by Scarlett Darbyshire

How to Ensure Your Business is a Social Media Success

Checklist

How to Ensure Your Business is a Social Media Success

Social media can be a goldmine for businesses—or a frustrating void where your posts disappear into the digital abyss. But fear not! With the right strategy, a dash of creativity, and a sprinkle of consistency, you can turn your social media presence into a success story. Here’s your guide to making it happen:

1. Set Clear Goals (And Actually Stick to Them)

If you don’t know what you’re aiming for, how will you know when you succeed?

  • Define Your Goals:
    • Are you looking for brand awareness, more sales, or customer loyalty?
    • Be specific: “Increase Instagram engagement by 20% in 3 months” beats “Do better on social.”
  • Why It Matters: Clear goals keep you focused and help measure your progress.

2. Know Your Audience Like Your Best Friend

Social media isn’t a one-size-fits-all game.

  • What to Do:
    • Research your audience’s age, interests, and online habits.
    • Use analytics tools to see what content they love (and what they scroll past).
  • Pro Tip: Don’t waste time creating TikToks for a crowd that lives on LinkedIn.

3. Pick the Right Platforms (Less is More!)

You don’t have to be everywhere—just where your audience is.

  • Where to Focus:
    • Instagram for visual content.
    • LinkedIn for professional networking.
    • TikTok for snappy, trend-driven videos.
  • Bonus Tip: It’s better to excel on 2 platforms than flop on 5.

4. Create Scroll-Stopping Content

In a sea of endless posts, yours need to stand out.

  • What Works:
    • High-quality images and videos.
    • Clear, compelling captions.
    • Value-driven posts (think tips, humor, or inspiration).
  • Experiment: Mix up your formats—Reels, polls, carousels, or behind-the-scenes sneak peeks.

5. Be Consistent (But Not Annoying)

Posting regularly builds trust and keeps you top-of-mind.

  • How to Stay Consistent:
    • Create a content calendar to plan posts in advance.
    • Post at optimal times when your audience is online.
  • Warning: Don’t post so much that people mute or unfollow you!

6. Engage Like a Human, Not a Robot

Social media is a two-way street.

  • What to Do:
    • Respond to comments and DMs promptly.
    • Like and share user-generated content.
    • Join conversations—don’t just broadcast messages.
  • Pro Tip: Show some personality! People follow people, not faceless brands.

7. Use Hashtags Wisely

Hashtags can help new audiences discover your content—if you use them right.

  • How to Do It:
    • Use a mix of popular and niche hashtags (e.g., #SmallBusinessLove and #CustomCandles).
    • Don’t overdo it—5-10 hashtags are plenty.
  • Test & Learn: Check which hashtags bring the most engagement.

8. Leverage Analytics (AKA, Don’t Guess)

Data is your best friend when it comes to social media success.

  • What to Track:
    • Engagement: Likes, comments, shares.
    • Reach: How many people see your posts.
    • Conversion: Clicks to your website or sales page.
  • Why It Matters: Analytics show what’s working—and what’s not.

9. Stay on Top of Trends (But Be Authentic)

Jumping on trends can boost visibility, but don’t force it.

  • What Works:
    • Participate in challenges or use trending sounds (if they align with your brand).
    • Add your unique twist to popular content.
  • Warning: If it feels awkward or inauthentic, skip it. Your audience will notice.

10. Invest in Paid Ads (Smartly)

Organic reach is great, but paid ads can supercharge your efforts.

  • How to Start:
    • Use boosted posts to target specific audiences.
    • Test different ad formats like carousel ads, stories, or videos.
  • Pro Tip: Start small, analyze results, and scale up successful campaigns.

11. Collaborate with Influencers or Partners

Teaming up with the right people can expand your reach.

  • How to Do It:
    • Partner with influencers who align with your brand and values.
    • Collaborate with complementary businesses for cross-promotions.
  • Why It Works: Their audience becomes your audience.

12. Adapt and Evolve

Social media changes fast—what worked last year might flop today.

  • How to Stay Agile:
    • Keep an eye on new features (like Instagram Threads or TikTok SEO trends).
    • Test different strategies and learn from failures.
  • Mindset Tip: Treat your social media as a living, evolving project.

