Category Archives: Social Media

Do Better Business with Social Media Marketing

Posted on by
Reply

While it’s important to choose tactics that work for you and your personality in your freelance writing business, social media marketing can do a lot for discoverability and shouldn’t be overlooked.

Social Media Marketing for Business | Tips for Freelancers

Social media marketing for business

No matter if you’re a solopreneur or an established freelancer, businesses need to reach people (preferably their ideal people) if they’re going to survive.

The whole idea is to become known in your industry, building full and healthy business relationships with your prospects.

Would you like free writing tips? Sign up for my weekly tips & tricks, from one writer to another at robynroste.com/writing-tips.
Click the image for more information, or pop your email address in the form below

Honestly, the relationship-building aspect of marketing cannot be overstated. Everything in business points back to one-to-one relationships built on a foundation of trust and likability.

There are so many different ways to market and while it’s important to choose tactics that work for you and your personality, social media can do a lot for discoverability and shouldn’t be overlooked.

Since social media can take over your life I also wanted to add a disclaimer. This is a great tool for discoverability, to reach new audiences and build relationships. However, it shouldn’t be your entire business marketing strategy.

By the way, optimizing your social media profiles is important! You want to ensure potential clients know who you are, what you do, and why they should hire you.

Download your free ebook from my resource library! All you have to do is pop your email address into the form below and I’ll send you the password.

Once you’re in the library, navigate to the social media section and download the ebook called “Social Media Optimization.”

Get Access to My Free Resource Library

* indicates required

To demonstrate where I think social media marketing belongs I’ve created a little infographic for you

Freelance writers sales funnel

Here are a few reasons why you should consider adding social media into your marketing plan.

It’s easy

Most likely you’re already on at least one social media platform and you understand how it works. Start there and figure out natural ways to talk about your business.

This could be by

The most important thing is to find something that works for you and to stick with it. Just be careful not to fall into the trap of spending hours and hours worrying about your content or looking for the perfect hashtags. Set a time limit and stick to your boundaries.

It’s free

Posting on social media is free so why wouldn’t you do it?

Yes, many platforms are pay-to-play meaning if you want to increase your reach you have to put money behind it but even still, it’s a great opportunity to test your posts and see how your prospects and readers engage with it.

Just remember this is one spoke in the bicycle wheel that is your marketing strategy. Keep it simple, keep it in perspective.

Extra reading: How to Avoid Social Media Overwhelm

Social Media Marketing

It’s not as simple as random posts though!

Yes you can post anything and use social media as a thowing-spaghetti-at-the-wall type of expirament.

However, social media always is most effective when there’s a strategy behind it and a larger goal at play.

Take the way agencies work, for example.

  • They plan out all kinds of campaigns and strategies
  • They time their posts, thinking about people’s habits and interests
  • There are even social media marketing firms that focus on boosting a company’s brand through social media 

Extra reading: Setting Social Media Goals: How to Do It and What to Track

Billions of opportunities to be discovered

There are so many people surfing social media platforms at any given time, so if you post the right content on the right platform in the right way, you may reach your ideal client.

Of course, going viral is never something you can plan for or count on but it’s nice when it happens. And it won’t if you never post anything.

Need help posting? Try Seasonal Ideas and Prompts for Social Media

Social media is here to stay

Maybe you hate it and feel like there’s no point in figuring out social media because it will be gone soon. I’m sorry to say that’s probably not gonna happen.

While individual platforms may flex and flux the global connectivity phenomenon is something you’re just going to have to deal with.

I mean, unless you figure out a different way to be discovered. It’s definitely possible, yes. But I don’t know how.

Hate social media? Maybe you also hate marketing. Read this post → Marketing Ideas for People Who Hate Marketing

While it's important to choose tactics that work for you and your personality in your freelance writing business, social media marketing can do a lot for discoverability and shouldn't be overlooked.

One more thing. You may be interested in my free resource library. This is where I keep my files, downloads, ebooks, worksheets and whatever else I manage to create. I love sharing what I learn and want to keep adding to this library so it becomes a wealth of helpful goodness.

This is a free resource but I do require a password to access the library itself. You can get access by popping your email address into the form below.

Get Access to My Free Resource Library

* indicates required
While it's important to choose tactics that work for you and your personality in your freelance writing business, social media marketing can do a lot for discoverability and shouldn't be overlooked.

