I’d like to first share a little background on how I blog, so that you have perspective on what I’m using. You may be using a different blog server or platform, so all of these steps may not work quite the same, but, hopefully, everything is somehow linkable for you and it will give you an idea of how to get your best content OUT THERE more efficiently.

If you don’t blog, but would like to create a similar circle via email, skip down to Step Three.

My blog is hosted by BlueHost. BlueHost has WordPress built in. Because I’m pretty familiar with WordPress, this is a great option for me. BlueHost simply gives me a few extras, more customization, and a great price. In what direction your circle runs, or fan spreads, may depend on your blogging platform and account connections. I do not frequent all of the platforms I share to. I’d lose my mind. Jump here to see my short summary of which ones I use and don’t use, and why. It’s not a one-size-fits-all system.

I’m not going into all the menus, widgets, sidebars, forms, etc. that are embedded/visible/linkable/etc. on my blog. Seriously, all of that, I’m kind of flying by the seat of my pants. I don’t even know all the right terms to use there. If it doesn’t look how I want it to, I basically go back and keep playing until I figure it all out. If there is something in particular you want to know how to do (that I do), please let me know and I’ll see if I can help! I will say, that one of THE most useful tools on WordPress is the ‘Reusable Block’. This is a block you can save to use in all of your posts so that you don’t have to recreate it every time. It may be a signature, social links, connection/shopping buttons, images, etc…if you’ve created the block, you can save it as reusable. Use tools like this to your advantage.

Also, I don’t follow this circle precisely every time: this is just my ideal…and preferred… method. And, yes, I’ve only recently figured this out. So, there may be some tweaking in the future. What I do know is that constantly creating duplicate content on multiple platforms is EXHAUSTING and leaves very little time for actually ENGAGING in that content. Engaging is the main goal…if you get feedback, comments, interaction on your posts/shares/etc, you need to engage with that. If you don’t, it’s all for naught!

Why do I blog instead of just posting content? Well, several reasons for that. The main three are these:

1. I don’t like being stuck in one niche. My life simply doesn’t fit in one simple compartment. For example, this post doesn’t really make sense if I try to stick to hair accessories and hair tips, does it?
2. Blogging allows me to share my personality, and for my customers, colleagues, and friends to get to know me. I can use as many words, pictures, videos, and tags as I want to – and you, the reader, can choose to skip right over most of them if you want to do that! And I’ll never know. 😃🤣. This personal exposure, I hope, forms more of a relationship and personal bond with the reader. That’s how it works for me, anyway, when I am soaking in content from other bloggers.
3. I just love it. I REALLY enjoy blogging. And that, my dear reader, is critical to whatever platform you choose.

How I make it all link together:

I want to warn you: this going to sound like a lot…and, until you get used to it…it can be a bit much, potentially overwhelming. If this is new to you, I would recommend starting small and just posting to your main platform, and maybe adding one more. Other than the time to actual create the content, the entire process takes me less than five minutes. You’ll get there!

Step One (Manual): The Blog Post

The blog post is created. This is where the main content can be found. It can be short, long, textual, visual, etc. Things I make sure to include:

• Direct links to featured products.
• Direct links to contact me, if appropriate to the post.
• A question or something that a reader might choose to engage with through comments. BlueHost now has a CrowdSignal Plug In/Block so you can add fun polls! I’ve added one to this post and I hope you’ll participate!
• The blog post is saved as a draft, or scheduled. If ready to schedule, I’ll schedule it to post 5 minutes to an hour prior to any other posts/emails that will be scheduled that will link back to the post.

Step Three (Manual): Email Marketing

I create a brief email to send out to those that have subscribed (these are NOT blog subscribers: These are customers and potential customers that have signed up to receive product information and updates). (*side bar – I did make an unfortunate mistake on the link to the blog post in that email – so, you will have to click on the blog home page to find the post- this is the post that should be linked: https://themessybunmafia.com/is-your-hair-ready-for-these-fall-styles/)

If you don’t blog, you can often set your email content to share to social media as well. I choose to NOT do this, as it just creates an additional link to get to the blog. If the main content I want the reader to see is IN the email, then I will do this instead of posting on the blog.

In the email shown above, if you open that up, you can see that it’s very brief and the ‘call to action‘ is to click on the (unfortunately incorrect) link to the blog post (here, again, is the correct link). And, so closes that circle. The email reader has been directed to a blog post for inspiration. So, I have created content that might be helpful or inspirational to my readers without directly trying to sell them anything. I have not directed them directly to my website where they can make a purchase. They can, of course, find direct shopping links further down in that email…but, let’s be real…most people don’t read that far down.

