Hello and welcome!
Today, I have a lot to cover (a little more than usual), but everything is important to the topic of today’s call, which is geared toward the newbies to social media: Social Media 101: Creating Content When You’re Just Starting Out.
Raise your hand if social media has ever made you feel like a deer in headlights. You know you should be posting, but every time you sit down to create content, your mind goes blank, or worse—you start comparing yourself to everyone else who seems to have it all figured out. Sound familiar?
I know I’ve been there!
But here’s the truth: every social media pro you admire started exactly where you are—unsure of what to post, overthinking every word, and wondering if anyone was even paying attention. The difference? They kept going, and so will you.
Social media isn’t just a platform; it’s the megaphone for your message, your business, and your brand. If you’re just starting out, this is your opportunity to build real connections, share your story authentically, and grow your audience—all without feeling like you have to be on every platform 24/7 or dance your way to success.
By the end of this training, you’ll walk away with a clear understanding of where to focus your efforts, how to create content that feels natural and engaging, and strategies to build momentum—without the overwhelm. Because you don’t need to be everywhere, but you do need to start somewhere. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do today.
Create a PIC Snapshot (Perfect Ideal Customer)
Alright, now that we’re all on the same page about why social media matters, let’s start with the foundation of every successful strategy: knowing your audience. You can’t create impactful content if you don’t know who you’re speaking to, what they care about, and where they’re spending their time online.
We’re going to kick things off by helping you get super clear on your ideal audience with something I call the PIC Snapshot—it’s a quick and powerful formula that helps you identify exactly who you’re serving, what they’re struggling with, and the transformation they’re craving.
The PIC Snapshot Formula is:
Primary Demographics + Symptoms + Tanglible Desired Outcome
To identify and create your PIC Snapshot, follow these steps:
- Start with Primary Demographics:
Think about who your ideal client is. Ask yourself:- What age range do they fall into?
- What is their gender (if relevant)?
- What stage of life or career are they in?
- Are they in a specific industry or profession?
- Do they share any common interests or values?
Example: “Busy moms in their 30s to 40s who are juggling a career and family life.”
- Pinpoint Their Symptoms:
Focus on the problems they’re experiencing—the symptoms of their one-word problem. Ask yourself:- What specific struggles or pain points are keeping them stuck?
- What challenges are they voicing to themselves or others?
- What emotions are tied to these problems (frustration, overwhelm, etc.)?
Example: “Feeling overwhelmed by a lack of time for self-care and struggling to balance their responsibilities.”
- Define the Tangible Desired Outcome:
Identify the transformation they are seeking. Ask yourself:- What result are they hoping to achieve?
- What would success look or feel like to them?
- How will their life improve once their problem is solved?
Example: “Having more time for themselves, feeling recharged, and confidently managing their busy schedules.”
Putting It All Together
Combine these elements to create your PIC Snapshot:
“Busy moms in their 30s to 40s feeling overwhelmed by a lack of time for self-care and struggling to balance responsibilities, seeking more time for themselves, a sense of balance, and renewed energy.”
Then, once you’ve identified your PIC Snapshot, you need to identify where they are hanging out online (specifically on what social media platforms.)
Then, once you’ve identified your PIC Snapshot, the next step is figuring out where they are hanging out. Are they scrolling Instagram for inspiration, networking on LinkedIn, or searching YouTube for how-to videos? Here’s the thing: you don’t need to be on every platform—especially not when you’re just starting out. Focus on the platforms where your audience spends the most time.
That said, keep in mind that the more platforms you show up on, the greater your exposure will be. The key is to start small, master a couple of platforms, and then expand as you get more comfortable and consistent. It’s all about working smarter, not harder, while maximizing your reach.
Crafting The Perfect Profile
Now that you know who you’re talking to and where they’re spending their time, it’s time to make sure your profile is working for you. Think of your profile as your first impression—it’s your digital handshake and your chance to immediately tell people who you are, what you do, and why they should follow you.
Here’s a simple formula to craft the perfect bio, inspired by the method taught in Social Boom:
- Who You Help: Be clear and specific about your audience.
- How You Help Them: Share the result or transformation you provide.
