Are you a service-based business struggling with how to use Instagram for your business? Do you stress over what type of images to use? 

Well, stay tuned as we dive into Episode 4 where I will share tips on what to talk about with your audience and how to make it happen. 

Over the years, I've asked my audience what they would like to learn more about when crafting blogs or social media posts, now I can finally ask what they want to hear about through my podcast. 

So, this morning I asked my Facebook group for this podcast what are a few topics that would be of interest? I immediately received a few great ideas which I’ve added to my list. However, my good friend Natanya Lara, who is an energy healer in Shelburne Vermont, asked a great Instagram question. Actually, before I get into that… can I just say, I just learned about energy healing 4 years ago from Natanya. I had no idea that was even a thing. She specializes in helping kids with anxiety and works remotely. How cool is that!?! If you’re curious about her work, check her out at NatanayaLara.com or message me and I’ll connect you. 

Ok, so… Natanya has a service-based business and struggles with what to share on Instagram since Instagram is all photo-oriented. When I work with my clients, I suggest they break down their business in content buckets, 3-5 if possible. If you have more, that’s great, but I don’t want to add to overwhelm, so I typically start with 3-5. 

When I say content buckets, I’m referring to basically a listing of topics and ideas. 

For example 

1. Testimonials
2. Quotes
3. Business/services information 
4. Industry-related content. (Studies, Blogs, Videos)

Testimonials - Hopefully you are collecting testimonials from your clients. If you’re not, I suggest starting immediately. I will have a future episode on testimonials, so if you struggle in this area, let me know. I would love to hear more about it so I can address your issues in the podcast. 

Pick 2-4 testimonials to use and create an image. 

Now, you may say…stop right there Molly… creating the image IS the problem! I had a feeling you’d say that. Let’s continue on with the what and then I’ll explain how. 

Quotes - These can be based on your business industry, quotes for specific days like Motivation Monday, or ones that resonate with you and your audience. It’s really up to you and what you feel makes sense. 

Business/Services Information - Tell your audience what you do, it’s ok. People who you want to connect with may not know fully what you do, or maybe you have multiple offerings that someone may miss. It’s ok to throw in business-related information. For example, I run a service-based business so for me to talk about what I do is very important but can also be tough. I think, don’t people know what I do already?? Not necessarily! 

Industry Related Content - This is a way to use information about your industry from other professionals in your industry that you like and trust. For example, my friends over at Eternity in Burlington share a lot of industry-related blogs that make sense to share with my audience. I don’t need to recreate the wheel and write up the same information that they're sharing. I’ll just share theirs, which they appreciate b/c it’s promoting them and potentially getting more eyes on their biz. 

Alright, so let's get into the how. 

While there are many sites to help you create images, my go-to is Canva. Canva.com is a favorite for many using social media for its ease of use. Granted, it may take you a little bit to get started and feeling comfortable with it, but it shouldn’t take too long to master the basics. And the best part, it’s relatively chea