I have so much to tell you about how to avoid what I JUST DID in my business due to an unexpected absence and why it’s so important that you heed my warning for your business on social media.
A little over a month ago my mom called me, frantic. My dad’s condition had changed. He has MSA – Multiple System Atrophy-Parkinson’s, and had been battling it for a long time.
What I thought would be a weekend night turned into a month of caring for him and supporting my mother – night and day.
What happened to my business on social media during that time?
NOTHING.
Why?
I wasn’t set up to be away on social media should a catastrophe or extended family emergency occur. I GOT CAUGHT.
By the way, this is THE FIRST thing that I do for my clients when we work together – set up systems and work ahead – WAY AHEAD.
IN FACT, just before I got that call from my mom, my team and I were working on just that in my business! We worked on more than a month’s worth of content. We were putting the finishing touches on our new content creation system. We were building the framework for my new course, Social Media in a Box for businesses.
But I got the call just before I had a chance to execute it. As a caregiver 24/7, writing copy and looking up trends and editing is the last thing you want to do. I KNOW social media inside and out – but still, I had nothing in the tank. So, I decided to take a social media hiatus.
BUT wouldn’t it have been nice if I had done it already – and just scheduled it all out and had it ready to go? (I was so close!)
Then I would have been able to focus on my family without worrying about showing up every day on social media.
Last week, my dad passed away.
It has honestly been soul crushing, but I am so grateful to have been able to spend that time with him and the main reason I have my own business: To be able to be flexible and be there for my family.
Today, I am easing my way back into the world of social media and ready to support you and your business — and the best way I know how to right now is to share my own lesson: WORK AHEAD.
Get systems in place!
For instance, here’s a sample of my repurposing system: Blog post for Linked In and searches –> create email from blog post –> Create video for Reel/TikTok–> Create carousel, quote card or graphic for IG–> Share the quote card/graphic/video on Facebook –> post in my Facebook group, and go LIVE with it too.
Unforseen circumstances, life and business events HAPPEN. The important part is BEING PREPARED. And it’s so important that you know that even I can get caught too. I am happy to admit my lessons out loud to you if I can save even just one business from losing out on valuable leads!
If you want to keep things running smoothly and give yourself some time to catch up – I mean, that’s one of the best parts of being a business owner, right? (You call the shots!) Getting ahead will allow yourself the time off and for you to continue to generate leads and sales without having to get behind and restart and without having to go dark on social media.
Learn from me. Plan for the unexpected. Get ahead.
Ps. If you need help figuring WHAT to post, grab my 365 Ideas For Your Business Minicourse here!