- A Call-to-Action: Direct them to take the next step—visit your link, DM you, or check out your latest offer.
For example, instead of saying ‘Website Designer,’ your bio could say: Helping small business owners create compliant, accessible websites that everyone can use with ease. Grab my free ‘Website Accessibility Checklist’, then provide a link where they can get it.
Let’s say you’re a social media coach your bio might say something like: I help small business owners grow their audience and get leads without overwhelm. Grab my free 30-day content calendar here – and give them the link where they can fit it.
Or a business coach can say: Helping women over 40 turn their expertise into profitable online businesses without the hustle. Get my free ‘One-Page Business Plan’ here – and the link.
The Power Of Content Pillars
Now that you’ve crafted a profile that clearly communicates who you are and how you help, it’s time to think about what kind of content you’ll be sharing. This is where content pillars come in.
Think of content pillars as the foundation of your social media strategy—they’re the 3 to 5 main topics or themes that keep your posts aligned and consistent. Not only do they help you stay organized, but they also ensure you’re creating content that resonates with your audience and supports your goals.
This is a helpful exercise because it prevents you from feeling scattered or stuck when it’s time to post. Instead of staring at a blank screen, you’ll have clear categories to guide your ideas, making content creation faster and more focused. Plus, your audience will know exactly what to expect from you, which builds trust and keeps them coming back.
For example:
A fitness coach’s content pillars might include:
- Simple workout routines
- Healthy recipes
- Client success stories
- Mindset and motivation tips
A menopause coach’s content pillars might include:
- Hormone health
- Fitness for women in menopause
- Mindset and Self-Care
- Debunking Menopause Myths
- Meals that support hormonal health
A mortgage broker’s content pillars might include:
- Budgeting and saving strategies
- Home buying tips
- Market updates
- Myth busting
Finding Trending Topics
Now that you’ve established your content pillars, the next step is keeping your content fresh and engaging by tapping into trending topics. Trends give your content a timely boost and help you connect with what’s already capturing your audience’s attention.
Why This Matters and How It Helps Your Growth
Trends aren’t just about staying relevant—they’re about staying visible. Platforms love to push trending content, which means jumping on the right trend can give you a serious visibility boost. But it’s not just about the algorithm; when you combine trends with your unique point of view, you attract the right audience—people who resonate with your expertise and message.
Here are three ways you can find trending topics and create content that resonates with your audience while staying aligned with your unique point of view:
- Check Social Media Buzz:
Use platforms like Instagram’s Explore page, TikTok’s trending sounds and hashtags, or Twitter’s Trending section to see what’s capturing attention. Look for trends that overlap with your content pillars, then add your own twist or perspective to make it authentic to your brand. - Leverage Google Trends:
This tool helps you identify what people are searching for in real-time. Enter keywords related to your niche to discover trending topics or seasonal interests that you can tie into your content. - Use Tools for Trend Tracking:
Tools like BuzzSumo or AnswerThePublic allow you to see what’s popular in your industry. They highlight frequently asked questions, trending articles, or hot topics that are gaining traction, giving you endless inspiration for timely content.
Post Like a Pro: Insider Secrets
Now that you know how to find and create trending content with your unique twist, let’s talk about the next piece of the puzzle: posting like a pro.
To really maximize your social media presence, you need to nail down four key factors:
- Consistency: Show up 5 to 7 times a week. The algorithms reward accounts that post consistently because it signals you’re an active creator. More consistency means better chances of your content being seen by more people, building trust and familiarity with your audience.
- Frequency: Post a minimum of 1 post each day. Gary Vee recommends to post 2 – 3 times a day. The more content you create, the more opportunities you give yourself to connect with your audience, experiment with what works, and stay visible in their feeds. That said, start with consistently posting once a day and then expand.
- Trending Audio: Leveraging popular sounds and music can give your posts an extra edge, especially on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Using trending audio increases the likelihood that the algorithm will favor your content, exposing it to more people who engage with similar trends. It also helps your posts feel relevant and up-to-date.
- Engage: Social media isn’t a one-way street. Reply to comments, answer DMs, and interact with your audience. The more you engage, the stronger your connection with your audience becomes—and the algorithm notices! Accounts that engage are often rewarded with more visibility because platforms prioritize creators who foster interaction.