When I send product updates and new releases via email, those will be linked directly to my shop and, usually, the product shown. What I want, in the end, is the LEAST number of click throughs for my reader as possible. I want them to be able to get where they want to go as efficiently as possible.

Step Four (Manual):

The next step is to schedule a post on Instagram. You don’t need a special app or service to do this! As long as you have a Facebook Page and your Instagram account is set up as a business account, you can visit the Facebook Creator Studio. This can be done on a desktop, or in App. I prefer desktop. In the Facebook Creator Studio, you can schedule Instagram and Facebook posts. If you don’t do email OR a blog, you can use the studio to create and schedule your posts on the two platforms. You don’t even have to create a separate post for Facebook, though I often do because I want the format to look a little different.

You may also be able to schedule an Instagram Post from your Email Marketing platform, which would completely automate this step.

This post, again, is scheduled 5-60 minutes after the initial blog post. Also, I want to make sure I’m actually going to be AWAKE when the IG post goes lives…BECAUSE – it leads me directly to the next step, automatically.

I do not schedule a Facebook Page post during this step, because that has already been done through the Blog post.

Step Five (Manual, with a prompt):

I use a CRM (customer relationship management) Program called Sell with Ami.

Why do I use this, and why can’t I do this without it? I can do it without it…but not efficiently or without neglecting MANY customers. Ami has a partnership with the company I work with, and so that means that our catalog and database is synced. Ami reminds when, and how to reach out to customers so that I don’t forget to follow-up. There’s nothing worse that having a customer unhappy with a product or service and not knowing it. I sell hair accessories. The VERY last thing on many of my customer’s minds is contacting me if they don’t love something. It’s MY job, not theirs, to make sure everyone is satisfied. It’s also a one stop shop for me to check product pricing, customer birthdays, addresses, etc. It’s like having a an incredibly smart and ON TOP OF EVERYTHING personal assistant. I’ll post more about AMI another day. I could go on for hours.

Back to the point: Within five minutes of my scheduled Instagram Post going up, AMI will tell me that I have ‘new social media posts to tag’. So, I simply go to the AMI app where she gives me a task list (yes, you’ll see below that I’m a little behind). This the only manual part of this process.

Here’s what looks like on my end:

Now, whenever someone clicks on the link in my Instagram Bio, it will take them to my AMI Social Shop, and there they can see recent images posted on Instagram. AMI updates that for me automatically. When the reader clicks on the photo, it takes them to where I told Ami to send them. In the case of the example I’ve been using throughout this post, It takes them to my main blog page (I COULD technically create a link for every blog post, but that is a bit time consuming and unnecessary. Just make sure your blog post’s featured images are the same as those on Instagram.).

Watch that happens for the IG follower:

Now, what’s really awesome about AMI, instead of just linking to one ‘product’ or item/page/etc…I can include multiple ‘products’.

That looks like this:

And, that’s it! Now, just move on to other things!

Minus the time it takes to actually create the blog post, email and/or content, the entire process of scheduling and linking these items takes less than five minutes. Most of it happens so seamlessly, that I feel like I should be doing more.

What other things will you have time for if you take the time to set these automations up? That’s up to you. Here are some of the possiblities:

• Quality content creation
• Your family
• Customer Service & Relationships (CRITICAL!)
• Engagement with all those fabulous posts you made, and your followers.
• Engagement with accounts that YOU follow, whether for business or pleasure.
• Bookkeeping and essential (but maybe boring?) business tasks. Taxes don’t do themselves, y’all.
• A little retail therapy on my website (Sorry, couldn’t help it! 🤣)
• YOURSELF – only you can define what that means, but be sure to work that in.

Here are the blurbs about the social platforms that I personally use:

