Social Media Tips

  • Social Media Marketing, Social Media Tips

    Preventing Instagram Spam Comments with Hidden Words

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    Are you tired of sorting through a barrage of Instagram spam comments? Do you long for authentic engagement and meaningful interactions with your followers? If you’re a small business owner or solopreneur who wants to foster genuine social media connections, this article is perfect for you.

    In the evolving digital marketing landscape, Instagram is a powerhouse for brand visibility. Yet, spam comments can often ruin the true essence of real interaction. If you want to improve your Instagram experience and create a space where real conversations can thrive, putting a stop to spam comments before they get published is the place to start.

    Are Spam Comments Helpful for Your Instagram Account?

    Before we discuss the solution, let’s debunk a common misconception about Instagram spam comments. Many people believe Instagram spam comments can be beneficial because they are still a type of engagement for your post. However, in reality, these comments rarely provide any value to your content. Instead, they create a nuisance as they clutter up your feed and overshadow real interactions.

    How do Hidden Words Settings Work on Instagram?

    Introducing Instagram’s ‘Hidden Words’ feature – a powerful tool enabling you to control your comment section. With this feature, you can easily remove Instagram spam comments by specifying particular words or phrases you want to block so you can foster real and meaningful conversations in your comment section.

    Step By Step Guide on How to Activate ‘Hidden Words’ to Prevent Spam Comments on Instagram

    One of the best ways to prevent spam comments on your Instagram posts is by activating “Hidden Words.” Here’s how:

    1. Access Settings: Open your Instagram app and navigate to your profile.
    2. Tap on Settings: Click on the gear icon and choose “Privacy.”
    3. Go to Comments: Select “Comments” and find “Hidden Words.”
    4. Customize your List: Add specific words common in spam comments.
    5. Save Changes: Make sure to save your settings to apply the filter.

    What are the Phrases to Include In Your Instagram Hidden Words List?

    Creating a comprehensive list is key. Try to think of the obvious spam terms and variations, misspellings, or industry-specific terms that spammers commonly use on your posts. For example, words like “giveaway,” “promo,” or “discount” might be fine in some situations but can be flagged as spam in other contexts. 

    Should I Delete or Block Existing Spam Comments on My Posts?

    When dealing with existing spam comments, the question often arises: should you delete or block them? Deleting removes the comment from immediate view but doesn’t prevent the user from posting again. Blocking, on the other hand, restricts the user from interacting further. Your strategy might depend on the severity and persistence of the spam.

    How to Delete Comments on Instagram

    1. Open Instagram: Launch the Instagram app on your mobile device.
    2. Access the Comment: Navigate to the post containing the comment you want to delete.
    3. Tap the Comment: Locate the comment you wish to remove and tap and hold on the comment.
    4. Select Delete: A pop-up menu will appear, then tap “Delete” to remove the comment.

    How to Block Comments from a User on Instagram

    1. Open Instagram: Launch the Instagram app and go to your profile.
    2. Access the User Profile: Locate the profile of the user whose comments you want to block.
    3. Tap the Profile: Once on their profile, tap the three dots (⋮) at the top right corner.
    4. Select “Block”: From the options presented, tap on “Block” to prevent the user from interacting with your content.

    Other Ways to Protect Your Business From Scams and Spams on Social Media

    Although the Hidden Words feature of Instagram is useful, it’s not the only thing you can do to safeguard your business on social media. To get a better understanding, check out this article on how to prevent scams and spam on Facebook.

    Getting rid of spam comments on Instagram is not just about cleaning up your feed. It’s essential to maintain a genuine and valuable online presence. By removing spam, you create a space for better interactions with your audience, free from clutter. Focusing on quality over quantity improves your brand’s image and helps build real connections and a positive space. 

    Need help managing your social media profiles? We offer done for you packages and digital marketing coaching if you want to handle everything in-house with a bit of expert guidance. Reach out to get started now!

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  • Social Media Marketing, Social Media Tips

    The Ultimate List of Social Media Holidays for Your Instagram Content

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    We know how important it is to keep your audience engaged as wellness professionals, but we also understand how difficult it can be to come up with new and exciting content. That’s why we created this ultimate list of social media holidays – perfect for wellness pros like chiropractors, acupuncturists, wellness coaches, nutritionists, or yoga therapists.

    These holidays provide the perfect opportunity to share relevant content, connect with your followers, and even attract new people. From Self-love Month to World Menopause Month, these special days and weeks are an excellent way to spark conversations, offer advice, or simply celebrate wellness.

    And a quick reminder – don’t forget to look up and use any relevant hashtags if you post about these holidays. They tend to change from year to year, especially when there’s a non-profit organization behind the “event.”