You may also like How to Create a Social Media Portfolio

What is a Flat Lay and How to Style One

Posted on by
3

What is a flat lay? I hear this all the time and up until a few months ago it was me asking the Internet. Here’s the quick answer: it’s a photograph shot from above, flat.

What is a flat lay and how to style one for Instagram

What is a flat lay and how to style one

Although this term is kind of sort of new (the earliest reference I can find is 2015) the style is not. It just went by different names.

Other names for flat lay

  • Flatlay (OK, that’s just a different spelling)
  • Collage
  • Bird’s-eye view
  • Top shot
  • God’s-eye view
  • Knolling (from the 80s, and the original flat lay)

If you’re styling your photo using a light background, natural light, and shooting it from above…then you already know what a flay lay photo is. You just didn’t have the vocabulary.

So. That was easy. How do I style a flat lay?

I love taking flay lay photos of books and movies because it makes them so much more interesting. The book or movie is the hero—none of the props should take attention away from the hero!—and everything else adds to the story.

Now you have to figure out what you’re going to take photos of. When figuring out what you want to showcase you also need to think about why.

  • Why are you showing this to your audience?
  • What makes it special?
  • Why do you want them to see it?

Whatever product or prop you land on, this becomes your “hero” or the focus of your composition.

But let’s break the flat lay down a bit using a personal example

I love taking flay lay photos of books and movies because it makes them so much more interesting.

The book or movie is the hero—none of the props should take attention away from the hero!—and everything else adds to the story.

If you look at the above examples, you can see I’ve achieved the storytelling angle better in some than others using props, background, and composition.

The more flat lays you do, the better you get at them (trust me). I shot these over a period of months using different techniques, camera angles, and lighting.

I also wanted to include my knitting photos so you can see a more minimalist approach. The easiest way to get consistent light and look is to shoot everything on the same day using similar props and the same background. I did this because I wanted a consistent look on my Instagram feed while showcasing my hand knit products.

I also wanted to include my knitting flat lays so you can see a more minimalist approach.

The easiest way to get consistent light and look is to shoot everything on the same day using similar props and the same background.

I did this because I wanted a consistent look on my Instagram feed while showcasing my hand knit products.

Here are a few tips for styling and shooting flat lays

Use a light background. In most cases, a piece of cardboard or a sheet will work great. A flat surface is ideal.

Try and style your flat lay. This can be difficult if you’re not artistic or confident with what looks good.

Here are a few questions to ask as you style:

  • Is my hero product the focus?
  • Do I like this composition?
  • What will make this more interesting?
  • What will my audience like?
Would you like free writing tips? Sign up for my weekly tips & tricks, from one writer to another at robynroste.com/writing-tips.
Click the image for more information, or pop your email address in the form below

Take a few shots and then re-style your flat lay and take a few more shots. The more you tweak the better you’ll get at it.

If possible, use natural lighting. After MUCH trial and error I found a window in my house that lets in a consistent amount of natural light from day to day.

I created a nice little setup with a card table by the window so I can take advantage of the great light.

Try to be parallel to your flat lay when shooting. This is where things get interesting. You’ll need to be above the shot in order to get it right.

Try a stool, chair, step ladder, or whatever you need to get in the correct position.

I use a combination of a chair and a tripod but I’m always trying to get my shots more parallel.

Remember to take lots of photos and to move your flat lay composition around a bit so when you get to the photo editing you have a few options.

This may take a while at first but you will get better, I promise! If I can figure it out…then you’ll be just fine.

By the way, if you want to skip the taking photos part altogether, here’s a free starter kit of stock photos.

More social media tricks and tips

Pin for later

What is a flat lay? I hear this all the time and up until a few months ago it was me asking the Internet. Here's the quick answer: it's a photograph shot from above, flat.

One more thing. You may be interested in my free resource library. This is where I keep my files, downloads, ebooks, worksheets and whatever else I manage to create. I love sharing what I learn and want to keep adding to this library so it becomes a wealth of helpful goodness.

This is a free resource but I do require a password to access the library itself. You can get access by popping your email address into the form below.

