Have an Egg-cellent April & a Happy Easter!

With Easter comes the school holidays in Victoria this year so egg-citing times in our house for the two weeks ahead. The Easter break is a great way to kick off the April and the school holidays so I hope each of you get some time to enjoy a little bit of down time and some time out from the daily hustle! If you work for yourself then I hope you can schedule in a break, at least over Easter, and recharge the batteries! Schedule posts where you can and plan your content ahead of time, as it will free you up to enjoy some down time.....it's been a busy start to the year!!

Following is the full list of significant dates for April. To cover a good range of topics, I have also attempted to include some International Dates that might align with businesses. Please use this list where you can to assist with SM content and utilise trending hashtags!


30 March - 2 April        Easter
31 March - 9 April        National Youth Week
1-10 April                    NSW Seniors Week
1-30 April                    Supermarket Free Month - SUPPORT LOCAL
1 April                         Daylight Savings Time ENDS - NSW, ACT, SA, VIC & Tasmania
1 April                         April Fools Day
1 April                         National Smile Day
2 April                         Easter Monday
2 April                         World Autism Awareness Day
2 April                         International Children’s Book Day
3 April                         Easter Tuesday (Tasmania)
4 - 15 April                  Commonwealth Games - Gold Coast, QLD
4 April                         World Stray Animals Day
7 April                         World Health Day
8 April                         Orthodox Easter
10 April                       World Homeopathy Day
10 April                       National Siblings Day
11 April                       World Parkinsons' Day
11 - 22 April                Nature Play Week
12 April                       International Day of Human Flight
14 April                       Garden Releaf Day
14 April                       Baisakhi-Sikh Festival
15 April                       MS Melbourne Cycle
15 April                       Youth Homelessness Matters Day
18 April                       World Heritage Day
22 April                       Earth Day
22 April - 28 April        World Allergy Week
23 April                       World Book Day
24 April - 30 April        World Immunisation Week
25 April                       ANZAC Day
25 April                       International Guide Dog Day
25 April                       World Penguin Day
28 April                       Pay It Forward Day
28 April                       World Day for Safety & Health at Work
29 April                       International Dance Day
30 April                       International Jazz Day

I hope everyone has an amazing month and that this list really encourages you to update your Social Media accounts daily or at the least every second day!  Regular posting is key to improving reach and growth, and don't forget that current and relevant posts are the perfect way to leverage and maximise hashtags and content.

If there are any dates that I have forgotten to include then please let me know in the comments below and I will update the list ASAP.

Don't forget to Be Social - Share, Support and Connect!!
Amanda x

Hello Spring......

Well what a last three months it's been. I can honestly say I have never been so happy to see the end of Winter!! With so much illness in and around Melbourne over the last few months, with several heavy doses landing in our house, it's so good to feel the air warming up and see the cherry blossoms on the trees.

With the warmer months ahead and of course Christmas, things are definitely getting busier, our to-do lists are getting longer and special events and dates are multiplying. If you're looking for support with your social media during this time, please feel free to get in touch and find out how we can help.

In the meantime, we hope the following list of events and special dates helps you to plan your social media posts over the coming month and takes a little bit of pressure off you.

1-7 September: Spina Bifida Awareness Week
1-7 September: National Asthma Week
1-30 September: Starlight Movie Month
1-30 September: Save the Koala Month
1-30 September: Big Heart Appeal (Heart Foundation)
1-30 September: Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
1-30 September: Dementia Awareness Month
1-30 September: Social September
1-30 September: Foster Care Month
1 Sept - 31 Oct: 2017 Great Northern Clean Up (Clean Up Australia)
2 September: Footy Colours Day
3 September: Father's Day
3-9 September: National Child Protection Week
4-8 September: Kids Teaching Kids Week
4-8 September: Women's Health Week
4-10 September: National Literacy and Numeracy Week
4-10 September: National Stroke Week
4-10 September: National Superhero Week (Muscular Dystrophy Australia)
5 September: International Day of Charity
5-11 September: Spinal Injury Awareness Week
6 September: National Health & Physical Education Day
8 September: Tara Day (Buddhist)
8 September: White Balloon Day
8 September: Star Trek Day
10 September: World Suicide Prevention Day
13 September: National Skatepark Day
14 September: R U OK Day?
16 September: International Day for Preservation of the Ozone Layer
16-17 September: Clean Up the World Weekend
16-24 September: National Organic Week
17 September: Australian Citizenship Day
17-23 September: Herbal Medicine Week
18-24 September: Meat Free Week
21 September: World Alzheimer's Day
21 September: International Day of Peace
23 September: Bright Pink Lipstick Day
25 September: Save The Koala Day
27 September: World Tourism Day
27 September: World Rivers Day
29 September: National Police Rememberance Day
29 September: World Heart Day
29-30 September: Yom Kippur - Jewish
30 September: International Day of Non-Violence
30 September: International Day of Older Persons
30 September: International Coffee Day
30 September: World Vegetarian Day

