Back to School Tips That Will Oddly Help You on Social Media
It’s back to school season, and surprisingly enough, I miss the days of getting geared up to start a fresh new year! I mean, I could go without the calculus, five paragraph essays, and lunchroom drama, but there was always something so exciting about buying new supplies, laying out the crisp first day of school outfit, and starting over.
So, that got me thinking… What if I could bring that same energy to my social media clients? I did a quick search for “Back to School Tips for Parents”, because after all my clients are my digital marketing children, and was amazed at what I found. Almost every single tip could be directly applied to social media management and strategy.
1. Re-establish a routine
Social media marketing can become a very automated process. After all, we need to be able to streamline some areas of our strategy in order to give ourselves the bandwidth to come up with fresh, exciting ideas!
However, it is a good idea to check-in with those automated systems every now and then to assure they are up to your expectations. I’d suggest doing an audit of your audience data. Are the gender breakdowns the same? How about age? You’ve probably fallen into a habit of using a specific tone of voice while copywriting, but it may be time to ditch those emojis if big changes have occurred in your demographics.
This is also a great time to build out new automations! If you’re a brand that receives a lot of questions via direct message, consider building out an FAQ document that can be easily accessible. It will save you hours of retyping the same statement about business hours or open job positions over and over (and over!) again.
Pro Tip: Google Keep is a lifesaver for easy access to information on the go!
2. Early to bed, early to rise
Yes, every social media manager should be getting eight hours of sleep, but I’m actually talking about trends!
Now is a great time to do a check-in with the digital landscape. Are you on the emerging platforms you should be? Do your copy and graphics feel modern? Are there any Instagram Reels audios or post formats trending right now that you should be jumping on?
It can be scary to pivot quickly and tackle new things, because let’s be honest social media is always changing! But, there is real benefit in doing so. Not only does embracing trends give your brand the opportunity to show off your creativity and personality, but it also drives engagement and positive brand reputation.
Pro Tip: Make trendspotting a collaborative effort! At Chair 8, we hold each other accountable for identifying and communicating emerging trends. That way even if someone missed something in their little corner of the internet, someone else will pick it up!
3. Choose the right backpack
I was *always* a school supplies fiend, everything had to match (and was usually pink.) But, this tip isn’t actually about back to school shopping. It’s about ensuring your team is equipped with the best software and systems to make an impact!
Here are a list of a few of my personal favorites for social media marketers:
Sprout Social (obviously!)
AgoraPulse
Dropbox
Canva
Repost App
Brandwatch
4. Map it out
This tip originally said, “practice walking or driving to the bus stop or to the school building a week or two before school starts.” But, I choose to think of it on a much more macro level.
How will your brand end 2023?
Believe it or not, Fall is here and Winter is on the horizon. Take time to plan out major campaigns for the months ahead. What will you be doing for holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or even New Years? Are there any annual goals that you set, but may need to reevaluate? This isn’t a time for judgment or panic, but instead self-accountability.
Pro Tip: Reviewing current demographics or identifying emerging trends may change your annual goals, and that is okay! Don’t feel handcuffed to plans of the past.