Are you spending way too much time on social media for your business? Do you feel like if you don’t show up on Instagram you don’t make money? If you answered yes to either of these questions you’re probably feeling exhausted. I don’t want you to feel that way anymore! My 5 steps to spending less time on social media is all you need to know.

 

 

I recently did a poll on Instagram and majority of you said you are spending 10-20 hours on your business every week. Between 35 and 60 percent that time is spent on social media. Is that really the best way to spend your time? 

A lot of us depend on social media for our business to run. I love spending time with you on Instagram. I love interacting with you and getting to know you better. However, I’d be missing out on changing people’s lives and making more money if my business stopped at Instagram. Social media is just the handshake. 

 

 

When we depend too much on social media we might get caught up in the everyday content creation and posting that we forget the purpose of it. What results will come from each post you make on social media? I want each post you make to have purpose. I don’t want you to show up on social media because that’s what you think you should do. You should have a clear plan and purpose for each step. Again, my 5 steps to spending less time on social media will help you have that vision, and they come from my Iceberg Principle. 

 

Iceberg Principle

Have you heard about my Iceberg Principle yet? You know how majority of an iceberg is underneath the water, so we can only see the tip of it? That’s just how your business should be if it is built to last. People should only see the very tip of your business, which means there’s a lot more going on underneath the water they can’t see. The part underneath the water is providing that firm foundation your business needs in order to be long lasting. 

 

Step 1: Brand

Knowing your brand means you know who you are, who you serve, and how you’re unforgettable. Why do you have a business? Why do you want people to know about you? What helps people remember you? Asking these kinds of questions will help you have a clear vision on your brand and how to implement it into your business. It also helps to remember that your brand is made up of 3 p’s and you. 

 

P #1: People

You should know a lot about the kind of people you serve. You should know if your person like to shop at TJ Maxx or what you person would like to do for a girls night out. The more specific you are about who you serve, the more you will attract your people. And when I say “your people” I mean the people who want to follow you. 

Once you get really specific on your target audience, people will either be super excited about following you or not want to follow you. Both are OK, in fact, it’s preferred. When people unfollow you, it means you are honing in on your ideal customer. That’s exactly what you want.You want people who will buy from you, not people who follow you, but are on the fence about your products let alone your influence on them. 

 

P #2: Problem

Your person has a problem. What words do they use when talking about their problem? Where do you even find out what their problem is? It’ll be in your Instagram comments, in replies to stories, is question they send you, or customers coming in and asking you. Knowing your people’s problem will make a huge difference because you will know how to serve them. 

I have a quick tip for you that will help you reach more people reach people on a deeper level. Pay attention to the words they are using when sharing their problem because you can then include those words in your brand messaging. Including those words in your brand messaging will help your people know you understand them and could really help them. 

 

P #3: Product

Your product is the solution to their problem. Your product could be a physical item you sell or it could also be your influence. We see a lot of different types of products out there today. It could be photography to capture a special occasion, homemade decor, or tips on how to save money. Products vary in type, but all are wanted by people. You just have to find your people, and your product will speak for itself. 

Remember how I said your brand is made up of 3 p’s and you? You being you is exactly what your person needs. You can connect to people in a way that no one else can simply from being yourself. I know that’s true because there are a million and 84 people you could listen to about business and you chose me. (I’m so glad you’re here!) It must be because I resonate with you. Be bold about your brand and you will find the people who not only stay with you, but are passionate about your business. This is what will transform your business into one that is built to last. 

 

 

Step 2: Customer Journey Map

How do you attract new people to your business? How do you take them on a customer journey that will lead them on a transformation? Giving a freebie almost always draws people in and gets them to sign up or subscribe to your content. After they’ve gotten that, the rest of your content will take them on a step-by-step journey transforming them into a new person. Doesn’t that sound amazing? 

Don’t think too hard about what your freebie should be. It should be something quick and simple that is offers value. The freebie is what invites your people in, so it doesn’t have to be this grand problem solver product. Your freebie should be helpful for your followers and lead them to wanting more.  

 

Step 3: Email List

Through my poll on Instagram, 50 percent of you said you have an email list. 36 percent said you send an email once a month. Sister, if this you, you’re missing out on amazing opportunities! Your email marketing strategy is the perfect place for you to provide that customer journey for your business and build relationships as well. 

Your freebie can definitely be used in your email marketing strategy. This will get people to opt in and sign up for your weekly emails. They want the free material, so they’ll sign up just to get the freebie, and I bet most of them will stay after they get it! 

Once you have your freebie created, connect it to your email marketing system. I recommend using Mail Chimp if you often use Shopify for your business. I recommend Flodesk if you’re just starting out and want to make it easy. I personally use Ontraport and it’s what I’ve been using for years. There’s options out there, so make sure you find the one that fits for you. 

After you’ve picked your email marketing system, you’re ready to start your customer journey. Create a 3-5 email sequence that leads people to buy your product. You could start with talking about the problems your people would have and lead into how your product is the solution for them. 

This sequence is most effective when you send the emails weekly. Don’t worry about being annoying or feeling like your spamming people. They signed up for your emails, and they can unsubscribe whenever they want. Believe it or not, there’s people that do want to hear from you every week! Don’t be afraid to share your voice and message no matter the platform. 

 

 

Step 4: Website

Your website can be either really exciting to think about or really intimidating. Hopefully, it’s exciting, but if not I have a solution for you. (See what I did there?) I created six Showit templates strategically designed to make you money and make your business last. 

The key to a successful website is making sure your brand messaging and call to action are clear. My templates have that, plus they are really beautiful to look at. Using one of my website templates will make your life so much easier because all the design is already done for you. You are welcome to change it in any way to match your brand, of course. I promise you’ll fall in love with one of them, just go check them out here.

 

 

Step 5: Content Strategy 

I know you’ve heard me talk about my Core Content Code once or twice before, but using this method will help make your business built to last. Having an effective content strategy is simply knowing what your goals are and them making sure your content matches up with them. 

I recently did a deep dive into one of my client’s content strategy and found that their podcast did not ultimately align with their goals. Although the podcast was professional and inviting, it wasn’t inviting their followers to do anything. I was able to tweak that and get them more honed in on how their podcast could be a more useful tool in maintaining and growing their business. 

This is something to be aware of when creating your content. Although it may be professionally done and intriguing, it may be missing the key element that invites your followers to do something about what they’ve heard or read. It may be worth it to look through your content strategy and see if you could do some tweaking to make it more focused on your business goals. 

 

 

Resources to Help You Get Started

Are you ready to spend less time on social media and more time on transforming your business into one built to last? These 5 steps to spending less time on social media will help you get there. Think of it as your road map to elevating your business and building that firm foundation your business needs. 

Think of how liberating it will feel to know your business is set up with systems that will make you money without showing up on social media every day. Sister, I want that for you. I want you to give more time to yourself and your family without it hurting your business. If you want more moral support and guided help beyond these five steps, you can join my Money Makers coaching group.

I opened enrollment for a short time to celebrate its anniversary! You’d join a community of women serious about growing their business. You will have so much fun with all of us. Money Makers is one of my favorite things, and I’d love to have you there! You can join the waitlist by texting “money makers” to 951.309.7885. 

If you want a smaller boost of direction, you can take this quiz. It will help you know what next steps to take for your business along with free resources and some of my products to help you get there. And, as always, follow me on Instagram @iammichellegifford to keep getting tips and tricks on how to run a successful biz!