There’s no way around it – social media management is an investment! You can see a fantastic ROI, but it still might not be the right time for your business to shell out $1k+ a month for someone else to handle your social media presence. In this post, I’m sharing 5 tips from my three years of being a social media manager to help you manage your own Instagram.
How to Manage Your Own Instagram: My 5 Most Helpful Tips
Tip #1: Be realistic about the amount of content you can create.
There are plenty of social media gurus who will tell you to put out 7 posts a week (or more!). While that quantity may help accelerate your growth, it won’t work if you burn out and stop posting after a few weeks. Instead, consider what amount of content you can realistically create, month after month, without losing steam. For most business owners managing their own Instagram, I recommend three to four posts a week.
Tip #2: Use a content scheduling tool.
You don’t have to come up with content on the spot, every day! Find the rhythm of content creation that works for you (I typically batch one to two weeks at a time!) and schedule it out in advance. There are free tools like Meta Business Suite, as well as paid options like Planoly or Later.
Tip #3: Prioritize storytelling and connection.
The biggest benefit of being your own social media manager is that YOU’RE the one writing posts and sharing your story in your own words. While a stellar social media manager will be able to effectively convey your brand, there’s something powerful about you being the one creating content. Don’t be afraid to show up imperfectly on stories, showing off your day!
And of course, it’s not only about the content. Make time for intentional engagement as well!
Tip #4: Consider investing in support or templates.
Even if social media management isn’t in the budget, you can save a lot of time and mistakes by investing in some type of support that can speed up the process. Whether you join a content calendar subscription or purchase templates you can reuse, investigate what can save you time and energy.
Tip #5: Growth is slower than it used to be – try not to get discouraged!
The most important thing to remember when working on your own account – and wearing all the hats – is that growth is not as rapid as it used to be. Instagram was a lot less competitive pre-2020, and now that we’re post-first iteration of the covid pandemic and we aren’t at home as much, in general your audience is spending a lot less time on your phones. This isn’t to say you can’t grow your account and hit your goals – but that it might take more time than you expect, especially if it isn’t your sole focus.
The Biggest Secret to Manage Your Own Instagram? Patience.
You cannot rush the process. Getting frustrated with the algorithm (that is only as good as the information it gets, and is not an evil little man sitting in a corner office waging war on your business) will only take away the FUN that can come with building connections & earning sales through Instagram. Stay focused on your goal, be willing to experiment, and use your analytics to impact your future actions.
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