Not only do there seem to be millions of social media
platforms and tools to get your head around, there are also loads of ways to
learn about them. So where do you start? Here are some things to bear in mind
when considering social media training, plus a run-through some of the most
commonly available options.
So, before you book onto a course or hire a consultant, have
a think about these three things:
1.
Where are you at now?
Are you a complete novice? Do you have a
sense of what’s out there and need help crafting a strategy? Or are you after
tactics tips – how to get the best return on investment? Knowing where you are
in terms of skills and
understanding will help you work out which
training is for you.
2.
What does your company need?
A multi-national law firm is
going to have very different needs to a local ice cream parlour: different
audiences, channels, tone and voice. Your company will have a brand and
audience all of its own, so take the time to think about how you want to
position yourself before launching into expensive training you might not need.
3.
Who’s being trained?
If you’re a solopreneur, chances
are it’s you! If you’re in a bigger organisation, think about how you’ll manage
your social media presence and achieve both consistency and authenticity when
several (or several hundred) of you are tweeting away.
Ok, enough with the reflection. What training options are out there and how do
you choose?
Free Online Training
The key benefit to this is up there in the heading – the
F-word. Most of what you need to know about developing and implementing a
social media strategy is out there, right now, for free. So if you’ve got no
budget, or you’re interested in marketing, the good news is that you can start
doing your research and getting to grips with it all, gratis.
The downside is obvious, of course – time. The internet’s a
big place. But this blog’s not a bad place to start – you’ll find tips for
getting started and getting better with twitter, Facebook, Instagram and more.
Webinars
These can be a rich source of information and help, however,
they also might not be and you’ll have to sit through an hour’s information to
see whether it has any relevance. In my
mind it’s like sitting through a YouTube video and clicking off after 10 minutes,
finding another one and doing the same. It’s
easy to give up and think the right training is not out there – but it will be,
it’s just finding the right support!
Don’t forget webinars often come with a built in hard sell to
join a membership programme or to sign up to something that you might not
want. It can get a bit tedious. I focus on where you are right now and where you
want to be next. All my training and consultations
are tailored completely to your business.
Training workshops
If you know where you want to upskill, training workshops
are a good way to go. They’re usually cheaper than a private arrangement and cut
through all the research you’d need to do with the DIY free option. It’s worth discussing your needs with the
trainer before booking anything – you’ll get more out for the course or
workshop if you (a) trust the trainer knows what they’re doing and (b) have
checked out that the course will be pitched at your level (if other delegates
are total beginners or experts when you’re looking for something at an
intermediate level the trainer’s going to struggle to keep you all happy).
In-house training
Do you want to get more people trained, and make sure that
your set up is just right for your brand and audience? This option is my favourite all round training
option – I love getting stuck into all your nitty gritty questions. We can focus on your own company’s needs and because
I’ll already have worked with you around understanding your business and employee
needs this training is much faster at getting you where you want to be.
One-to-one
consultation
One-to-one consultation can be great for problem solving, or
problem identifying. A consultation is
actually just a conversation, usually over Skype, where we discuss your current
issues, blocks and discover together a roadmap of how to get from there to
where you want to be. Some companies
come for one consultation and resolve their issues right there and then. It can be such a powerful thing just to touch
base with someone who is in the know about the current trends in social media
marketing (and wider areas of digital marketing and branding) that this is a
very quick and powerful way for companies to check in that their strategy is
working – and where possible to learn little tweaks that can have big benefits
even in a short timescale.
If you’ve got a specific campaign or business issue that
needs a boost, you can achieve real focus and depth with a consultation.
It’s my mission that any conversation will result in my
clients leaving with clarity and actionable advice.
If you’re not sure where to start with training, a
consultation might be the best bet for getting to the heart of your issues,
fast.
So, as you might’ve guessed, I offer the whole range of
training formats!
But I’m not into the hard sell – it’s better for my business
if I only work with people who want and need my help.
if you feel like you could do with more energy and expertise
behind your social media, whether it’s for personal or business branding, just
drop me an email and I’ll be happy to arrange an open and honest discussion.