Get Access to My Free Resource Library

* indicates required
What is a flat lay? I hear this all the time and up until a few months ago it was me asking the Internet. Here's the quick answer: it's a photograph shot from above, flat.
What is a flat lay? It is when you take a photo from above, parallel to the styled objects you are shooting. It is a great way to showcase your products in an interesting and engaging light. Try different props, backgrounds, and textures to tell a story and involve your audience.

Four Important Decisions Every Writer Needs to Make

Posted on by
3

There are four decisions every writer needs to make before they get started marketing themselves online. They’re foundational to your writing life and should be part of every writer’s resource list.

Four Decisions Every Writer Needs to Make. Every Writer's Resource

Every writer’s resource: want the worksheet for this training?

Download the Four Decisions Every Writer Needs to Make worksheets from my resource library.

Pop your email address in the form below, confirm your subscription to my email list and I’ll send you the password to my free writer’s resource library. Once you’re in, navigate to the writing section and look for the worksheet titled “Four Decisions Every Writer Needs to Make.”

Get Access to My Free Resource Library

* indicates required

Four decisions every writer needs to make

In the writing life, it’s easy to get swept up in tactics and strategies other people recommend. When you’re just getting started it makes sense! You don’t know what to do so why not try something that seems like it’s working?

Making decisions about who you are as a writer may seem overwhelming and restrictive, I get it. But in thinking this through, it will provide you with an important foundation. These decisions will help keep you focused when the writing gets hard and the rejections pile up.

Would you like free writing tips? Sign up for my weekly tips & tricks, from one writer to another at robynroste.com/writing-tips.
Click the image for more information, or pop your email address in the form below

The four questions

Consider these four questions and try and come up with answers that reflect your personal writing goals. What you come up with will help you stay focused in the wild west of online marketing. And yes, you can change your answers over time.

Definitely!

Who is your target reader?

  • Try and form a mental picture of your ideal reader, your biggest fan
  • Where does this person spend time online?
  • What does this person care about?
  • Why does this person love reading your work?

For more on discovering your ideal reader, here’s a longer walkthrough.

Why do you want an online following?

  • This may feel like a selfish/self-serving question but it’s important to know what your goal is and why you want followers
  • There are no wrong answers so be honest with yourself!
  • It’s important to know your end goal so you don’t get swept up in every trend and fad
  • Understanding why you want an online following will help you hang in there when you don’t feel like being online or you encounter bad Internet people

Writers who want to be traditionally published should be working towards growing a platform. For more on author platforms, here’s a definition and an explanation.

What is your focus/niche?

  • What do you write about?
  • In a perfect world, what would you be known for?
  • What type of writing do you do?
  • While you may have diverse interests and write in several genres, decide on a primary topic or focus

Often, writers are resistant to choosing a narrow focus or niche. I’ve written about my journey and expand on why branding yourself is so important in the online world.

What problem do you solve for your readers?

  • What is something you offer your ideal readers that they both need and want?
  • Be as specific as possible
  • Think about what your reader is hoping you’ll help them with
  • The problems and solutions you offer can be big or small

Understanding why what you write is important to your readers is a fabulous opportunity to help people take the next step on their journey. It also helps you build your brand, which I expand on in this article.

Why do you write?

Bonus question: Why do you write?

No matter the reason, you should know why you write. If you can get clear about your why it will act as a beacon when your path isn’t clear. You know, when things like self-doubt and insecurity knock at your door. Or when success doesn’t come in the timeline you daydreamed about.

Your why will help you see past the discouragement of the day and keep moving ahead. Because you have a larger purpose! Your why is bigger than a momentary setback.

Your Writer's Statement Worksheet (Free Download)

Ready to create your writer’s statement? Download the worksheet from my free resource library.

Enter your email address in the form below, confirm your subscription to my email list and then I’ll send you the password to my free resource library. Once you’re in, navigate to the writing section and look for the worksheet titled “Writer’s Statement Worksheet.”

Get Access to My Free Resource Library

* indicates required

And for the sake of an example and accountability, here is my recently-updated writer’s statement.

I write stories and articles to help others create vulnerable connections—with others, with themselves, with the world—so they can move towards the person they’re meant to be.

My goal in sharing is to help someone else discover they’re not alone and give them hope for the future.

Writer’s Statement, Robyn Roste (February 2020)

By the way, I worked through this at Laura Munson’s Haven 1 Writing Retreat earlier this year. Ask me about that incredible experience!