Final Thoughts

Success on social media doesn’t happen overnight, but with a clear plan, engaging content, and genuine interactions, you can make it work for your business. Remember, social media is about building connections—not just posting for the sake of it.

What’s your top tip for social media success? Share it below—we’d love to hear from you!

by Scarlett Darbyshire

How to Seamlessly Incorporate Social Media into Your Website

Social Media Tabs

Your website is your online headquarters, and social media is your networking powerhouse. When you integrate the two effectively, you create a powerful, interconnected web presence that can drive engagement, boost credibility, and even increase sales. But how do you incorporate your social media into your website without it looking like a chaotic mess? Here’s how to do it the right way.

1. Add Social Media Icons to Your Website

The easiest way to connect your social media with your website is through clickable icons.

  • Where to Place Them:
    • Header or footer (for easy access).
    • “Contact Us” or “About” pages.
  • Tips for Success:
    • Use consistent, recognizable icons for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
    • Link them directly to your profiles—no one likes playing “Find the Page.”

2. Embed Social Media Feeds

Why tell visitors you’re active on social media when you can show them?

  • How to Do It:
    • Use widgets or plugins to embed feeds from Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.
    • Highlight your latest posts, updates, or promotions in real time.
  • Bonus Tip: Choose a clean, minimal design to avoid overwhelming your page.

Pro Tip: If your content is mostly memes and cat videos, make sure it aligns with your brand tone before embedding!

3. Add Social Sharing Buttons

Want people to share your blog posts, products, or announcements? Make it easy for them.

  • How to Do It:
    • Add social sharing buttons to key pages like blogs, product pages, or event announcements.
    • Use plugins like ShareThis or AddThis for seamless integration.
  • Why It Matters: Your audience does the marketing for you—what’s better than free publicity?

4. Highlight User-Generated Content (UGC)

Social proof is powerful. Show off the love your customers are giving you on social media.

  • How to Do It:
    • Create a gallery of customer photos tagged with your product or hashtag.
    • Use tools like Taggbox or TINT to display UGC directly on your website.
  • Bonus: Add a “Shop the Look” feature if you’re in e-commerce for extra functionality.

5. Create a Social Media Hub or Page

Dedicate a section of your website to your social media presence.

  • Ideas for a Social Hub:
    • A page featuring your most engaging posts and videos.
    • Links to your profiles with a CTA (e.g., “Follow us for daily tips!”).
    • Testimonials or shoutouts from followers.

Pro Tip: Label it something creative like “What’s Happening Online” or “Our Social Side.”

6. Incorporate Social Media CTAs

Every page of your website is an opportunity to guide visitors toward your social media.

  • How to Do It:
    • Add CTAs like “Follow us for updates!” or “Tag us @YourHandle to be featured!”
    • Include them at the end of blog posts, in sidebars, or on thank-you pages.
  • Why It Works: People love clear directions—and a little nudge can go a long way.

7. Use Social Media Login Options

Make your website user-friendly by allowing visitors to sign up or log in using their social media accounts.

  • Why It’s Useful:
    • Simplifies the user experience.
    • Encourages people to connect with your brand on multiple platforms.
  • Platforms to Use: Facebook, Google, or LinkedIn (depending on your audience).

8. Feature Social Media Testimonials and Reviews

Have glowing comments on your social media? Showcase them!

  • How to Do It:
    • Create a carousel or slider of top reviews from your social media pages.
    • Include screenshots or reformat them into a testimonials section.
  • Why It’s Effective: Nothing builds trust like hearing it straight from your audience.

9. Promote Social Media Campaigns

Running a hashtag campaign, giveaway, or special event? Highlight it on your website!

  • How to Do It:
    • Add banners or pop-ups promoting the campaign.
    • Embed posts or videos related to the campaign for context.
  • Bonus Tip: Create a dedicated landing page with instructions and updates.

10. Integrate Social Media Analytics

Track how well your website-social media connection is performing.

  • What to Use:
    • Google Analytics: To see referral traffic from social media.
    • Native analytics (e.g., Instagram Insights, Facebook Analytics) for engagement data.
  • Why It Matters: Use the data to refine your strategy and make the integration even better.