My Foolproof Content System
Now that you’ve got a solid understanding of how to post like a pro, you might be wondering—how do you keep everything organized without feeling overwhelmed? That’s where having a foolproof content system comes in.
I personally use Trello—a project management tool that allows me to keep track of my ideas, organize my messages, and store my images and videos all in one place. With Trello, I can create boards for each content pillar, add cards for specific ideas, and even attach visuals or drafts to keep everything streamlined. It’s like having a digital content hub that keeps me on track and makes posting consistently so much easier.
If you’d like a copy of my Trello board, drop a message in the comments, and I’ll DM you the link—it’s already set up with templates and checklists to help you hit the ground running. This is the exact system I use to stay consistent and organized, and I’d love to share it with you!
Your Social Media Toolbox
Once you’ve got your content system in place, the next step is making the creation process as smooth and efficient as possible. That’s where having the right tools in your social media toolbox comes in.
The right tools can save you time, boost your creativity, and take the stress out of creating content that stands out.
I have three go-to tools that make my content creation process so much easier: Canva, Veed.io (or Capcut), and Vistasocial.
Canva
I’m sure most of you already know about Canva for creating amazing graphics, but did you know you can also edit short video clips and add audio?
Here’s a tip: while it’s always best to natively attach trending audio through the Instagram or TikTok app (since it boosts visibility), you can still get creative in Canva by adding downloaded audio files. To grab trending audio, you can use a tool like https://insta.savetube.me/ to download the audio and upload it directly into Canva for your video edits.
This little trick lets you repurpose your video content while staying aligned with current trends!
Veed.io or Capcut
When I need more advanced video editing features, I turn to Veed.io. While Canva is great for quick edits like trimming clips or adding basic overlays, Veed.io gives you full editing power. You can add captions, transitions, filters, and even remove background noise to make your videos more polished and professional.
It’s perfect for creating content that really stands out, especially if you want more control over the final look and feel of your videos.
I also know a lot of people swear by CapCut, which is another fantastic option if you’re looking for a free, user-friendly app with great editing tools. Both Veed.io and CapCut are excellent for taking your video content to the next level!
Vistasocial
The last tool I couldn’t operate efficiently without is Vista Social. It’s a social media management platform that helps you streamline your content scheduling, engagement, and analytics.
If you subscribe to the Professional plan, you gain access to the First Comment feature. This allows you to schedule the first comment on your posts when you’re scheduling your post. Social media platforms don’t like when you put links directly in your post captions (it can actually hurt your reach). But with the First Comment feature, you can drop your hashtags, links, or extra details in the first comment instead, keeping your post looking clean and still getting all the engagement benefits.
Vista Social also offers the ability to attach trending audio to your posts. At this time, it’s a little limited, but I’m hoping they will eventually be able to pull in all the trending audio.
If you want to be able to batch your social media messages and save yourself a ton of time and stress, then Vista Social is a must! It keeps everything organized so you can focus on creating awesome content instead of scrambling to post every day.
Action Plan To Crush Your Social Media Marketing
Alright, let’s bring it all together and wrap up!
We started by talking about the foundation of a great social media strategy: knowing your audience and crafting a bio that speaks directly to them. Then, we explored the importance of creating content aligned with your content pillars to keep your posts consistent and focused.
Next, we dove into finding trending topics and how to put your own spin on them to stay relevant while staying true to your voice. From there, we covered how to post like a pro by focusing on consistency, frequency, trending audio, and engagement to maximize your visibility and connection with your audience.
To keep it all organized, I shared my foolproof content system using Trello to streamline your workflow. And finally, we looked at the tools in my social media toolbox—like Canva, Veed.io, and Vista Social—that make the entire process easier, more efficient, and a lot less overwhelming.
This training has been all about Social Media 101—the key things you need to know when you’re just starting out with creating content. Social media can feel overwhelming, but if you focus on these basics, you’ll have a strong foundation to build on.
You’ve got all the tools and strategies to get started, and I can’t wait to see what you create!
And with that, I’ll see you all again next week.