Social Media for Yoga Teachers, Educators, and Other Mission-Based Small Business: 3 Essential Tips (Interview)
Social media for yoga teachers.
Ah, social media, the double-edged sword of our digital world! We’ve all been there, right?
As kids yoga teachers and former educators who have taken on a side-hustle business, we know exactly how it feels to grapple with the challenge of embracing the potential of social media without falling into its time-sucking abyss.
Picture this: You’re excited about your side hustle, but you’re overwhelmed by what to post, how often to post, and how to gauge if your social media efforts are fruitful. It’s a frustrating journey that often leaves us feeling defeated and disheartened.
With this in mind, we reached out to Edwina Peden of Shakti Creative, who shared her words of wisdom to help us establish a healthy and productive relationship with social media. During our enlightening conversation, Edwina laid out a doable plan that focuses on light-heartedness, fun, and authentic connection over the relentless pursuit of likes and follows.
3 Essential Tips to Make Social Media Worth It for Small Businesses
In the spirit of making social media a worthy companion on your entrepreneurial journey, let’s dive into the three top tips that Edwina and I explored during our insightful Zoom call:
1. Make Social Media Expressive: Discover Your Energetic Blueprint
Edwina’s advice begins with self-discovery. She urges us to delve deep into our “energetic blueprint,” getting clear on what sets us apart in this crowded online world. The goal is to find your unique voice and speak from the heart. Your social media posts should be aesthetically pleasing, consistent, and cohesive to convey your brand’s essence.
Consider these questions: What are your brand’s unique colors and aesthetics? How do you want your audience to feel when they land on your page? What does your heart and intuition tell you about your work and its expression in the world?
2. Make Social Media Engaging: Connect Authentically
Once you’re clear on who you are in the world and what your unique message is, it’s time to focus on attracting a like-minded audience and engaging them in an authentic manner. The goal? Building a community rooted in kindness, honesty, and passion.
Ask yourself: How will I attract the “right fit” community with shared values, interests, and passion? What is my true passion, my deepest heart’s desire? How do I want to show up for my community and engage with them?
3. Make Social Media Effective: The Art of Balance
Beauty and creativity have their place, but social media should also be a strategic endeavor. It’s not just about posting beautiful content—it’s about making sure your efforts bring tangible results for your business. This means tapping in to your logical brain, researching which posts perform well, understanding your audience’s preferences, and effectively conveying your message. It’s about ensuring a fruitful exchange of energy between you and your online community.
Edwina’s secret? A simple Post-It note that reads, “My time on social media is intentional and focused on business building and relationships.” This reminder helps her stay on track and avoid the dreaded rabbit hole.
GET YOUR 3 POSTERS HERE
Years ago, when we were building our Kids Yoga Stories Facebook page, we tested out a variety of different tactics because our page just wasn’t growing in comparison to our colleagues’. We found that silly yoga memes were the most popular and got the most reach and engagement.
But after a few weeks, we decided as a team that even though silly yoga memes were helping us to gain followers, it wasn’t what we wanted to portray as a brand. And it was a good reminder not to get caught up in comparing ourselves to other pages.
Remember, the road to success on social media can be unpredictable. Your carefully crafted strategy may not always deliver the expected results, and that’s perfectly fine. Alternatively, a seemingly random post can capture massive attention.
Social media is a roller coaster ride of emotions, so it’s critical to adopt a long-term perspective and wholeheartedly commit to nurturing a healthy relationship with it—one that is expressive, engaging, and effective.
Ponder these questions: How can you balance the allure of beauty and creativity with the need for data analysis and logical structuring? How can you ensure that your time spent on social media is both intentional and focused?
And most importantly: What are your goals for your social media page? How can you get people from social media onto your email list? This is the biggest key to effective marketing!
As you embark on this journey, remember that social media is not just a tool. It’s an opportunity to tell the story of your brand and connect with your tribe. Approach it with authenticity, creativity, perseverance, and a healthy dose of strategy, and watch your small business grow!