Final Thoughts

Incorporating your social media into your website isn’t just about adding links or widgets—it’s about creating a seamless experience for your audience that bridges your platforms. When done right, your website and social media will work together to build your brand, engage your audience, and drive results.

Got any other tips for integrating social media into a website? Share them below—we’d love to hear your ideas!

by Scarlett Darbyshire

Why Your Business Doesn’t Have to Jump on Every Social Media Trend

Let’s talk about trends. They’re flashy, fun, and promise to make your business go viral if you just hop on at the right time. But here’s the truth: not every trend is meant for your business.

In fact, chasing trends like a cat chasing a laser pointer can leave your brand looking confused, desperate, or—worst of all—forgettable. So, before you start planning your next #IceBucketChallenge or lip-sync reel, let’s explore why skipping some trends might actually be the best thing for your business.

1. Not Every Trend Fits Your Brand

You’ve probably seen brands that have no business dabbling in a trend trying to force it. (Remember when that tax preparation company jumped on TikTok dances? Yeah, still cringing.)

  • Reality Check: Just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t mean it aligns with your values, tone, or audience.
  • Pro Tip: Stick to what makes sense for your brand. If you sell legal services, you don’t need to jump on a trend about funny parenting fails.

2. Your Audience Might Not Care

Trends are often designed to grab attention, but is it the right attention? Ask yourself:

  • Does this trend appeal to my target audience?
  • Will it help me achieve my business goals, or is it just a flashy distraction?

Example: If your customers are mostly professionals over 50, they probably don’t care about the latest Gen Z meme.

3. Trends Burn Out Fast

By the time you’ve planned, filmed, and posted your on-trend content, it’s possible that the trend is already so last week. Social media moves at lightning speed, and hopping on trends can feel like running on a hamster wheel.

  • Alternative: Focus on evergreen content—things that will still be relevant next month, next year, or even next decade.

4. Trying Too Hard Can Backfire

There’s nothing worse than looking like the “cool” parent trying to impress teenagers. (Yes, we’re looking at you, brands that use “slay” unironically.)

  • Risk: If your attempt at a trend feels forced, it can make your business seem out of touch or inauthentic.
  • Solution: Stick to trends that feel natural and authentic to your brand voice.

5. It Drains Your Resources

Creating trendy content takes time, energy, and money—resources that might be better spent elsewhere.

  • Instead of investing in the latest trend, focus on building a consistent social media presence. Quality > novelty every time.

6. You Risk Losing Your Brand Identity

If you’re constantly chasing trends, your followers might start to wonder: Who are you, really?

  • Reality Check: Trends come and go, but your brand’s voice, mission, and values are what keep customers coming back.

7. Standing Out Matters More Than Blending In

Trends are popular because everyone is doing them. But do you really want your business to look like everyone else’s?

  • Alternative: Create original content that showcases what makes your business unique. You’ll stand out more than if you’re just one more voice in a crowded trend.

8. Trends Don’t Equal Results

Going viral might feel like a win, but does it translate to actual sales, loyalty, or growth?

  • Reality: A trendy video might get likes and views, but it doesn’t guarantee meaningful engagement or ROI.

When Should You Jump on a Trend?

Of course, not all trends are bad. Here’s how to decide if one’s worth your time:

  1. It aligns with your brand values and voice.
  2. Your audience is engaging with it.
  3. You have the resources to do it well.
  4. It’s fun, relevant, and feels authentic.

Example: If you’re a bakery and there’s a trend about unusual cupcake flavors, go for it! But if you’re a CPA firm… maybe sit that one out.

Final Thoughts: Trends Come and Go, But Your Brand Is Forever

Jumping on every trend might make your social media feel busy, but it won’t necessarily make it better. Focus on staying true to your brand, creating content that resonates with your audience, and leaving the FOMO behind.

Remember: your business doesn’t need to be trendy to be successful—it just needs to be authentic.

What’s the weirdest trend you’ve seen a business try to pull off? Share your favourites in the comments!

by Scarlett Darbyshire

How to Use Social Media for Business When You Absolutely Hate Social Media

YouTube Photo

Social media: it’s everywhere, it’s necessary, and it’s… not your thing. We get it. The endless scrolling, the pressure to post, the hashtags—it can feel overwhelming, shallow, or just downright annoying. But when it comes to growing your business, ignoring social media isn’t an option. Luckily, you don’t have to love it to make it work for you. Here’s how to use social media for your business without losing your mind (or your soul).

