Hello June & Welcome to Winter!!

Well Winter is finally here in Melbourne!! The days are getting shorter and the nights colder which offers a great opportunity to cosy up on the couch and really plan your business' Social Media Strategy for the next month!!

The following list should outline most of the key dates for businesses to consider when planning their social media content and strategy. Some dates are specific to Australia whilst other dates are International dates that should be considered as they can offer a fun element to your pages. Remember you can leverage off what is current and trending through using the right hashtags but also make it relevant to your own business wherever possible.

1 - 30 June - Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
1 - 30 June - National Burns Awareness Month - Kidsafe Australia
1 June - First Day of WINTER
1 June - Doughnut Day
1 June - Fish & Chip Day (First Friday in June)
1 June - Leave the Office Earlier Day
3 June - Mabo Day
4 June - Western Australia Day
5 June - World Environment Day
6 June - Queensland Day
8 June - World Oceans Day
8 June - World Best Friends Day
9 June - World Gin Day
11 June - Queen's Birthday Holiday
11 June - Gold Telethon - Sydney Children's Hospital
11 - 17 June - International Men's Health Week
12 June - World Day Against Child Labour
12 June - Superman Day
14 June - International Bath Day
14 June - Healthy Tuckshop Day
14 June - World Blood Donor Day
15 June - Global Wind Day
15 June - National Buddy Day
17 - 23 June - Refugee Week
18 June - International Picnic Day
18 - 24 June - Thinking of You Week
20 June - Red Apple Day (Bowel Cancer Australia)
20 June - World Refugee Day
21 June - June Solstice
21 June - International Day of Yoga
21 June - MND Global Day 0 Motor Neurone Disease
21 June - World Selfie Day
21 June - World Music Day
22 June - Chocolate Eclair Day
24 June - Fairy Day
26 June - Beautician's Day
27 June  - Pineapple Day
30 June - Social Media Day
30 June - Red Nose Day

If I have missed any dates then please let me know and I will update the list ASAP. Until next time, happy planning!!

Amanda x

HELLO AUTUMN

With the year now in full swing, March is often one of the busiest months for Community and Nationally Significant Events. To cover a good range of topics, I have also attempted to include some International Dates that might align with businesses. If there are any dates that I have missed that you would like to see added then please just let me know in the comments below and I will update the list.

1 - 31 March      National Epilepsy Awareness Month
1 - 31 March      The Water Challenge
1 - 31 March      Jump to Cure Diabetes
1 - 31 March      Bandaged Bear Appeal - The Royal Children's Hospital Westmead
1 - 31 March       March into Yellow - Endometriosis Awareness
1 March              World Book Day
2 March              Schools Clean Up Day - Clean Up Australia
3 March              World Wildlife Day
3 - 11 March      Parks Week
4 March             Clean Up Australia Day
5 March             Labour Day (WA)
5 - 11 March      Kidney Health Week
8 March             International Women's Day
10 March           World Kidney Day
11 - 18 March    Multiple Birth Awareness Week
12 March           Labour Day (Vic)
12 March           Eight Hours Day (TAS)
12 March           Canberra Day (ACT)
12 March           Adelaide Cup Day (SA)
12 March           Commonwealth Day
13 - 20 March    Coeliac Awareness Week
14 - 18 March   World's Greatest Shave
16 March           National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence
16 March           Close the Gap Day (Oxfam)
16 March           World Sleep Day
17 March           St Patrick's Day
17 - 25 March    Cultural Diversity Week
18 March           Run for the Kids (Victoria)
19  -23 March   Walk For Water
19 - 29 March   A Taste of Harmony
20 March          International Day of Happiness
20 March          Iranian New Year
20 March          World Oral Health Day
21 March          World Down Syndrome Day
21 March          World Forestry Day
21 March          Harmony Day
21 March          World Poetry Day
21 March          International Day for the Elimination of Racial Descrimination
22 March          World Water Day
23 March          Ride 2 School Day
23 March          Royal Easter Show (NSW)
24 March          Earth Hour 8.30pm
25 March          Neighbour Day
26 March          Purple Day (Epilepsy Australia)
27 March          World Theatre Day
30 March          Good Friday Appeal (Victoria)
30 March          Good Friday
30 March - 7 April Passover

I hope everyone has an amazing month and that this list really encourages you to regularly update your Social Media accounts. Current and relevant posts are the perfect way to leverage and maximise hashtags and content.

Don't forget to Be Social!
Amanda x

Social Media Tips, Dates and Planning for December

I had every intention of adding the December list before December 1 - my apologies that I didn't quite get there! Obviously with Christmas ahead of us, December is a quieter month in terms of special events, National and International dates and events as well as awareness campaigns. Probably not a bad thing given how busy everyone is in the lead up to Christmas.

With only a handful of dates listed, some of which may not be relevant to you, your content may be more limited but with the holiday period ahead, I would suggest that you make a point of:
- including your holiday hours in upcoming posts
- advertise and highlight with a follow up reminder, any days which you are CLOSED
- providing advanced notice of any upcoming SALES
- setting up an auto reply on your email and Facebook Messenger in case you're planning a few days of time out.
- Planning a break (even a short one) over the Christmas/New Year period so that you can recharge ahead of fantastic 2018!
- Ensuring that your Social Media accounts are active (try to schedule posts where possible or outsource this work) and engaging and that interactions are being responded to where necessary. Social Media is even busier over the Christmas/New Year period when people are on holidays and have time on their hands to scroll, comment, like and interact so make sure you interact with them!

