Media by Melissa, Napa, CA (2025)

01/09/2025

Social 👏🏻 media 👏🏻 is 👏🏻 not 👏🏻 just 👏🏻 posting 👏🏻 pretty 👏🏻 pictures.

It’s strategy, content creation, posting, scheduling, engagement, analytics, optimization, community building, advertising, staying on top of trends and features… it’s a lot.

There’s a reason jobs like “Brand Strategist,” “Social Media Copywriter,” and “Digital Marketing Analyst” exist. Managing social media is a full-time role for many people—and for good reason.

If you’re a business owner running an entire business, expecting yourself to have the time, talent, and knowledge to do *all the things* on socials — and on every platform — just isn’t realistic.

Be honest about what you can handle, what you don’t want to handle, and what you can outsource. Give yourself grace, be patient, and remember: you’re doing the best you can. That’s more than enough.

01/07/2025

When I became a social media manager in 2020, I followed just about every other social media manager I came across. I was trying desperately to learn as much as I could as quickly as I could. (If only future me could have told myself to calm down because most of the good stuff you learn comes from experience.)

It was super overwhelming, and I was never sure if what I was reading and learning was useful.

Over time I was better able to sift through the noise and land on some solid mentors.

And here’s the thing: they’ve been saying the same thing since 2020.

Be authentic.
Don’t obsess over followers.
Storytelling is key.
Build community.
Be consistent.
Listen to your audience.
Be clear about who you are and what your business offers.

So here are my offerings for January. They’re not new or revelatory but they’re helpful and true.

✍️Unless you’re coming up with new offers or pivoting in your business, chances are your message is the same. The trick is to come up with new ways of saying the same thing.

📱If the features are there, use them, or try to. Reels, carousels, adding music to posts, notes, DMs, scheduling, etc. are tools to use the platform more effectively and thus promote your business more effectively.
💰Let’s be real. You’re here to sell or at least bring awareness to your business. But there are different ways to sell a product/service and it’s up to you to figure out which way your audience likes best.

🧠 Perfectionism, fear, control are all reasons we tend to overthink things. Your business will not implode because of a mediocre post. Sometimes ‘done’ is enough.

Here’s to a year filled with creativity, energy, and determination—but let’s also leave perfectionism behind and have some fun with it. Wishing you all a year of progress, joy, and inspired content creation!

12/19/2024

We’re in the final countdown: Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are all next week!

Keep it simple and clear — your audience is busy, so meet them where they’re at.

Try posts like:

🎁A quick clip of you or your team packing orders.
🎁A post highlighting gift certificates as a great last-minute option
🎁Stories reminding your followers of order deadlines or pick-up times

Remember, posts don’t have to be complicated or grand in order to make an impact.

12/10/2024

I’d rather be curled up under a cosy blanket watching Christmas movies and ignoring my endless to-do list.

The days are flying by but somehow dragging too, and my creativity feels like it’s in hibernation. If you’re feeling the same, know you’re not alone.

This isn’t the time to reinvent the wheel. Use the content you already have. Revisit old posts, tweak them, and let them do the heavy lifting.

What’s helping you keep it together during this busy season?

12/05/2024

As the year wraps up, here’s a friendly reminder:

You don’t need to:
❌ Stress about the algorithm (it will always change—don’t let it dictate your peace).
❌ Master every new feature or trend.
❌ Have a perfectly planned content strategy for January 1.

You do deserve to:
✔️ Celebrate how far you’ve come this year.
✔️ Rest without guilt (seriously, social media will still be here when you get back).
✔️ Focus on honest storytelling instead of chasing trends.

Social media can feel overwhelming, but here’s the truth: consistency beats perfection, authenticity beats trends, and your business is so much more than any platform’s rules.

Take a breath, reflect on your wins, and step into the new year with your priorities in focus. You’ve got this.

12/02/2024

December is here, and with it comes the hustle and bustle of the season. As small business owners, we’re juggling holiday promotions, year-end planning, and everything else that comes with running a business—while still trying to soak in the magic of the season.

I’ve put together a calendar of December dates to inspire your content, but more than anything, I hope you take a moment to breathe. Whether it’s a quiet cup of coffee, a long walk, or a day to unplug, find pockets of peace and rest. You deserve it.

Here’s to a December that’s as calm as it is productive—because we all know how rare that balance can feel. 💻🎄✨

11/21/2024

The holiday season is here, and let’s be honest—juggling work, holiday plans, and a never-ending to-do list feels like a full-time job on its own.

This year, I’m determined to work smarter, not harder. That means:

🎯 Prioritizing tasks that actually move the needle.
📆 Planning out my content ahead of time (hello, scheduling tools).
✨ Saying no to anything that doesn’t align with my goals (or my sanity).

If you’re in the same boat, remember: You don’t have to do all the things. Focus on what matters, and give yourself some grace—it’s okay to take shortcuts if it means staying sane! How are YOU staying on top of things this season? 👇 Drop your tips below—I need them!