Happy Planning and of course, happy posting!!
Amanda x

Pin of the Week....

Writing the PERFECT Instagram Caption is something we all try to do on a daily basis isn't it? Too long, too short, not engaging enough, does it need tweaking, and at the best, is it share worthy?! We all want to write a great Instagram post so when I came across this article on Pinterest from the Team at Who What Wear that I thought was worth saving. It's a great read with several good tips that are worth trying in an effort to mix up your posts and start to build your engagement and following.

Not surprisingly, "How to Write the Perfect Instagram Caption", was the most PINNED post on the Little Bird Social Media "Instagram" Board last week. It's well worth the read and if you have any great tips that you'd like to share on writing the perfect caption then please feel free to share in the comments below - we'd love to know!

Planning for May.....

It's that time of the month again and what a busy month ahead.....who can believe May is already here?! A new month, a new list of special events and occasions that you can utilise for the promotion and growth of your own business on social media.

I hope the following list will take all the hard work out of planning May for you and will assist you with preparing posts, content and your businesses marketing calendar. Please don't hesitate to comment below if I have missed something and I will update the list accordingly. I hope you all find this useful!

May 1 - Kiss Goodbye to MS
May 1 - 7 - International Composting Awareness Week
May 1 - 7 - National Family Day Care Week
May 1 - 7 - Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week
May 1 - 31 - Australia's Biggest Morning Tea
May 1 - 31 - Miracle Month of May
May 1 - 31 - Domestic & Family Violence Prevention Month
May 1 - 31 - 65 Roses - For Cystic Fibrosis
May 1 - 31 - Mindful in May
May 1 - 31 - Dine with Heart Month - Supporting Sacred Heart Mission
May 2 - White Shirt Day - Supporting Ovarian Cancer
May 3 - World Asthma Day
May 4 - International Star Wars Day
May 4 - Play Outside Day
May 4 - 8 - Live Below the Line - Supporting Poverty in Australia
May 5 - Shine a Light on Road Safety
May 5 - Sports Without Boarders
May 5 - International Midwives Day
May 5 - 8 - Ride to Cure Diabetes
May 6 - Starlight Day - Supporting the Starlight Children's Foundation
May 6 - 13 - Heart Week
May 8 - World Red Cross Day
May 8 - 14 - National Volunteer Week
May 12 - International Nurses Day
May 13 - Fair Trade Day
May 14 - Mother's Day
May 14 - Mother's Day Classic
May 15 - International Day of Families
May 15 - 21 - National Family Week
May 17 - World Baking Day
May 19 - National Walk Safely to School Day
May 21 - RSPCA Million Paws Walk
May 21-27 - Food Allergy Week
May 25 - World MS Day
May 26 - National Sorry Day
May 27-28 - Red Shield Appeal - Supporting the Salvation Army
May 27 - 25 June - Ramadan
May 28 - Amnesty International
May 29 - Wear White at Work Day - Supporting Mental Illness
May 29 - Biscuit Day

Other Upcoming Australian Events can be found here. They might not be included on this calendar but provide a range of state specific events for the month.

Happy May!

Amanda

How Often Should you Post?

This is a question I am asked regularly and put simply, there is no right answer! There is huge merit in taking time to get to know your "likers" and "followers" so that you will get a gauge for the content that they like to see, comment on and like. There is no point in posting for the sake of posting. If you don't have relevant content to share on a certain day then I suggest leaving it until you do.