This is an excerpt from my workshop Blogging and Social Media for Writers.

You’ve heard that, as a writer, you need to build an online platform, but what does that mean? While building a presence through blogging and social media is both a science and an art, there are consistent elements writers need to think about and commit to. This workshop reviews the top elements to consider and the four decisions every writer needs to know before they get started.

There are four decisions every writer needs to make before they get started marketing themselves online. They're foundational to your writing life.

One more thing. You may be interested in my free resource library. This is where I keep my files, downloads, ebooks, worksheets and whatever else I manage to create. I love sharing what I learn and want to keep adding to this library so it becomes a wealth of helpful goodness.

This is a free resource but I do require a password to access the library itself. You can get access by popping your email address into the form below.

Get Access to My Free Resource Library

* indicates required
There are four decisions every writer needs to make before they get started marketing themselves online. They're foundational to your writing life.

Make Stronger Connections with Your Ideal Clients

Posted on by
2

Wondering how to make stronger connections online with your clients or prospects?

Make Stronger Connections with Your Ideal Clients

It all comes down to understanding your ideal readers/clients/customers, answering their questions and delighting them with your generosity.

Would you like free writing tips? Sign up for my weekly tips & tricks, from one writer to another at robynroste.com/writing-tips.
Click the image for more information, or pop your email address in the form below

How to make stronger connections with your ideal clients

In order to get more engagement with people online, there are a few areas worth considering. One of the most important is content. Yes, writing!

Part of a strong digital presence is what you write, on your website or blog and on social media. This comes from a strong foundation based on your unique, individual brand.

Here are a few tips for making stronger connections in the digital space.

Get to know your ideal client

It’s important to know your customers, clients, prospects, followers, readers, etc. Critical even! We’ve all heard when you try and appeal to everyone you appeal to no one.

Getting laser focused on your target customer will help you make authentic connections and build relationships.

As a busy freelance writer, you don’t have time to craft posts that don’t do anything for your business.

Try writing for your ideal client when you’re posting online, not just when you’re doing paid work. Write for and to them. See what happens.

Extra credit: Want to discover your ideal reader? Here’s an exercise I hope you’ll enjoy!

I’ve also created a worksheet to help you discover your ideal reader. It’s a free download in my resource library, but you will need a password. Just pop your email address into the form below and I’ll send you the password.

Once you’re in the resource library navigate to the writing section and look for the “Discover Your Ideal Reader” worksheet.

Get Access to My Free Resource Library

* indicates required

Create high-quality content

Everything you do online is marketing your business. So when posting, no matter if it’s a four-word meme or a 2,000 word blog post, make sure it’s quality.

People sometimes get swept up in thinking they need to post frequently in order be noticed. To stand out. To stay top of mind. And yes, posting on your chosen platforms consistently IS criticial.

However, think quality over quantity. Post as much as you can at a rate you can sustain. Keep the quality up. You’re doing this for your people.

Strengthen your lede

“Lede” is a journalism term meaning the first sentence/introduction of a news story. This is the most important piece! The lede should tell the reader what to expect and compel them to go deeper.

In the noisy digital world, you have micro seconds to grab attention. If your lede doesn’t entice people to keep reading? They’ll keep scrolling.

Build stronger connections

When thinking about blogging and SEO, getting noticed online means standing out. And that starts with the title. Get creative and think about what your ideal clients want to read. Answer the questions they’re asking. Be generous with your advice.

But most of all, hook them so they’ll stick around.

Want to make stronger connections? Engage!

While creating content that connects is important, showing up online and interacting with your ideal clients is where the magic happens.

It does take some extra time so it’s easy to tell yourself you don’t have time to be social. But might I push you to reconsider? Just a bit? A few minutes per day?

If you want to build relationships online it comes down to spending time with people. Yes, it’s work. And yes, it’s difficult to attach ROI (but not impossible!). But it’s, in my opinion, time well spent.

Wondering how to make stronger connections online with your clients or prospects? It comes down to understanding your ideal readers/clients/customers.

One more thing. You may be interested in my free resource library. This is where I keep my files, downloads, ebooks, worksheets and whatever else I manage to create. I love sharing what I learn and want to keep adding to this library so it becomes a wealth of helpful goodness.