    January Social Media Holidays

    Whole Month – Self-Love Moth

    January 4 – National Trivia Day

    January 12 – National Hot Tea Day

    January 19 – Good Memory Day

    Third Work Week of January – Sugar Awareness Week

    February Social Media Holidays

    First Friday of February – Wear Red Day (American Heart Month)

    February 4 – World Cancer Day

    February 14 – Valentine’s Day

    February 20 – National Love Your Pet Day

    Last Day of February – International Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) Awareness Day

    March Social Media Holidays

    Whole Month – Endometriosis Awareness Month

    First Friday of March – Employee Appreciation Day

    March 8 = Women’s Day

    March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day

    Beginning the Last Sunday in March – Sleep Awareness Week

    April Social Media Holidays

    Whole Month – Move More Month

    April 9 – International ASMR Day

    Second Saturday in April – Baby Massage Day

    April 22 – Earth Day

    Last Full Week of April – National Infertility Awareness Week

    May Social Media Holidays

    Whole Month – Correct Posture Month

    May 4 – May The Fourth (Star Wars Day)

    May 12 – National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

    Second Sunday in May – Mother’s Day

    Last Monday of May – Memorial Day

    June Social Media Holidays

    Whole Month – Migraine and Headache Awareness Month

    June 8 – Best Friends Day

    June 21 – International Yoga Day

    Third Sunday in June – Father’s Day

    Whole Month – Men’s Health Month

    July Social Media Holidays

    Whole Month – Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month

    July 4 – Independence Day

    Second Week After the 4th of July – Everybody Deserves a Massage Week

    July 17 – World Emoji Day

    July 24 – International Self-Care Day

    July 26 – Holistic Therapy Day

    August Social Media Holidays

    Whole Month – National Breastfeeding Month

    August 9 – National Book Lovers Day

    August 11 – Annual Medical Checkup Day

    August 22 – National Rainbow Baby Day

    August 26 – Women’s Equality Day

    September Social Media Holidays

    Whole Month – Healthy Aging Month

    Whole Month – National Pain Awareness Month

    September 11 – Patriot Day

    September 13 – Positive Thinking Day

    Third Full Week in September – National Rehabilitation Day

    October Social Media Holidays

    Whole Month – World Menopause Month

    Whole Month – Spinal Health Month

    Whole Month – Breast Cancer Awareness Month

    October 1 – World Coffee Day

    October 10 – World Mental Health Day

    October 15 – Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

    November Social Media Holidays

    Whole Month – Movember (Men’s Mental Health Awareness)

    First Wednesday in November – National Stress Awareness Day 

    November 11 – VeteransDay

    November 14 – World Diabetes Day

    Fourth Thursday in November – Thanksgiving Day

    December Social Media Holidays

    Whole Month – Seasonal Depression Awareness Month

    December 1 – Rosa Parks Day

    December 7 (Evening) – Hanukkah

    December 24 – Christmas Eve

    December 31 – New Year’s Eve

    And there you have it! If you need more ideas and help, we prepared a free download of 50 Social Media Prompts to provide you with content ideas for a WHOLE YEAR! These prompts are designed to inspire you and make your social media planning easier. Download the free guide now and start planning your content today with less stress.

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  • Social Media Advertising, Social Media Marketing, Social Media Tips

    Can Google Ads or Facebook Ads Help Your Service-Based Business?

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    Are you wondering if Google Ads or Facebook Ads are the way to go for your service-based business?

    To answer this question, we first need to understand the purpose of each ad type:

    • Google Ads allow you to reach potential customers when they’re trying to find a solution.
    • Facebook Ads (or Meta Ads as they’re called now) are shown to users when they’re on the platform checking out their friends’ posts and updates – they’re better for brand awareness and getting traffic to your website than for getting bookings.

    *Remember, Facebook/Meta Ads post to Instagram too. Placements are configured when creating the campaign.

    Let’s review the benefits of using Google Ads or Facebook Ads to get your services in front of the right people.

    The Argument for Google Ads

    Google Ads help to get your business in front of the right people at the right time. When people search for a solution to their problem your product or service addresses (whether they know it exists or not), your company can show up at the top of their search results with an ad on Google.

    Currently, Google uses “Ad” in bold letters to show the user which are ads versus the organic search results (a result of SEO). They’re usually the first few results and a few more towards the bottom of the page.

    Google Ads are targeted ads based on search queries. This means that people searching for what you offer will be more likely to click through and find out more about your business, call you, or send you their information. With Google Ads, you customize your ad targeting so that it shows up for specific keywords related to your business.

    The Argument for Social Media Ads

    Social media has transformed how consumers interact – it has become an integral part of business. Through social ads, businesses can tap into this space and create relationships with their customers that may not otherwise exist.

