Create a Posting Schedule That Doesn’t Ruin Your Life

It’s the question that stumps us all — what should I post today? Thinking of content to post can be overwhelming if you try to do it all at once without a plan. Take an hour to schedule your business content ahead of time to make your social media strategy a breeze.

Step 1. Choose One or Two Social Network Platforms
Start with quality content on one or two platforms to get into the groove of things. Choose the platforms where you can best reach your type of audience, and where the content makes sense for you.

If you’re looking for a generic reach, start with Facebook. If your business is more on the creative side, utilize Pinterest or Instagram. If it’s professional services, consider LinkedIn. Take a look into each network to understand which you will use in the beginning.

Step 2. Determine Your Posting Frequency
Start with a frequency that is manageable for your schedule. At the very least, post content once per week. On platforms that are text-based like Twitter and Facebook, you can make more frequent posts with less effort than may be required for Instagram or LinkedIn.

Step 3. Stick to a Few Post Types
Now is the time to determine the type of content you will post.Keep it tight by planning your type of posts. Here are just a few ideas to help you get started.

• Show Your Services: Post of video of you in action or of your portfolio of work
• Customer Testimonial: Publish a picture and quote from a valued customer
• Blog Post: Post a compelling image that links to a recent blog post that you’ve written
• Quotes: Publish a quote from your favorite industry leader or that’s relatable to your business
• Audience Questions: Ask your followers a question based on recent news or feedback
• Photos of Yourself: Your customers should know who you are! Include fun facts about yourself, or share your story — how did you get to where you are today?
• Curated Content: Repost articles, news, or other content while providing your own commentary on the subject
• How-To: Create a how-to video or article to explain a relevant concept
• Tips: Share one piece of helpful information on a topic that customers are struggling with

Step 4. Make the Posting Schedule
After all of that planning, it’s time to make a concrete schedule. Create a simple table that includes the day of the week, the social media platform, and the type of post. Make a plan for at least one week, and use the next Friday to recap your wins and create the schedule for the following week.