11/12/2024

Feeling like you’re constantly playing catch-up on social media? You’re not alone. The landscape keeps shifting—what worked in 2023 may not fly today, and by 2025, it’ll be different yet again. 😮‍💨

Don’t give up. Instead,

✅ Stay curious: Explore new features as soon as they launch. Early adopters often see a boost!
✅ Watch analytics: Pay attention to what resonates with your audience. If videos or polls are hitting, lean into those.
✅ Engage and learn: Your audience’s feedback is key. Use it to shape content that truly connects.

Social media rewards those who can adapt and experiment. Take breaks if you need to but don’t throw in the towel. Every shift is a new opportunity.

11/07/2024

Black Friday is huge for big box stores, but small businesses play by different rules.

Whether you’re joining in or opting out, here are ideas and insights to help you decide what’s right for you and your business.

11/04/2024

One of the things I love about the last 2 months of the year is that there’s no shortage of content!

What with the holidays fast approaching, a new season, preparing for a new year, I’m sure you won’t have trouble coming up with ideas.

But just in case, here’s a friendly reminder for what’s coming up this month. 🫶🏻

10/31/2024

Proof that not even Death can escape the social media grind. 🫠 😂

10/29/2024

Tapping into the emotional side of your audience’s journey is a way to connect through shared experiences. It builds trust and shows your clients you truly understand their needs.

By framing your solution with a relatable story, you make your message more memorable and authentic, turning followers into loyal supporters. This is more than selling—it’s building a community around your brand.

Stories peak our curiosity.
Stories entertain.
Stories educate.
Stories help us relate to each other.

Stories work because connection creates a lasting impact.

10/24/2024

The algorithm isn’t out to get you, but it does favour certain habits.

I think what frustrates people is that the algorithm changes. There’s a reason why universities don’t offer courses on “Beating the IG Algorithm”, or why you won’t find a definitive book on the subject: social media moves too quickly.

Should you try to understand how it works? Of course. Will you ever master it completely? Probably not.

Don’t let the idea of an almighty Algorithm stop you from making the type of content you want to make, for the people you want to make it for. The funny thing is, when you do that, suddenly the algorithm starts “working”…

10/15/2024

Ask me how I can spot ChatGPT.

Delve.
Dive.
Explore.
Unleash.
Unlock.

Some words have become dead giveaways.

Also an extremely peppy tone with lots of 🚀💫🌟

Now maybe I’m a little more sensitive to it because I’m very familiar with it and I read a lot of copy on socials.

But even if that’s true it won’t be long before everyone will have ChatGPT radar.

I think ChatGPT is great for getting started, for getting ideas, for improving a piece of writing… but simply copying and pasting a caption whipped up for you lacks any personality, any —excuse the buzzword — authenticity.

You, your personality, and your business are unique, and that should come through in your content.

Do you use ChatGPT?

10/10/2024

Since May my posts haven’t been doing very well — in comparison to my posts before that anyway.

I’m not gonna lie, it bugs me.

The tried-and-tested content I’ve come to rely on just isn’t getting the same amount of engagement…likes, saves, shares, comments…you name it, it’s gone down.

I’m trying new formats, trying to change things up to see if I can get the momentum going again, but so far I haven’t had much luck.

There’s a part of me that wants to stress and worry and ask myself why I’m a social media manager if I can’t even do it for myself.

Thankfully, it’s a very *small* part of me.

The other, bigger part of me is thinking, “This isn’t something I’m willing to lose precious sleep over.”

Social media is constantly evolving and it *never* sleeps. There’s simply no way we can keep up, all the time. Luckily, for many of us, our businesses won’t combust if we’re not killing it on socials.

Remember that social media platforms are a business. Their goal is to keep us there as much as possible. I refuse to let them profit from my insecurities and stress.

🧠💗Mental health tips:
Set boundaries by scheduling dedicated ‘offline’ time. Don’t answer DMs after business hours. Use scheduling tools to batch your content in advance, so you can step away from social media without feeling constantly tethered to your phone.

Mental health matters. 🫶🏻

10/08/2024

Last week I asked you to answer a few polls in my Stories, and you delivered! 💌

Content creation ideas were the top struggle based on your poll responses, so I’ve crafted 20 ideas to help you overcome that hurdle.

Whether you’re looking for fresh inspiration or a new direction, I hope these tips will kickstart your creativity.

💾 Save these for later when you’re ready to create some content!

10/01/2024

There’s nothing worse than trying to plan your content for the month ahead and your mind is simply… blank. 💭

While I do recommend looking at the month as a whole and aligning your content with your business goals, sometimes that can feel overwhelming.

When that happens a good place to start is by looking at the holidays, observances and highlights of the month.

✍️Which should you include in your calendar?
✍️How do they align with your business?
✍️Is there a way you can post about them while at the same time connecting it to your business?
✍️Are any of them a fun and easy way to generate engagement with your audience?

Don’t worry about creating content just yet. Now is the time to jot down ideas and brainstorm.

Do you find it difficult to create a monthly content calendar?

09/24/2024

How do you grab your audience’s attention and keep them hooked?

That’s where edu-tainment comes in—teaching something useful while keeping it fun.

Whether it’s through humour, storytelling, or quick how-tos, mixing education with entertainment is a powerful way to stand out.

Have you seen any fun, educational posts lately? Is there a creator you love to watch for their edu-tainment? Let me know in the comments or tag a friend who would love this strategy!

Media by Melissa