📲 Beginner’s Guide: How to Create a Social Media Strategy

✅ Step 1: Set Your Main Goal

First things first: What do you want social media to help you do?

This will shape everything else.

🎯 Examples of Social Media Goals:

• “I want more people to discover my handmade jewelry brand.”
• “I want local moms to find my tutoring services on Facebook.”
• “I want to get more DMs about my fitness coaching program.”

Pick your top goal below:

☐ Build brand awareness
☐ Get website or store visits
☐ Generate leads (emails, DMs, etc.)
☐ Make more sales
☐ Build a loyal following

✍️ Now write your goal in your own words:

👤 Step 2: How to Find Your Target Audience (Step-by-Step)

Your target audience = the exact people who will love what you sell or offer. You don’t need to reach everyone, just the right ones.

🔍 Here’s How to Identify Them:

Step 1: Think about your BEST customer (or who you want that to be)

• Age range?
• Gender identity (if relevant)?
• Where do they live?
• What do they do for work or fun?

Step 2: Understand their problems or desires
Ask:

• What do they need or want that my business helps with?
• What keeps them up at night?
• What solution are they looking for?

Step 3: Figure out where they hang out online

• Instagram: Younger crowds, visual-first content
• Facebook: Local and older communities
• TikTok: Younger, trend-savvy users
• LinkedIn: Professionals & business connections
• YouTube: Long-form info seekers

🎯 Example:

You’re a dog groomer starting a mobile service. Your audience might be:

• Age: 30–60
• Lives in your city/suburbs
• Busy working professionals or parents
• Love their pets, but don’t have time to drive to groomers
• Use Facebook and Instagram to search for local businesses

✍️ Write down your audience profile:
Who they are: ___________________________________________
What they need: __________________________________________
Where they spend time online: ____________________________

✍️ Step 3: What Are Content Pillars and How Do I Make Them?

Content pillars = 3–5 topics you will post about regularly.
Think of them like your brand’s “personality traits” on social media.

They make your content more focused, so people know what to expect (and why they should follow you!).

🛠 How to Create a Content Pillar:

1. Think about your audience: What do they care about?
2. Think about your brand: What do you want to be known for?
3. Match those two things.

🧱 Example Content Pillars:

For a skincare business:

1. Skincare tips and education
2. Behind the scenes of how products are made
3. Customer reviews and before/afters
4. Owner’s personal skincare journey
5. Product spotlight + how to use

For a local bakery:

1. Daily menu / behind-the-scenes baking
2. Seasonal specials and events
3. Customer photos or reviews
4. Baking tips at home
5. Community involvement (farmers markets, etc.)

✍️ Your Content Pillars:

(4–5 optional): ___________________________________

💬 Step 4: What Should I Post? (With Examples)

Once you have your pillars, create post ideas for each.

📝 Example Post Ideas by Content Pillar

If your pillar is “Tips & Education”:

• “5 ways to keep your skin clear this summer”
• “Why your dog hates the groomer (and how to fix that)”

If your pillar is “Behind-the-Scenes”:

• “Come with me as I prep orders today!” (Reel/Story)
• “This is what it looks like to bake 200 cupcakes in 1 day 😅”

If your pillar is “Testimonials”:

• Screenshot of a happy client DM with a caption like: “This is why I do what I do!”
• Before & after photos with a mini client story

If your pillar is “Personal Journey”:

• “How I went from teaching full-time to launching my tutoring biz”
• “3 lessons I’ve learned in my first year of business”

✍️ Now write 3 post ideas for your pillars:

📅 Step 5: Why You Need a Posting Schedule

You don’t need to post every day—but you do need to show up consistently.

Why a Schedule Matters:

• Keeps your brand visible so people remember you
• Builds trust with your audience—they know you’re legit
• Makes it easier to plan ahead and avoid burnout

🎯 What Works:

• Start with 2–3 posts per week. Focus on value and consistency.
• Batch your content in 1 day, then schedule it using free tools (like Meta Business Suite or Canva).

🗓 Example Posting Schedule:

✍️ Plan your weekly schedule below:
Monday: ____________________
Wednesday: ____________________
Friday: ____________________

📊 Step 6: What Should I Track?

This part helps you stop guessing and start improving.

Here’s what to do:

1. Check your analytics once a week (Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook all have built-in tools).
2. Write down what posts got the most:
   • Likes
   • Comments
   • Saves or Shares
   • Website clicks
3. Notice trends: What type of posts worked? Which flopped?

Easy Metrics to Track:

• Reach = How many people saw it
• Engagement = Likes, comments, shares, saves
• Follows = Are you gaining followers?
• Website/Link Clicks = Are they taking action?

✍️ Each week, ask yourself:
What worked? ____________________________________
What didn’t? ______________________________________
What should I do next time? ________________________

🔁 Step 7: Review + Tweak Monthly

Social media isn’t “set it and forget it.” Use what you learn to get better month by month.

Every month:

• Look at your top 3 posts
• Look at your lowest 3
• Ask: What can I do more of? What can I drop?

Make small changes, such as trying new hashtags, adjusting post times, or remixing old content that performed well.

🧠 Final Tips for Newbies

• Start simple. Done is better than perfect.
• Don’t try to be everywhere. Select one or two platforms where your target audience is.
• Be real. Show up authentically—people connect with YOU.
• Save time. Use free tools like Canva, CapCut, or Meta Scheduler.
• Engage back. Reply to comments and DMs. That’s where the trust builds.

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