Extra credit : Google Analytics on this blog

 

Week 12 Part B

 For this week's assignment I left comments on Suraia Taylor blog and business Comfortable and fit. Matthew Winkle's Sammy's Slime was next. Julia Hunter's Jewlw's AI was the third and fourth was Jose Luna's sustainable landscaping business Punto Verde.

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

   This week, I decided to dive into how AI can be used for social media marketing and content creation. I’ve been watching AI grow from the sidelines for a while now, but I’ve only recently started really paying attention to how powerful these tools have become. What I’ve found is that AI isn’t just for coders or big tech companies anymore. It’s actually something I and anyone else trying to grow a brand, can use right now.

  One of the biggest ways AI is changing the game is with content creation. Tools like ChatGPT can generate posts, social media ads, etc. You just give it a topic or a few key points, and it puts together something surprisingly good. If you’ve ever stared at a blank screen wondering what to post/write, this takes a lot of that stress away. It’s  a writing assistant on call.

   Another area I looked into is AI-generated art. This part honestly blew my mind a little. With DALL·E or Midjourney, you type in something like “vintage space-themed coffee shop logo” and within seconds you’ve got a bunch of original designs to pick from. Some of them need a little editing, but the time and creativity it saves is huge. We tried this in another business and were able to quickly put together promotional images that would’ve taken hours (or money) if we went the traditional route.

   AI is also starting to play a bigger role in customer service and automation. You can use chatbots to answer questions and help customers without needing to be online 24/7. That’s especially helpful if you’re running a small business like us and don’t have a team. Some tools will even analyze your posts and tell you the best times to publish or what tone works best with your audience.

   After digging into this a bit, I can definitely see the value. AI might not be the perfect fit for everything, but it’s a serious tool in the toolbox. If you’re building something or trying to grow your presence online, it’s like a secret weapon.

Week 15 Part B: What We Can Learn from Facebook and Other Analytics

 Every other week, I check my Facebook analytics to see how my content is doing. This month’s review gave me some clear takeaways about what’s working and what needs improvement.

The first thing I noticed was that more people were liking, commenting, and sharing my posts—even though fewer people were seeing them overall. This shows that Facebook’s algorithm is favoring posts that get real interaction, not just lots of views. It reminded me that it’s better to create posts that start a conversation than to just post often.

One big success this month was video. Short videos, especially those under a minute, got much more engagement than photos or links. People are clearly interested in quick, visual content that’s easy to watch and share. I plan to make more of these moving forward.

I also saw a shift in my audience. Most of my followers used to be between 35 and 44, but now more of them are in the 25 to 34 age range. This younger group may want different kinds of content, and I’ll need to adjust my posts to better connect with them—possibly by changing when and how I post.

One challenge I noticed was a drop in clicks to my website. Even though people were engaging with posts on Facebook, fewer were clicking through to read more or shop. This tells me I need to make my content more useful and complete right inside Facebook, instead of always trying to send people elsewhere.

Instagram showed some of the same trends. Posts with interactive features like polls and slideshows (carousels) got more attention. When I invited people to participate, they responded. It confirmed that people don’t just want to see content—they want to be part of it.

All of this showed me that analytics are more than just numbers. They help me understand what my audience likes and how I can improve. I’ll be focusing more on videos, using interactive features, and making content that works well within each platform. I’ll also adjust my strategy to better match what younger users seem to enjoy.

In a fast-changing digital world, looking at analytics regularly helps me stay on track. The data is there to guide us—we just have to use it.

Week 17: Final Post

   My experience with social media has evolved this semester and reshaped my personal and professional use of these platforms. Once, social media was just a way to keep in touch, showcase my not-so-serious side, and do some half-hearted promotions. Now, it's all about strategy. Anything less and I'll be talking to nobody on these platforms. Anything more and I might become a social media overlord. So, I think I hit the sweet spot here.

   Throughout the research carried out this semester, I found numerous groundbreaking methods for connecting with customers. The one that impressed me the most was short-form video content on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels. When I saw how some businesses were using these platforms to create quick, engaging videos that captured attention while conveying essential information, I knew I had to give it a go. 

   Taking this all in pushed me to rethink what I was doing with my privacy (in not just a Facebook, but also in an online world at large). And it led to a surprising final project that wasn't at all what I'd first envisioned.

   Because of these new strategies, my business is noticing real changes. Engagement is way up, with levels of comments, shares, and direct interactions that are translating into way more visibility. I don't just have more followers since the implementation of these strategies; the actual people who follow me seem to be paying way more attention and are interacting way more with the stuff I put out. And folks are definitely showing way more interest in my products. All this improved visibility and attention has definitely led to more inquiries and sales, too.

