For marketers and businesses, social media can yield significant results. When run effectively, it can help to achieve key goals, like generating leads and increasing brand awareness. However, getting started and refining workflows can often be a challenging task, especially when it means trying something new. With the speed at which marketing, social media, and technology more generally are changing, staying up-to-date and streamlining processes is crucial. Use this as your checklist to make sure you’re on the right track, or to use as inspiration when you’re looking for ways to refresh your operations and strategies.

Treat a content calendar like your first born child.

For a content calendar to be effective, it needs to be maintained and given the love it needs. Plan a month in advance and leave room for reactive posting. Knowing what’s being posted and when can help to ensure that you have a strong content mix, which is important to keep your audience interested and engaged. For inspiration, have a look at key dates in the calendar and see what others in your industry or niche are posting.

Plan your monthly campaigns a quarter ahead and your content a month ahead (with wiggle room for reactive marketing)

If you’re considering executing a campaign from end-to-end, start to plan a quarter out. Campaigns take time to develop, requiring strategies based on past data, a large amount of copy, varied creative assets, budget planning, significant stakeholder engagement, and so much more. Create a rough schedule to adhere to, with key targets to check off along the way.

Schedule your posts, but check they have been published

Scheduling is one of those tasks which should only take seconds, but ends up eating 30 minutes of your day. Bulk schedule your content, using a tool like Buffer or Sprout Social, and set reminders to check the content has been published. This will save you precious time throughout the week, leaving you the space to focus on other activities.

Assign roles and responsibilities in your team for efficiency

Being a marketing generalist has its perks, and it’s great for every member of a team to have a basic understanding of each process. However, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and assigning specific tasks can help to achieve maximum efficiency. This way, each team member provides a unique contribution, and there are clear responsibilities in place, giving every person an opportunity to become an expert.

Document workflows for efficiency and consistency, so that new members can hop in

This may sound obvious, but it’s easy to forget to write down processes when it seems as though everyone is familiar with them. When new team members join an organization, it’s best to have easily accessible files to refer to. This should include best practices, who owns specific channels, how to access and work key tools and platforms, and any other necessary pieces of information.

Use AI, but make sure to sprinkle your content with your own flavor

There’s no doubt that AI has made many aspects of social media marketing that much easier. From streamlining processes, to creating caption copy, it’s become the personal assistant that many hoped and dreamed of. However, when it comes to written content, it’s important to make sure that you are tailoring prompts to adhere to your brand voice or alternatively, altering outputs to be certain that they reflect your brand guidelines. 

Be ready to embrace unexpected trends

Social media campaigns don’t always go to plan. Sometimes, content just doesn’t resonate with an audience, or cultural shifts mean that you have to reconsider your messaging. Checking in on your data will give you an idea as to how your campaign is performing, and what might need to be tweaked to see changes in your metrics. Be ready to switch things up when needed. Adaptability is crucial in running successful campaigns.

Outsource content creation where needed: when and how to do it

Anyone can run a beautiful campaign, whether you’re a natural born content creator, or you don’t have an ounce of design experience. Tools like Picsart can help you to create striking visuals, no matter your skill level. Knowing your audience and what makes them tick is enough to get started. Create with manual tools if you’re already a seasoned graphic designer, or opt for Picsart’s AI tools like AI Logo Generator and Brand Kit to see your visions come to life in just a few clicks.

Regularly assess your processes in line with new tech, changing trends and what works for you

Keeping up with new developments in technology can help you to stay competitive in your industry, free up time, and make processes easier. Each quarter, take time to assess what’s working well and what needs to be updated. Perhaps a new social listening tool may be well suited to your needs, or you need more AI design support due to a team member’s departure. Identify your pain points and adjust your processes as needed.

Avoid burnout as a solo marketer or small team 

Preventing burnout can often be the last thing on a marketer’s mind during busy periods. Take regular breaks and have time away from your screen to make sure that you’re operating responsibly and healthily. If you’re concerned about missing important updates, set alerts for urgent items. Tackling obstacles and planning strategically takes brainpower, so ensuring that you have the mental capacity to work effectively is important.

Every business is different, so make sure to take the tips that apply to yours. If you’re a B2B business, it’s unlikely that you will need to leave as much room in your content calendar for reactive trend content, and if you’re a freelance marketer running the social media accounts for small businesses, you may need to wear more hats, rather than delegating work. No matter your circumstance, it’s important to know what’s going on in the industry to keep on top of new developments, best practices and audience expectations. Expect to see your social media efforts start to flow with ease, while seeing serious results.

 

Empowering the Creator in Everyone

Picsart is the world’s largest digital creation platform. Its AI-powered tools give creators of all levels the ability to design, edit, draw and share photo and video content anywhere. It’s used by consumers, marketers and content creators for both personal and professional design, and is available to businesses via API partnerships and integrations. Picsart has collaborated with major artists and brands like Discord, PopSockets, Shopify, Taylor Swift and more. Download the app or visit picsart.com.