1 - 31 December - Dinesmart
1 - 31 December - Road Ribbon for Road Safety
1 - 31 December - Decembeard
1 - 31 December - No Gender December
1- 10 December - Say No to Violence
5 December - International Volunteer Day
6 December - St. Nicholas Day
10 December - Human Rights Day
10 - 23 December - Uniting Care Christmas Appeal
25 December - Christmas Day
26 December - Boxing Day
28 December - The Falls Music and Arts Festival

I hope this above information and tips are helpful to your business in the coming weeks - please don;t hesitate to get in touch or leave a comment below if you do have any questions and I'll get back to you ASAP.

Happy December!
Amanda x

And You Thought October Was Busy.......

October passed in blur for us so I must apologies first for missing this list of Special Dates and Events last month! I'm back on track again for the build up to the end of the year. With only 8 Fridays until Christmas, the weeks only seem to be getting busier with so many "International" and 'World" dates scheduled for the months ahead. The schedule is busy with several "Awareness" campaigns this month so if you align yourself with any of these then this month will be a great time to share their message.

As I always suggest, 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 will take all the hard work out of planning October for you and that it 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. 

1 - 30 November - Movember
1 - 30 November - Asbestos Awareness Month
1 - 30 November - World Vegan Month
1 - 30 November - E-Tea Month (Epilepsy Australia)
1 - 30 November - Learn on the Loo (WaterAid Australia)
1 - 30 November - Lung Health Awareness Month
1- 30 November - National Novel Writing Month
1 November - World Vegan Day
4 November - National Day of Unity
5 November - International Volunteer Managers Day
5 - 11 November - National Others Week
7 November - Melbourne Cup Day (Melbourne)
8 November - Thank U NICU Day
10 November - World Science Day for Peace and Development
11 November - Rememberance Day
11 - 18 November - Australian Food Safety Week
12 - 18 November - National Psychology Week 2017
12 - 18 November - Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Awareness Week
12 - 18 November - National Adoption Awareness Week
12 - 19 November - Alopecia Awareness Week
13 November - World Kindness Day
13 - 19 November - National Recycling Week
14 November - World Diabetes Day
15 November - World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
16 November - International Day for Tolerance
17 November - World Prematurity Day
18 - 25 November - Schoolies Week
19 November - Eureka Climb 2017
19 November - World Toilet Day
20 November - Universal Children's Day
21 November - World Hello Day
21 November - World Television Day
21 November - Human Walking Program (Lost Dogs Home)
23 November - Thanksgiving
25 November - World Orange Day (Against Violence against Women)
25 November - Don't Fry Day  (Sun Awareness)
25 November - White Ribbon Day
14 November - 31 December - Dinesmart

Enjoy your month and happy planning!
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!

Just around the corner.....

Who can believe that August is just around the corner and Spring is quickly approaching?! Seriously, where did that time go. It must be time to start planning your marketing calendar for the month ahead again - a new collection of special events and occasions that you can utilise for the promotion and growth of your own business on social media.




It's often difficult to keep up to date with special days, international days of celebration, national events and awareness weeks but 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 will take all the hard work out of planning August for you and that it 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.

1 - 7 August:         National Breastfeeding Week
1 - 7 August:         Dental Health Week
1 - 7 August:         Homelessness Prevention Week
1 - 7 August:         Healthy Bones Action Week
1 - 7 August:         Donate Life Week
1 - 7 August:         OCD and Anxiety Disorders Week
1 - 8 August:         Meat Free Week
1 - 31 August:       Tradies National Health Month
1 - 31 August:       MS Readathon
4 August:               National Aboriginal and Islander Day
5 August:               Jeans for Genes Day
5 August:               Cafe Smart
6 - 12 August:        National Missing Persons Week
8 August:               World Cat Day
9 August:                International Day of the World's Indigenous People
12 August:             World Elephant Day
12 August:              International Youth Day
12 - 20 August:       National Science Week
13 August:               Left Handers Day
13 August:               City to Surf Fun Run
19 August:              World Humanitarian Day
19 August:               International Orangutan Day
19 - 25 August:        Book Week
19 - 27 August:        Queensland Seniors Week
20 - 26 August:        Hearing Awareness Week
20 - 26 August:        Speech Pathology Week
21 August:               Cupcake Day
21 - 27 August:        Keep Australia Beautiful Week
25 August:               Amnestea
25 August:               Daffodil Day
27 August - 2 Sept:  National Op Shop Week
27 August - 2 Sept:  Legacy Week
28 August - 3 Sept:  National Superhero Week (supporting Muscular Dystrophy)
31 August:                National Meals on Wheels Day

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

Post Engagement - Tip #2

Short and in the point is always the best approach with the majority of posts. The Facebook News Feed is a busy place to be - try to make you message and post stand out from the rest!! Your engagement will improve as a result.