   My ease in navigating social media platforms and their offerings has blossomed into confidence, thanks to the direct experience that I've gained through this course. I've spent time on several platforms, learning their ins and outs, and how best to utilize them for my interior design business. I've also done research on successful (and not-so-successful) practices that other businesses have used. This, combined with my firsthand social media experience, has given me a much clearer picture of how I need to be operating on those same platforms in order to see positive results.

Week 16 Part B: Building Out Our Strategy

Week 1

Monday kicks things off, a couple of hours to map out the month's tone and set the stage by scheduling all posts across platforms. I'll implement strategies specifically designed to attract new followers, including engaging with popular accounts within the niche, and creating shareable content to encourage organic growth. I’ll spotlight a recent project on Instagram and curate some pins for Pinterest. Given our current follower count, I'll specifically include strategies aimed at attracting new followers, such as targeted hashtags and possibly collaborative posts. On Tuesday, I’m spending about an hour giving my followers a behind-the-scenes peek via Instagram Stories. Midweek Wednesday, I'll dedicate 90 minutes to sharing a client's glowing testimonial on Facebook and refreshing my Houzz portfolio with the latest pics. Thursday  about an hour making a project walkthrough for Instagram Reels and responding to comments and messages. Friday wraps the week with 90 minutes digging into analytics (Google Analytics, Meta Business Suite) to see what's clicking, plan specific actions based on these insights, and adjust accordingly to enhance follower growth.

Week 2

Monday starts with two hours posting striking before-and-after transformations on Instagram Pinterest to attract new followers. Tuesday gets an hour focused on a post highlighting fresh trends and promoting any upcoming events or workshops on Facebook, with extra attention to promotion to boost visibility. Wednesday’s hour and a half is all about community vibes on Houzz and interactive Q&A fun on Instagram Stories, advertised beforehand to maximize participation and engagement. Thursday, I’ll share project update videos on Instagram. Friday, another deep dive into the data helps refine strategies specifically aimed at improving follower count and engagement.

Week 3

This Monday, two hours to schedule weekly posts spotlighting our commitment to sustainable, beautiful, eco-friendly design visuals for Instagram and Pinterest, explicitly crafted to resonate and engage more followers. Tuesday's hour is dedicated to featuring a professional spotlight or cool collaboration on LinkedIn to extend our reach. On Wednesday, an hour will go into a storytelling moment with a customer video on Facebook and fresh Houzz content, designed to be engaging and shareable. Thursday is another quick hour of engaging helpful design tips on Instagram Stories and Reels, planned strategically to increase visibility. Friday closes the loop with analytics review, planning targeted actions to boost follower engagement.

Week 4

On Monday I'll spend two hours showcasing a recent favorite client project on Instagram and getting active in Pinterest community boards, both specifically targeting follower growth. Tuesday’s hour is for cross-posting promotional highlights on Facebook and Instagram, strategically planned to enhance visibility and attract new followers. Wednesday, I'll invest 90 minutes into giving Houzz a portfolio facelift and posting an engaging Instagram video highlighting special design elements, again focused on enhancing our visibility. Thursday is a community day—one hour responding to comments, messages, and keeping interactions personal to maintain high engagement levels. Finishing strong on Friday, another 90-minute session goes to analytics review, with targeted actions identified to adjust strategies and improve follower growth for the month ahead.

Week 16 Part A: Developing Our Marketing Strategy

In the highly visual and competitive world of interior design, crafting an effective social media marketing strategy is essential. Understanding which platforms best align with our business and leveraging the right tools are key factors for maximizing  marketing efforts. 

Selecting the Ideal Platforms

Different social media platforms cater uniquely to the interior design industry: Instagram and Pinterest are ideal for showcasing portfolios, inspirational content, and visually appealing transformations. Facebook is excellent for building community, direct customer engagement, and promoting events or special offers. Houzz is specialized for interior design professionals to showcase projects and find clients.

Implementing Effective Tools from the Semester

 From our semester’s exploration, Later seems to be the best fit for our business. Also Meta Business suite helps us efficiently manage Facebook and Instagram content in one place, schedule posts, analyze performance metrics, and engage directly with our audience. It simplifies social media management and enhances interaction capabilities.

Tools I Enjoyed Most and Why

 Meta Business Suite streamlined content management, engagement, and performance monitoring across crucial social platforms.

Time for Social Media Marketing

Given the visual intensity and engagement-driven nature of interior design, dedicating 1-2 hours daily is optimal. This ensures consistent audience interaction without overwhelming other commitments. 

Thinking into the future

Social media is constantly evolving. We have to regularly review and adjust our strategy, adapt to new platforms and trends, stay responsive to analytics insights and audience feedback, to ensure our presence remains vibrant, relevant, and impactful.