1. Embrace the “Set It and Forget It” Approach

Who said you have to be online 24/7? Automation tools can handle most of the heavy lifting.

  • What to do:
    • Use scheduling tools like Buffer, Hootsuite, or Later to plan and post content in advance.
    • Batch-create content once a week or month and let the tools do the rest.
  • Bonus: You can “post and ghost,” leaving social media to work while you focus on things you actually enjoy.

2. Focus on One or Two Platforms

You don’t need to be everywhere at once. Pick the platforms that make the most sense for your audience and business.

  • For visual content: Instagram or Pinterest.
  • For professionals: LinkedIn.
  • For bite-sized updates: Twitter (or whatever it’s called now).
  • For avoiding social media entirely: Google My Business and email marketing are your best friends.

3. Outsource the Pain

If you truly can’t stand social media, let someone else handle it.

  • Options:
    • Hire a social media manager or virtual assistant.
    • Collaborate with freelance content creators to craft posts and captions.
    • Use influencer partnerships to promote your brand (they do the posting, you reap the benefits).

4. Quality Over Quantity

You don’t need to post every day. A few high-quality posts that truly resonate with your audience are far more effective than daily filler content.

  • What works:
    • Share meaningful updates about your business.
    • Post behind-the-scenes content or customer stories.
    • Highlight your expertise with tips or tutorials.

5. Repurpose Everything

Create once, use everywhere. Maximize your effort by recycling content across platforms.

  • Turn a blog post into a carousel or infographic.
  • Use video snippets for Reels, TikToks, and YouTube Shorts.
  • Share the same content with slight tweaks across platforms (nobody’s keeping score).

6. Make It Fun (or at Least Tolerable)

If you hate social media, try finding ways to make it less of a chore:

  • Gamify it: Challenge yourself to create one great post in 15 minutes.
  • Use humor: Don’t take it too seriously—people love authenticity.
  • Experiment: Try formats like memes, GIFs, or polls to see what sticks.

7. Let Data Be Your Guide

You don’t have to guess what works—let analytics do the talking.

  • Check platform insights to see which posts perform best.
  • Focus your efforts on what drives results, and ignore the rest.
  • Celebrate every win, no matter how small.

8. Engage on Your Terms

Social media doesn’t have to consume your life. Set boundaries to avoid burnout:

  • Check your accounts only once a day (or less).
  • Turn off notifications.
  • Dedicate 10-15 minutes to responding to comments or messages and then log off.

9. Be Authentic

Hate social media? That’s okay—embrace it. Your honesty could actually resonate with your audience.

  • Post something like: “Not gonna lie, social media isn’t my favorite, but I love connecting with all of you. Here’s what we’ve been working on…”
  • Being real makes your brand relatable and approachable.

10. Remember the Bigger Picture

At the end of the day, social media is just a tool to grow your business. Focus on the results it brings rather than the process itself. Think about:

  • Increased visibility for your products or services.
  • Connecting with potential customers or clients.
  • Building credibility in your industry.

Conclusion:
You don’t need to be a social media superstar to use it effectively for your business. By setting boundaries, focusing on what works, and outsourcing when necessary, you can make social media work for you—even if you secretly (or not-so-secretly) hate it.

What’s your least favorite thing about social media? Share in the comments—let’s commiserate together!

by Scarlett Darbyshire

40 Social Media Content Ideas for Your Restaurant

We all know how important social media is a tool people use to make purchasing decisions. This is especially true when it comes to choosing where to eat⁠ — people just seem to love sharing and searching for photos of food. So much so in fact, according to TouchBistro, 41% of people have decided to eat at a specific restaurant based entirely on positive social media feedback.

So you’re a restaurateur that’s sold on getting social and you’ve created your profiles, but what next? Anyone who has ever created a social media account will, at some point, know the difficulty of coming up with fresh content. Many find it overwhelming to navigate the world of social media as it is, but throw in trying to run your actual business at the same time as well… well it can all just get a bit overwhelming can’t it.