    Using social media ads, you can show tailored content specifically to certain groups of people based on audience targeting. It’s a great way to create engagement between customers and your brand – which can ultimately lead to more purchases due to stronger relationships.

    Depending on your chosen objective, social ads can get more traffic to your website, create brand awareness, capture leads, promote an app, or get people to convert (in my experience, the sales objective is best for retargeting warm leads).

    Facebook and Instagram ads work really well for brand awareness and traffic. They’re also great if you have a download or quiz for lead generation. One Facebook Lead Ad I created for a health coach with a digital download gathered hundreds of email addresses in a month with less than a $100 budget. Over seven months, they spent about $500 in ad spend and brought in over 1,300 leads in the form of email addresses.

    Should You Use Google Ads or Facebook Ads?

    There are several things to consider when deciding which type of digital ad is the best fit for your business.

    • Budget is obviously a major factor. Pricing varies between the two and across social media networks, but both are cheaper than traditional advertising methods like television commercials or radio spots.
    • How much time and effort can you put into creating and managing the ads?
    • Advertising goals – Do you want website traffic, people to engage with your posts, leads, purchases, or something else?
    • What type of audience are you trying to reach? This includes demographics like age, location, and interests, but also where your potential customers or patients are in their journey to make a purchase or schedule a consultation.

    Ultimately, it’s important to remember that both types of digital ads can effectively achieve your business goals if managed properly. To be honest, you should probably be using both, and maybe even LinkedIn Ads too.

    Here are some more of my insights that will help you when deciding to use Google Ads or Facebook Ads:

    • Social media ads are often easier to manage for beginners but do require design work upfront and tweaking throughout the campaign term.
    • Don’t waste your money on DIYing Google ads if you don’t have time to check on the ads and keywords weekly at the minimum. It’s better to hire a professional who knows what they’re doing.
    • Running larger campaigns across multiple platforms may be preferable if you need maximum exposure.
    • If building relationships with customers is most important to you, then investing in social media advertising would make sense over relying solely on Google Ads.

    When it comes down to it — test the different options to determine which is most effective for your business goals.

     

    Need help with your online ads? I’m certified in Google Ads Search, and we’ve helped clients create digital ads for several years now. Reach out if you’re ready to take the next step in your online marketing!

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  • Social Media Marketing, Social Media Tips

    Should You Use Hashtags on Instagram?

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    As social media continues to evolve, one of the most talked-about topics right now is whether or not to use hashtags on Instagram. I’m sure you’ve seen influencers dancing around on reels lately, telling you that hashtags are a waste of time and no longer work.

    I disagree.

    The Argument FOR Hashtags on Instagram

    Hashtags tell Instagram what your content is about. They’re a great way to categorize posts, making them visible to users who otherwise may not have found you. However, generic or overly used hashtags like #acupuncture or #yoga are often flooded with other people’s posts, decreasing their effectiveness. Do some research and identify several “long-tail” hashtags like #acupunctureforfertility or #therapeuticyoga.

    I’ve discussed the importance of using regional hashtags to improve your local social media presence, so I won’t go into it too much here. The basics are to search neighborhoods, town/city names, and abbreviations for your area to find your local hashtags.

    The maximum number of hashtags allowed per Instagram post is now five. It used to be 30, but in February 2024 Instagram rolled out this change. Since you are limited to only five hashtags, make sure they are relevant and directly related to your content. Using none at all will leave your content hidden from potential viewers. 

    Evaluate Your Hashtag Performance with Instagram Insights

    While celebrities and influencers with thousands to millions of followers may not find it necessary to use hashtags, your Instagram Insights will give you a better idea of what’s right for your account. 

    Screenshot of Instagram Insights

    In the above screenshot, you can see there were 878 impressions from hashtags compared to 423 attributed to Home, Profile, and Other. That’s more than half and is reason enough for me to continue using them.

    Check out the insights on your single image and carousel posts to see how many impressions are from hashtags versus from the home feed. This will give you an idea of whether using them has been worthwhile for your account up to this point. You may find out that hashtags aren’t really working for you, in which case I’d recommend doing some hashtag research to find some new ones. 

    Get Expert Help with Social Media Management for Your Small Business

    Ultimately, quality content will encourage others to follow your page and turn followers into customers or patients, not hashtags. But remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to using hashtags – it all depends on what works best for you!

    Need help managing the social media accounts for your small business? Tidal Creative Group can help! Learn more about our services here and if you don’t see something that works for you, feel free to email [email protected] to discuss other options.

