How To Be Consistent On Social Media When You Don’t Feel Like It
Social media is a powerful tool that can help you reach a wider audience and build your brand. However, being consistent on social media can be a challenge, especially when you don't feel motivated or inspired. It's easy to fall into the trap of procrastination or burnout, but there are ways to stay consistent and engaged with your followers.
Here are some tips to help you stay consistent on social media, even when you don't feel like it:
Create A Schedule
One of the best ways to stay consistent on social media is to create a schedule. This means deciding how often you want to post and at what times. Once you have a schedule, it can help you stay on track and avoid procrastination. You can use a content calendar to plan out your posts and keep track of important dates or events related to your brand.
When advising my clients on their social media strategy, I always suggest planning ahead for at least a month. This allows for ample time to develop a cohesive content calendar, which can help to ensure a consistent brand image and voice across all platforms. Additionally, when capturing content, I recommend taking extra footage to use for content bulking. This not only saves time in the long run, but it also allows for more flexibility when it comes to creating new content to post. Furthermore, having a backlog of content can be useful for days when clients do not have the time or resources to create new content. By being proactive and prepared, clients can ensure that their social media presence remains engaging and relevant to their target audience.
In addition to developing content itself, it is always a great idea to keep a list of ideas in your notes or content planner. This allows you to quickly access content inspiration or reminders on topics you already wanted to discuss.
When creating a schedule, it's important to consider your audience and what times they are most active on social media. For example, if you have a global audience, you may need to adjust your posting schedule to accommodate different time zones. Additionally, consider your current life and time dedicated to this content. For example, if you still work a 9-5 how are you planning to craft a content schedule around that.
Plan Ahead
Another way to stay consistent is to plan ahead. This means creating content in advance and scheduling it to be posted at a later date. This can help you avoid last-minute stress and ensure that you always have something to share. For example, refer back to your long list of content ideas and begin assigning dates for posts for the next few weeks. Building a detailed plan can help your content creation efforts move seamlessly.
When planning ahead for the content you are going to create, it's important to think about the type of content that resonates with your audience and how many platforms you need content for. You can use social media analytics to see which posts perform best and use that information to create more content that your followers will enjoy. If you have a content schedule already developed you can plan your filming schedule off of that.
If you find yourself on multiple platforms and need help balancing the creation of content for each, return to the planning section. Narrow down your ideas and plan how to mold and repurpose the content for each of your social media platforms.
Take Breaks
While consistency is important, it's also crucial to take breaks from social media, especially if you're feeling overwhelmed or burnt out. Be sure to schedule time away from your phone or computer to recharge and regain your motivation. Planning and scheduling content ahead of time can help you develop a better balance between work and life. If you find that you don't have time for breaks from creating and editing content, you may need to limit the amount of content you're trying to push out.
During your break, you can focus on other activities that inspire you or bring you joy. This can help you come back to social media with a fresh perspective and renewed energy. I believe that taking breaks to reset and get inspired is one of the most important steps in maintaining a consistent social media presence. Without it, burnout is a real possibility.
Use Tools
There are many tools available to help you stay consistent on social media. For example, you can use scheduling tools like Hootsuite or Buffer to schedule posts in advance. You can also use analytics tools to track your progress and see what's working.
Using tools can help you save time and streamline your social media strategy. It can also help you stay organized and focused on your goals. Use task management skills, editing tools and softwares that help automate tasks that ease your social media development process.
I personally depend on Notion to help me create all of my content calendars, content ideas and research reports for myself and my clients.
If you would like to start using Notion or Notion AI to ease your social media content development process check out the platform and their templates here.
Be Realistic
Finally, it's important to be realistic about your goals and expectations. Don't try to do too much at once, and don't beat yourself up if you miss a day or two. Remember, consistency is key, but it's also important to take care of yourself and avoid burnout.
When setting goals, make sure they are achievable and aligned with your overall brand strategy. This can help you stay motivated and focused on what's important.
By following these tips, you can stay consistent on social media and build your brand, even when you don't feel like it. Remember to stay true to yourself and your brand, and don't be afraid to experiment with new ideas and approaches. With time and effort, you can create a strong and engaged social media following that supports your brand's growth and success.