This is a free resource but I do require a password to access the library itself. You can get access by popping your email address into the form below.

Get Access to My Free Resource Library

* indicates required
Wondering how to make stronger connections online with your clients or prospects? It comes down to understanding your ideal readers/clients/customers.

How to Get Noticed on Twitter Using Three Stupid Simple Steps

Posted on by
3

Using lists on Twitter is one of the best ways to get noticed by influencers (or anyone really). Serious! Here is a quick overview and tutorial plus best practices.

Get Noticed by Influencers on Twitter Using Lists

Get noticed by influencers on Twitter using lists

I know some users are freaked out by lists (why is someone adding me to a list? I don’t know them!). And I know others have had negative experiences with lists (they can be used for evil as well as for good).

However, when used properly, Twitter lists are a wonderful resource and can help you grow your platform.

Would you like free writing tips? Sign up for my weekly tips & tricks, from one writer to another at robynroste.com/writing-tips.
Click the image for more information, or pop your email address in the form below

This isn’t the first time I’ve talked about the reasons freelancers, writers and freelance writers should use Twitter or lists so I won’t get into the sales pitch.

Today I want to review a specific technique for getting on the radar of people you would like to meet.

I love this technique mostsly because it’s not creepy. It’s intentional, definitely, but not creepy.

5 tips for optimizing your social media profiles free ebook free download

Let’s take a break from this training for a minute. Social media is nebulous, I get it. And there are a lot of dos and don’ts that seem to contradict each other. I know!

I like to keep things simple with my social media strategy, which is why I’ve put together this free ebook for you.

It’s short and simple and if you implement these suggestions you’ll have a great head start on keeping your brand focused and effective online. Pop your email address into the form below and I’ll send you the password so you can access my resource library.

Once you’re in the library, navigate to the social media section and download the ebook called “Social Media Optimization.”

Get Access to My Free Resource Library

* indicates required

The technique to get noticed

I first learned this technique, and about Twitter lists, from Alexis Grant. She suggests creating a private “Notice-Me List” on Twitter and adding people who you want to notice you.

Simple, right? I’m still using lists like this today and find them QUITE helpful.

Here’s the jist: create a private list on Twitter, figure out whose radar you want to get on to or who you want to meet and add their handles to the list.

Make sure to pay attention to this list, and the tweets, and interact with tweets/people as it makes sense.

Wondering how to interact with tweets? Here are a few ideas

  • Retweet tweets your followers would be interested in
  • Jump in on a conversation if you have something valuable to add
  • Are they asking for help? Can you help? Be helpful!
  • Be a literary citizen as much as possible (or in this case, a good Twitter citizen)
Use Twitter lists

What not to do

  • Don’t be desperate. No begging for attention, no DMing and no trying too hard (be cool!)
  • Avoid asking for things. Don’t ask people to check out your website or if they hire freelancers (or asking for favours in general—you’re doing the favours here)
  • Don’t overdo it. Yes pay attention to the people on your list but try not to retweet every tweet or tag them too much. You want to get their attention in a positive way, a way that makes them want to check out your profile and perhaps follow you. If you overdo it you’ll just annoy them and end up blocked

Pretty simple, right? Figure out who you want to connect with on Twitter, then pay attention to their tweets, then be helpful/useful/fun/valuable.

They may notice you, they may not. It may take a while, be patient. They may never @reply to you, that’s OK. But at some point, someone will start a conversation with you. They’ll be curious about who you are and what you’re about. Be ready.

And that’s how to get noticed on Twitter! Straightforward, right? While it may sound too simple to work I’ve practiced this technique for the past five years and I’m living proof that it works.

Using lists on Twitter is one of the best ways to get noticed by influencers (or anyone really). Here is a quick overview and tutorial + best practices.

One more thing. I think you’ll enjoy my free resource library. This is where I keep my files, downloads, ebooks, worksheets and whatever else I manage to create. I love sharing what I learn and want to keep adding to this library so it becomes a wealth of helpful goodness.

This is a free resource but I do require a password to access the library itself. You can get access by popping your email address into the form below.

Get Access to My Free Resource Library

* indicates required
Using lists on Twitter is one of the best ways to get noticed by influencers (or anyone really). Here is a quick overview and tutorial + best practices.