6 Steps to Schedule Social Media Posts

The true strength of this digital era is in its influence. You can spend aeons creating the most powerful content in the world, but what benefit will it serve you if it does not reach where your target audience can see? And just like that, all of your efforts will fling out straight out of the window.

This is why you need a social media posting schedule. It will not only help you reach a larger audience, but it also helps you establish a strong connection with them. Here are the six steps you need to follow:

1. Identify Your Purpose

Everything in life begins with a purpose. It is, after all, the foundation of success. Think about the outcome you wish to achieve at the end of the road and jot it down on your smartphone. Are you aiming for a surge in followers? Viewers? Engagements? Sales? Or do you simply wish to leave a bigger impact on the community? Whatever it is, the decision is for you to make.

Once you have zeroed in on your purpose, make sure it meets the SMART criteria. Is it specific enough? Can it be measured? Is it achievable? Is it relevant enough? Have you established a definite timeframe for your goals? If you are unable to answer the questions, then it is time to re-orient your purpose.

2. Understand Your Social Channels

Bear in mind that not all are created equal. TikTok, per se, excels at high-quality videos, whereas Twitter performs best at text-based shares. You do not want to use the well-crafted materials on the wrong platform. So, it is highly paramount to know the purpose of each social media channel before you begin sharing.

Here are a few pointers to consider: how is your target audience interacting with the platform? What kind of content are they seeking? Is it video-based or text-based? And then plan your posts accordingly. For example, use Facebook to share your most recent blog posts, Twitter to curate mini news updates, and TikTok to share behind-the-scenes.

3. Know Your Target Audience

There is a common saying that goes along the lines of: “If you attempt to sell to everyone, you will end up selling to no one.” Knowing who your target audience is, in essence, provides direction for your brand and ensures greater consistency in your messaging, allowing you to construct a stronger bond with your followers.

Once you know who your target audience is, proceed by narrowing down when is the best time to post your materials. Worst case scenario, if you have no target in mind, take note that social media engagement is at its peak during midweek mornings. And the worst day to be posting on social media is undoubtedly Sunday.

4. Plan Your Posts in Advance

It is now time to use that cute little notebook you have just gotten as a gift from your friend. Many people are unaware that pencilling down your next move is essential to their social media content strategy. This is because it keeps you organised and in tune with what you have and have not posted.

For example, in the January section, make a checklist of how much content you plan to post, followed by a short description of what is it about. Do this every other month, and it will serve as a guide to what and when to post next.

5. Assign Your Posts

Once you have laid out all your plans, it is time to assign the post for the day. How you may ask? Well, the best way to do so is by using a third-party app such as Hootsuite- a social media management platform that you can install on your HP laptop.

Begin by clicking the ‘Schedule for Later’ button. Then, choose your preferred time and date for the post to reach your audience. Once done, you can now sit back and relax as the app will do all the work for you. Easy right?

6. Learn How Social Media Algorithms Work

Many people are so quick to put the blame on “the algorithm” when their contents get hidden from the public eye. Well, it is true for the most part. Before implementing algorithms, most social media posts were streamed in reverse chronological order, meaning that the most recent posts appeared first.

Now, most popular social platforms have gravitated toward an algorithm-based feed. In short, posts are now sorted based on relevancy to the user instead of publishing time. If you want your content to reach a wider audience, start by posting at least two weekly posts. Ideally, you should also engage with your followers to garner more attention on the platform.

By now, you have probably realised that the art of social media marketing is knowing where to put your efforts so that you can yield the best results. At the end of the day, know that a plan is just a plan. To make it a reality, you have to execute it.