The following Infographic gives a considered outline as to how often you should consider posting on the various social media platforms that you use. Not all platforms are right for every business. Some businesses may find real benefit in using just one platform whilst others may find real benefit in using more. Take time to research which customer groups are using which platforms and decide which ones are the best for your business to have an active presence on. 

The key to success on any social media platform is consistency. Post regularly, respond to questions and comments regularly and answer messages regularly and you should see real benefits to your business.

Happy April everyone!
Amanda

Planning for March

I'm still not sure how we got here to quickly.... March!!! Is it just me or did that come around super quickly? With the year whizzing by so fast, it's often difficult to keep up to date with special days, international days of celebration, national events and awareness weeks. In an effort to make this process easier for you and your business, particularly the smaller businesses whose owners are trying to stay across ALL aspects of their business, including their marketing and social media management, I have put together what I hope will be a valuable list for you to follow and use.

Incorporating national dates and special events into your marketing activities and social media posts can be a great way to create engagement, further grow your followers, link in with trending hashtags and network with other like minded businesses.

I hope the following list has taken the hard work out of planning March for you and will assist you with preparing posts, content and your businesses marketing calendar. Please don't hesitate to comment below if I have missed something and I will update the list accordingly. I hope you all find this useful!


March 1 - World Compliment Day
March 1 - 31 - Jump to Cure Diabetes
March 1 - 31 - National Epilepsy Awareness Month
March 2 - 12 - NSW Seniors Week
March 2 - "Old Stuff" Day
March 2 - Dr Seuss Day
March 2 - World Book Day
March 3 - World Wildlife Day
March 3 - Schools Clean Up Day
March 3 - Ride 2 School Day
March 3 - World Wildlife Day
March 4 - 12 - Parks Week
March 5 - MS Melbourne Cycle
March 5 - Clean Up Australia Day
March 6 - Labour Day
March 6 - National Dentist's Day
March 7 - Unique Names Day
March 8 - International Women's Day
March 9 - World Kidney Day
March 9 - World Barbie Day
March 11 - 18 - Cultural Diversity Week (VIC)
March 12 - 18 - Multiple Birth Awareness Week
March 13 - Canberra Day (ACT)
March 13 - Eight Hours Day (TAS)
March 13 - Labour Day (VIC)
March 16 - 19 - World's Greatest Shave
March 17 - St Patrick's Day
March 18 - National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence
March 20 - International Day of Happiness
March 21 - Harmony Day
March 22 - World Water Day
March 25 - Earth Hour 8.30pm
March 26 - Purple Day - Epilepsy Australia
March 31 - End Term One (QLD)  + (VIC)

Other Upcoming Australian Events can be found here. They might not be included on this calendar but provide a range of state specific events for the month.

Happy March!

Amanda

Planning for August

Keeping up to date with special days, international days of celebration, national events and awareness weeks can be a challenge, particularly for small business owners who are trying to stay across ALL aspects of their business including their marketing and social media management.

Incorporating national dates and special events into your marketing activities and social media posts can be a great way to create engagement, further grow your followers, link in with trending hashtags and network with other like minded businesses.

I hope the following list has taken the hard work out of planning August for you and will assist you with preparing posts, content and your businesses marketing calendar. There are a number of other events that are specific to certain States in Australia but in an effort to make the list more general I have tried to focus on key dates. Please don't hesitate to comment below if I have missed something and I will update the list accordingly. I hope you all find this useful!

