If you know anything about marketing and social media, you know that it’s hard to stay on top of it all. Now that social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok and Pinterest have become a major player in digital marketing and advertising, there’s a lot of pressure to get on top of your online presence and make sure that your strategy is in check.
I’m sure we’ve all been in the position where there’s a million things on the agenda for the day, and by the time you realise it – it’s already approaching prime time for posting. Then comes the struggle of scrambling to source a photo, checking if it fits in with your aesthetic and coming up with a relatable caption to keep your followers engaged.
By the time you get around to doing all that… you decide it’s already too late and just scrap it. I admit that I have been there more than a few times.
Of course, we know that the key to social media success is to consistently post and keep your account alive and active. This is why rare or sporadic posting often won’t cut it if you want to maintain engagement – but how do you manage it all?
The answer is something that I recommend to every single person who wants a successful social media marketing strategy, and that is post scheduling.
While reducing stress and increasing organisation is an outstanding benefit of post scheduling, there’s a couple of other reasons why it’s my favourite marketing hack and why you should jump on the bandwagon too.
Save time by bulk creating your posts all at once.
You know when you get those days when you feel ultra-productive, experience an unbelievable eruption of creativity and like you can type a thousand words a minute? (these often happen to me after a few too many coffees…)
Regardless of how and why they come about, I always make sure to take the opportunity to use my unusual burst of energy to smash out some extra posts. This is a great way to maximise your time and stay on a roll of pumping out content that can be easily saved and scheduled for weeks in advance.
Hint: Make sure you save your #’s as templates as well so you can easily add your 30x #’s to each Insta post!
Plan ahead for when you know you’ll be busy or taking time off.
Who’s got time to worry about social media posts when there’s something much more urgent at hand? Or when you’re trying to enjoy some well-deserved time off? Certainly not me.
This is why I find scheduling to be an absolute godsend when it comes to my busy and hectic periods, since it affords me the peace of mind to know that one thing is already checked off the list.
Plus, if I’m laid up somewhere on a sunny shore (I wish) chilling out with the fam and sipping a cocktail, the last thing I want to do is worry about drafting up a last minute social post (unless it’s a quick update to show off my blissful status).
It won’t cost the earth, it’s worth every penny, it’s great value for money (all of the above)!
A good thing to note is that there are a lot of scheduling programs out there that have free versions that do what you need them to do. Of course, if you’re anything like me and always want access to all the features in the premium plans, I find that it’s a small price to pay for being in complete control of your social accounts.
Find a platform and plan that suits your needs and give it a go. I like SKED Social as I am managing multiple accounts, it lets me schedule Reels, Stories and everything in one place however it can add up. For my biz I find it’s worth it, but Later.com is also one I use and it is great value so find one you can afford and are happy to use and go for it. Don’t forget to make use of the many helpful tip videos they both have.
So there you have my hot take on why scheduling is so great, and honestly – the list of benefits goes on. If you haven’t given post scheduling a try, I seriously urge you to give it a shot! Once you start, I guarantee you won’t be able to go back.