Restaurants are one of my favourite businesses to work with as social media content is literally everywhere! It’s just that you may not be recognising it as such. That’s why I’ve created this handy PDF that’s free to download that you can reference whenever you’re feeling a bit uninspired for content. Why not try one of these fresh ideas for your next Facebook, Twitter or Instagram post…

Restaurant Content IdeasDownload

Still feeling a bit overwhelmed with it all? Why not book a meeting so we can talk it through? Or if you just want social media off your plate… I can help you there too.

by Scarlett Darbyshire

What is Social Media and Why is it Important?

Social Media Apps

Social media is the means by which people interact with others in virtual communities and networks allowing them to create, share and exchange information and ideas. With the rapid popularity growth of these new technologies, social media has had a profound impact on the way people discover, read and share news, information and content. Social media encompasses all forms of ‘user generated’ content, from communication platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to multimedia services such as YouTube and virtual gaming platforms like World of Warcraft. It has become extremely popular as it allows people to connect and form relationships in the online world for personal and business use.

How is Social Media Being Used by Businesses?

Social media puts you out there and brings your solutions to your prospects’ doors. As such, the benefits of creating a social presence on the web have been felt by every type of business and industry. Whether you have a restaurant, retail outlet or provide professional services, social media enables you to build your online reputation, increase credibility and help generate business and drive sales. By taking advantage of social media, you can make your business gain more exposure, be more personable and generate and maintain long term connections as well as benefit from rich insights into your customers and industry. All of which can greatly benefit your business in the future.

Why Should You Join In?

With the surge in popularity in having a presence on social media, the chances are that your customers and competitors are already involved. On the web your customers will be talking, forming their opinions and its’s where they’re making their own recommendations to their friends and connections. Likewise your competitors may be already channelling in on those customers and reaping the rewards from engaging with, joining and listening to those conversations. People all around the world may be already talking about your business, so it’s important that you get involved in the conversation and present yourself how you want to be presented on the web. Still not convinced? Here are 5 more reasons why you need social media for your business;

Social Media is Everywhere and Very Popular

Social media has become a central part of most people’s lives, whether they are at home or on the go, people are actively engaging online. These users aren’t just sharing updates from their own lives; they are searching for businesses, products, and services, and connecting with brands through their social channels. People of all ages and genders are actively using social media so no matter how old or young, or what gender your target audience may be, chances are most of them are already logging on and waiting for you to get started.

Social Media Sites are Free

Getting started on most social media platforms is completely free. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, WordPress and LinkedIn all offer free accounts to users and businesses and in most cases signing up won’t require anything more than an email address.  There are features within some platforms that you need to pay for such as a Facebook Ad or a profile upgrade in LinkedIn, but for the purposes of getting started there’s no upfront cost for most of the social networks.

Join an Existing Conversation

Social media provides you with an opportunity to listen to the conversations about your business and industry being openly discussed online. Not only does joining this conversation mean you can hear what is being said about you, it also means you can easily develop a richer understanding of your customers and benefit from insights into your target audiences. Moreover, it can also be used to create dedicated communities where you can host discussions about the products and services you offer or use your followers as an outlet for helping build new ones.

Social Media is Great for Customer Service

Customer service through social media is quickly becoming an expectation of consumers. Businesses have quickly come to realise that it offers a unique opportunity to showcase your customer service skills, promote more intimate business relationships with your customers and enables you to cater to your customer’s needs instantly. In a world where everything is fast-paced, a quick response that showcases how much you care about providing a memorable experience can create a lifelong customer.  Social media allows you to continually strengthen relationships with these customers through social engagement and because this engagement is publicly visible to others, it can introduce your business to a whole new audience and enable you to reach your next customer.

It Helps People Learn More About Your Business

Social media sites are becoming the go-to place for consumers who want to learn more about a business. People are online actively searching for information about anything from product reviews to informative articles and general entertainment so it is up to you to utilise this and use your social media presence to provide valuable, informative and entertaining news and updates to existing and potential audiences.  If customers are already searching for you on Facebook or Twitter and not finding your business, you are missing opportunities to win new customers and inform and engage your existing ones so it is vital that you join in with social media and have your brand heard and seen online.

Are you sold on getting social? Whether you want me to work with you from the beginning or help you get your marketing efforts back on track, i’m here to help your business level up and reach its full potential by getting savvy with social! 🚀