Week 16 Part A: Developing Your Marketing Strategy

Throughout this semester, I’ve learned a lot about how social media can really help shape a business. From creating a brand to figuring out which platforms work best, this class gave me the chance to try different tools and see what fits. For the (fictitious) business I created, "Austin’s Noodles", platforms like Instagram and TikTok stood out the most. Since food is so visual, these apps made it easy to grab people’s attention through photos, videos, and behind-the-scenes clips.

Some tools we used in class that I’d definitely continue using include content calendars and hashtag research. Content calendars helped me stay organized and post regularly without rushing last minute.  Hashtag and keyword research was also really helpful for making sure my content actually reached the right audience, and to prevent garnering a "boosted" audience.

Out of all the platforms, I had the most fun using TikTok. It felt the most casual and creative, and it gave me more freedom to show off the personality behind the business. Instagram was a close second as it’s easy to use and great for keeping up a professional but still fun vibe. Twitter, on the other hand, didn’t really feel like the best fit for my business since it’s more text-based.

Looking ahead, I think spending about 8 to 10 hours a week on social media is a good balance for a small business. That includes time for making posts, replying to comments/engaging with the audience in general, and checking the analytics of posts. Being consistent without heavy pressure or burning out is key!

Overall, this class showed me that social media isn’t just about posting random content. It’s a real tool for building a brand and connecting with people. Now that I know what works best for my business and what I enjoy using, I feel more confident in creating a strong and engaging online presence for any future business ideas!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Week1A: My Blog Theme

Week 2 Part B - Business Research

Week 11 Part A: Using AI, Social Influencers, LinkedIn, Conversation based Social Media and more