of consumers when deciding whether to buy from a brand.

If your marketing efforts lack consistency, it can leave your audience questioning the reliability and authenticity of your business.

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