1 - 31 August - MS Readathon
1 - 31 August - Tradies National Health Month
1 - 7 August -  Healthy Bones Action Week
1 - 7 August -  Meat Free Week
1 - 7 August -  Dental Health Week
1 - 7 August - OCD and Anxiety Disorders Week
1 - 7 August - Homelessness Prevention Week
1 - 7 August - World Breastfeeding Week
2 August -  Ice Cream Sandwich Day
3 August - Watermelon Day
4 August - National Aboriginal & Islander Children's Day (NATICD)
5 August - Cafe Smart
5 August - Jeans for Genes Day
5 August - International Beer Day
5 - 21 August  Olympic Games (Rio)
7 August - Sisters' Day
7 August - Friendship Day
7- 13 August - Speech Pathology Week 
9 August -   International Day of the World's Indigenous People
12 August - International Youth Day
12 August - World Elephant Day
13 August - Left-Handers Day
13 - 21 August - National Science Week
15 August - Cupcake Day
15 August - Relaxation Day
15 August - Best Friends Day
19 August - World Humanitarian Day
19 August - International Orangutan Day
20 - 26 August - Book Week
21 - 27 August - National Op Shop Week
22 - 28 August - Keep Australia Beautiful Week
26 August - Daffodil Day 
26 August - Women's Equality Day
27 August - Amnestea 
27 August - Burger Day
28 August - 3 September - Legacy Week


Happy planning,
Amanda

The Best Times to Post on Social Media

I get asked this question all the time and if you're reading this, you must be wondering as well!! The truth is, there is no "best time" across the board but there will be a "best time for you". Use your page insights for a snapshot into the activities of your page likers. Try to post at different times across the day and see which posts receive more "likes", more engagement, more reach, more retweets and you will soon work out the ideal times for you and your business.

As a starting point, I found this great info graphic at Social Media Today which I think provides a good guide across each of the platforms. I would be interested to know if you've spent time on working this out for your own business.....what did you decide were your best times?

I hope this helps you achieve better results across your chosen social media platforms.

Amanda

Your Biggest Opportunities Could be the Smallest Moments

Following on from Sunday's post, I just wanted to share this video from www.thinkwithgoogle.com with you. I love this.... I think it perfectly sums up how much we now rely on the internet, smartphones and electronic devices and how we expect to have the information we need at our fingertips at any given time!

Do you live your life in moments?
I-WANT-TO-KNOW-MOMENTS
I-WANT-TO-GO-MOMENTS
I-WANT-TO-BUY-MOMENTS

Consumers are turning to their mobile devices more and more to fill these moments....will they find your business? Recent statistics from Google show that 95% of Smartphone users tun to their devices to help them make a product decision. Are you one of these Smartphone users? I know I am!

Consumers are looking for immediacy. They want their questions/searches answered quickly and if the links or information and not there or not working they will quickly move on. Their expectations are higher ad they are loyal to their needs so businesses need to be there when the consumers need arises.

It's never been more important for businesses and retailers to be "in front" of people in that moment in time......you might just find that "Your Biggest Opportunity is the Smallest Moments"!!

Amanda

Micro-moments

I had the pleasure of attending a Digital Masterclass just over a week ago. It was inspiring, informative and thought provoking....everything you want a training session to be. The focus of the session was on how we use Google and how strong our online presence was. Customers are turning to their smart phones and tablet devices more and more frequently during any given day/hour/minute/moment to find the information or product they need - MICRO-MOMENTS....

 

Some of the key points that came out of the session that I think all businesses need to consider were: 

• Micro-moments and how critical these are for businesses in terms of being found and easily contacted 
• consumers check their smartphones up to 150 x per day 
• 95% of users will turn to their smart phone for immediate information, ideas or advice. 
• businesses need to be able to get "In Front" of people in that micro-moment in time to be in the consumers consideration set 
• how strong is your online presence 
• is your business website mobile responsive
• how well are you advertising your business 
• is your business well represented and active on chosen social media platforms 
• are your advertising your business online through Google Ad Words or Facebook Ads 

Some further statistics to consider:

• there has been a 34% increase in mobile's sharing of online sessions 
• there has been a 7% decrease in time spent on a page 
• there has been a 58% increase of sales conversions 

In short.....consumers are spending less time searching in shorter bursts but more frequently and if they can find the "right"information then the conversion to a sale has increased. I have so much more information to share....please stay tuned for upcoming blog posts and if you have any questions at all just let me know!

Amanda

Deciding on the right social media platform/s to use for your business starts with really understanding what each can offer and how to make the most of them for your business. Managing a business' social media accounts can take up a considerable amount of time within the week so it's important to focus on those that will really benefit your business and increase the businesses profile and brand.

The following infographic offers a simple and fun explanation of each of the platforms and how they can be used in business.