How to Avoid Social Media Burnout as a Wedding Vendor
Understand the different types of social media platforms
Sharing your work and participating in the social media world is a full time job. Many photographers make it their full time job, which means they spend an enormous amount of time updating and engaging on all of these platforms. Understanding which one or two platforms you love and can really focus will help you stay committed to your favorite social networks, while also leaving time to be engaged on the others.
Get an Instagram assistant
Yes, you are a professional photographer and yes, time is money. If you are stretched far too thin trying to keep up with the never ending social media world, hire someone who can help lighten your load! Even if it's just for one day during the wedding season, you will thank yourself for this investment. Whether it's a talented college intern or a social media strategist, hiring someone to assist with your accounts during busy times of the year will help ensure these platforms are engaging and fresh!
Save all your images in one place
While Instagram is a great platform for sharing sneak peeks from a wedding day, once those images are posted they can't be changed. It's best to save your images in one place and schedule them ahead of time before the big day! While Instagram is great for sharing an image on multiple accounts (make sure you link all of your social media profiles together), it doesn't mean that if you post an image on Instagram it will be saved in that same spot forever.
Schedule your posts ahead of time
Before you post, always have a plan. Know what images are being shared before the day begins, and know how many times you plan to share them throughout the day. This will free up your time for real life interactions with clients and allows your creativity to flow!
Be patient
Choosing the right social media platform is only the first step. Not every audience will be receptive to your work, but that's okay. Know that you are building a brand and just because one audience doesn't love you, it doesn't mean another won't. Double check all of your links before posting and try to have a set time each day that you review your social media feed. This will help change the platform from a chore, into a refined work of art!
Set goals for yourself and your business
Setting goals is always the first step towards achieving them. Setting these for social media means you can purposely create certain images, share them at specific times and track results. This will help you spend time on the platforms that your audience engages with most while cutting down on the ones where your work doesn't quite fit!
Take a break from social media at least once a week
Social media is a never-ending world, but it's important to take a step back and really think about what you are posting. Although it may seem social media is taking over your life, just remember that these platforms can be used for fun, creativity and networking!
Use hashtags to connect with other vendors in your industry
Using hashtags is a great way to share your work, connect with other professionals in your industry and grow your network. Although you may not necessarily connect with each person who uses the same hashtag as you, this is also an opportunity to follow new accounts that are related to what you love!
Engage with followers by asking questions or posting polls on occasion
Although it may not be a good idea to constantly post polls as this can come off as spammy, asking questions from time to time will help you learn more about your audience and their wants! This is also great for networking with other professionals in your industry. It's important to take this one step further and really engage with your audience. Comment back on posts, like photos and get involved in their lives!
The most important thing to remember is that social media is a platform for creativity. It's meant to be fun and enjoyable, so take time to enjoy it! Be thoughtful of each image you post, let your creative colors shine through and don't forget to schedule ahead.