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  • Social Media Marketing, Social Media Tips

    Instagram Pinned Posts – What to Pin on Instagram and How to Pin

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    If you’re like most small business owners, then you’re always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to market your business. And if you’re not already using Instagram, then you’re definitely missing out! Instagram is a great way to connect with your customers and share images of your products, services, share a peek behind the scenes, and so much more.

    One of the newest features – and coolest to my marketing-focused mind – is that you can pin posts to your Instagram profile so that they stay at the top of your feed. Instagram pinned posts are front and center for new people first checking you out and those long-time followers who are finally ready to engage more with you.

    The question is what to pin. Should you share your most engaged posts, a sales pitch, an educational reel, or something else?

    In this blog post, I’ll show you how to set up your three pinned posts on Instagram and a few ideas of what you should be pinning to get the most value out of them.

    What to Add to Your 3 Instagram Pinned Posts

    Instagrammed pinned posts are a great way to address HubSpot’s Flywheel model that replaces the marketing funnel of days past.

    The idea of the Flywheel is to “Attract, Engage, and Delight” the strangers who become prospects, then customers, and eventually promoters of your business. It keeps your business growing. You can learn more about the HubSpot Flywheel on their website.

    Back to the Instagram pinned posts…

    The three posts that you pin to Instagram should move people along in their buyer’s journey and help them to build a relationship with you and your brand.

    Following the Flywheel, let’s look at a few options. The types of posts listed could overlap in multiple steps of the Flywheel:

    • Your newest post
    • An educational post with a CTA to send you a DM
    • A post that quickly shares what you offer
    • A Q&A thread post to keep the conversation going
    • A client testimonial
    • A post that sets the tone for the rest of your feed (colors, fonts, design, etc.)
    • A post that explains how people can get started
    • An introductory post that shows why you’re the right person to work with
    • Your most engaged post or reel

    Use a mix of single-image posts, carousels, reels, and videos in your top 3 pinned posts. People absorb information better in different formats so trying to connect in multiple ways is always helpful.

    How to Pin Posts to Instagram

     The process to pin posts on Instagram is simple to do the first time and when you want to switch out your pinned posts to something else in the future.

    Here are three easy steps to set your pinned posts on Instagram once you’ve identified them:

    1. Go to your Instagram profile and tap the post.
    2. Click the ellipsis (…) and tap “Pin to your profile.”
    3. Repeat for the other two posts.

    That’s it! You can confirm the three posts that are pinned by the pushpin at the top right of the images on your profile.

    Removing pinned posts is just as easy. Click the post you want to remove, tap the ellipsis, and tap “Unpin from your profile.”

    Need help with your Instagram strategy?

    In addition to our done-for-you services, we also offer digital marketing consulting and coaching. This option saves you some money and allows you to handle digital marketing yourself. Click here to schedule a 20-minute discovery call. Your first 20 minutes are free!

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  • Local Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Social Media Tips

    8 Tips to Generate More Interaction on Social Media

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    Have you ever tried to get more interaction on social media? You know that it’s important, but you probably don’t know where to start. With these simple tips and tricks for getting more engagement on social media, your posts will be seen by the people who are interested in what you have to say.

    8 Tips to Get More Interaction on Social Media

    Interaction or engagement is a tricky thing. It’s not something that can be obtained without effort, and it’s never easy to keep up with social media trends – did you see that Instagram FINALLY published details on how their algorithm works earlier this month?! The more engagement that you get on your posts, the better chance there is of people seeing your content- which means more views for you! So how do you increase engagement?

    Here are some quick tips:

    1. Be Authentic – Speak to your audience in an engaging and personable way.
    2. Mix it Up – Try to change up the types of posts you are making so that each one is unique and interesting.
    3. Be Original – Make sure you are posting original content that people will find helpful or entertaining, not just regurgitating what other pages have posted on their social media feeds already.
    4. Time it Right – Post at optimal times based on previous data from your social media accounts.
    5. Provide Value – Create content your audience will find valuable, rather than just posting for the sake of creating something new to post about. Think about what you’re posting before you hit publish.
    6. Use emojis – They are a great way to show your brand’s personality and break up blocks of text.
    7. Be Detailed, but Succinct – Nobody wants to read all day on social media feeds, so edit your posts down as much as possible. As Kate Chernis says, it’s “one part writing and four parts editing.”
    8. Tag Others – It’s not just about you! Make sure you tag relevant people, businesses, and organizations – especially if you’re resharing their content!

    These easy-to-implement tips will help you get more shares, comments, likes, and followers every time you post something new! Something all small, local businesses strive for.

    If you want to get more engagement on social media, it’s important for your posts to be authentic and original. If you’re looking for a few simple tips to help increase the number of likes or shares on your next post, make sure not to forget these helpful tips!

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