1. Instagram: I post and check in daily. I’m still figuring out what is most effective for me here. This is an amazing platform to engage with, but it’s actually NOT my favorite.
2. Facebook: Most business posts are scheduled or planned. I do like to go live on FB, but haven’t done so in quite some time. Basically, Facebook frustrates me with it’s algorithms and functions. It does, however, reach my friends and regular customers/followers. I don’t get a lot of ‘new’ engagement from Facebook.
3. LinkedIn: I don’t ‘actively’ use this platform. It’s just not the right fit for what I do. Blog posts go there automatically, and every few weeks, I’ll pop in and interact with connections and posts. This is not somewhere I’ll ever spend a great deal of time, but it doesn’t hurt to share there. I do get hits on the blog, etc, from LinkedIn, so someone’s clicking the posts!
4. Twitter: Auto posts. I haven’t really gotten into Twitter yet. It’s not my thing. I go there to get information on High School Sports for my son, and that’s about it. I did, however, recently discover the funny side…with moms…and not just sports and politics…so, maybe I’ll do more there in the future?
5. TikTok: LOVE. TikTok is LOTS of fun, and a great way to get engagement and form connections. I haven’t made any sales from these connects yet, BUT – what you DO NOT do is make salesy or biz related posts on TikTok. Unless you’re a biz coach, content coach, tech whiz, etc…You will have exactly zero followers if you do so. TikTok, in my experience, is the most TRAINABLE app, with MINIMAL advertisements. It’s really quite surprising. Other than an occasional F-bomb, I don’t really see or hear much that I don’t enjoy or wouldn’t want my children to see (I am what most would consider quite prudish). No need to tell me about security concerns…I am well aware. We’ll just leave it at ‘we all make our own decisions.’
6. Email Marketing: Critical to my type of business. My number one goal is have my customers or potential customers on my email list. This puts me in front them when I have updates or information or new releases, AND allows them to engage with me WHEN THEY WANT TO without having to connect with me on other social media platforms if they choose not to. I like the level of customer control on this type of engagement. They can ignore me, peak in, browse, or go on a shopping spree (the latter is always preferred!). I use SendinBlue, having recently switched from MailChimp. If email marketing is new for you, I would recommend MailChimp. If you want to up your game, consider SendinBlue or other email marketing platformss.
7. Tumblr: This platform is new to me…I can’t tell you much about it. It seems to be an instagrammy feed for BLOGS. It’s a beautiful platform, with some wonderful content. For now, I’m browsing it and allowing the blog to auto post there.
8. WordPress Reader: Love this and the level of consistent engagements with repeat readers. I have forged some amazing virtual friendships through WordPress. I could write more, but if you’re on WordPress, you know what I’m talking about. I absolutely ADORE this community. And, of course, I use BlueHost with WordPress to write my blog.
9. AMI: Not a social platform, but essential to my day to day functioning and works well WITH my social media.
10. BlogLovin’: I don’t like this one...LIKE REALLY don’t – I’m not even sure that I’ll continue to utilize it. It’s a BEAUTIFUL feed, and well designed product with one MAJOR flaw: CONSTANT spam ‘followers’ with links to, well, I’ll just say it…pornographic and other inappropriate content. And no way to remove or block them. I DO NOT recommend this app. Despite NUMEROUS complaints, this has not been remedied. I have not had this issue on any other platform.
11. GoodReads: This is one is more of hobby. I’ve only recently joined. We opened the Little Free Library, and I’m finding all sorts of great resources through connecting with other stewards and bookworms!
12. Amazon Affiliates Program: My first run at this was a flop, because with a new blog, and not a lot of engagement, you don’t get enough traffic to qualify. IF you plan to continue blogging and might share product reviews or book reviews, you may want to apply. Amazon has done a great job of walking your through the process and requirements. It’s fairly cut and dry.
13. YouTube: I love YouTube…there are ENDLESS possibilities. I use this more as a place to keep organized lists of certain videos handy, and to share them via this blog, email, or to specific people directly.

Not all of my Social media accounts do all the things right…but, you now what? That’s ok! Links to my accounts are below my signature, if you’d like to peak at them and see how all of this works together. And, please, if something doesn’t do what it should, or what you expect it to do, let me know! ANY content creator will appreciate a heads up on this! For example, a dear friend who also happens to be an email subscriber gave me a heads up on the bad link in the email I sent!

What I’m getting at…in all my wordiness and overexplaining…is this: If you take some time upfront and decide to take actions on the platforms and outlets work best for you and your business, and then REALLY work them – get them set up to work FOR YOU, instead of you working for them – you will be able to focus on other things. And, don’t get too lost in the time suck that is your social feed…check things out, enjoy what you enjoy, engage when you can. Pick one or two platforms that YOU love and that’s where you’ll find your tribe!

Much Love, and thanks for sticking this one out to the end! It was MUCH longer than intended! I’d love your feedback on any of the platforms discussed here, and your thoughts on others I did not discuss!

Grab you some super amazing hair accessories HERE.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Amazon
• Pinterest
• Goodreads
• Tumblr

There are affiliate links in this post. I will never recommend products or services to you that I don’t believe to be useful.