The “Reel” Deal on Using Social Media to Build Your Business and Brand with Anna Turner

Transcription: 

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
Hi, everyone. I’m Dayna Thomas, Esquire, and welcome to Launched & Legal, where it’s my mission to help you strategize, legalize and monetize your business. I’m so excited that you’re watching, because today and in every show I’ll be sharing the best practices and tips to take your business and brand to the next level.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
Okay. It’s time to get real, Instagram real, that is. My guest today is Anna Turner, affectionately known as the Social Media Architect. Through her company, Clever Content, Anna provides social media strategies and tips to help entrepreneurs increase their overall engagement online. Today Anna’s going to talk to us about how to use social media to get more clients and more attention for our brand. So Anna, thank you so much for being here today. I appreciate that. How are you feeling?

Anna Turner:
I’m feeling great. Thank you so much for having me.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
Awesome. So actually social media connected us, so that is the power of social media.

Anna Turner:
That’s right.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
I would love to hear more about your background and how you got into being a social media guru.

Anna Turner:
Yes. Actually I started back in MySpace days.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
Okay. Me, too.

Anna Turner:
I absolutely love social media. All things about social media. I love it, and I really did not take it serious at first. But back when MySpace was around, I used to get calls all the time. “How did you put that music up? How did you create your background like that? How did you get 5,000 people on your page?” So it was like at first I was just a connector of people, and I loved explaining how I did it. And so that was the beginnings of it. And I think maybe two years ago, I just recently went back to school for my digital marketing degree because you know what? I actually could get paid for this. Yeah. So I just took a hobby turned passion and turned it in into a business, because I absolutely enjoy all things social media. So yeah, that’s how I got started.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
That’s amazing. I remember the MySpace days and having to code in order to get your page to … And at that time, maybe I was in middle school or high, I think it was probably middle school and not realizing that was actually coding to get your page to look how … It was not drag and drop from what I could remember. It was coding. And now it seems like something that’s so difficult, but then we were doing it when we were kids for-

Anna Turner:
Seamlessly.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
… for social media. So I love how that’s a part of your story. So now we’re fast forwarding to today’s age. Tell us about this phenomenon with Instagram reels. So what are Instagram reels and how can entrepreneurs use Instagram reels to promote their business or acquire new clients?

Anna Turner:
Yes. So I know it can get a little confusing, because Instagram is always making some changes, but Instagram reel is like a short form video that allows you to … It could be very quick, a commercial or anything that could allow you to promote yourself, your business, or product. And I actually think that because Instagram is prioritizing reels right now, it’s really important to incorporate short form reels and short form video into your strategy to really help bring brand visibility.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
That’s awesome. So if you could break it down, tell us how to post an Instagram reel, right? Because for a lot of people that are watching, they maybe they’ve heard of it or maybe they’ve tried it, but it’s not get … So what do you do? What are the steps to posting a good Instagram reel?

Anna Turner:
Got it. And I do want to say really quickly, it’s really easy to post. I think it’s really intricate when it gets into strategy. And one thing I love that I say that I do and I feel like separates me is that I focus on functionality, not really features, but I can teach you both. But actually, starting a reel, if you’re on your phone in top right-hand corner, there’s a plus sign. You go down to reels and it brings you up to the video portion of it. You can actually load in a pre-recorded video. I would not suggest bringing it from another platform with any type of overlays from any platform. But if you have a video in your phone, I would suggest you can preload that video up. Or my suggestion is to actually record within the platform, because Instagram does favor when you record within the platform because you’re spending more time on the platform. And that’s essentially what they want you to do.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
I didn’t know that. That is such a gem. I’ve never done that. I always just upload a video I already have. So that’s helpful.

Anna Turner:
No. And you actually do everything within the system. You also use the features within the system. And so it’s like even if you use a filter, Instagram would favor a filter that you use with their platform. That even helps with engagement as well. So when you go in, you use all the features. I actually record first and I’ll add my text later, and that’s kind of how I match. So I’ll go in and I’ll record three to four videos when I feel inspired and I’ll save them, and then I’ll go back and add the text. And once you add the text and you add the trending audio or using your original audio, then you would save it and you would post it.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
That is awesome. There’s one thing that you said that helped me because I often get ideas for a video or Instagram reel, just something to promote, but I don’t feel like doing it at that time. Right? But what you said is just do it. Force yourself to do it, even if you’re not going to post it right now, even if I don’t have the words to connect to the idea that I want for the video, it’s good to just capture yourself in that moment and then put it together with the text later on. Is that right?

Anna Turner:
Yes. I would say do it in the moment, because even as creators, sometimes we get that creative burst. Right. And if we miss that moment, “I don’t want to do this. I don’t have time to do this.” Sometimes we can get a brain fog, but it’s like if you’re feeling creative and you looking a little cute or you want to put little filter on, go ahead and record those videos. Like I said, I’ve done three or four videos at one time, but I did not post them. And that’s how I batch my reels. But then also, that’s how you’re able to keep content, because there are some days you may not look so cute and you may not feel like recording, but you’ll be able to post something because you’ll have the batch.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
That’s so true. And I also heard it’s not about creating content. It’s capturing content. So people feel so overwhelmed with what can I do with … Just capture what you’re already doing and then put it together to match with your brand whenever you have the time to do that.

Anna Turner:
Yes, yes. You definitely want to stay authentic.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
Sounds good. So how often should entrepreneurs post? Because even for myself, I feel like I should do more. I think I do okay. But I feel like if I did more, it would be even better. But it’s like what is more, right? So how often do you think entrepreneurs should post when it’s for a purpose? So if it’s an entrepreneur’s goal to use social media to get more clients, sell more products, whatever the case may be, how often should they post? And along with that, how does one keep themselves consistent with it, if you have any advice for that?

Anna Turner:
Right. I was going to say really quickly, even to the point where you were saying, “How often should I post?” I think it’s not one specific number. I know I did work for a large brand. They posted four to five times a day. They almost have a million followers, so for them, that was a good, consistent, because they’re storytelling all the time. As a individual entrepreneur, you don’t want to get content burnout. So it’s really important that it’s not about how many times, but mainly being consistent with. If you say, “I’m going to post once a week. I’m going to post twice a week,” it’s just being consistent because you train your followers when to find you. But if you say, “Oh, I’m going to post every single day,” but you don’t show up and you don’t show up for weeks on end because you’re burnt out because you got things going on in your life, then you’re training your audience not to look for you. And when you do pop up, it’s like, “What is she doing now?”

Anna Turner:
So if you say, “Hey, I’m going to be consistent and I’m posting twice a week,” or, “I’m posting once or three times a week,” it’s just being consistent with that. Because as you’re consistent, you’re training your followers.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
That totally makes sense. And I can see one barrier. So if I say, “You know what? I’m going to post three times a week,” but then it comes around and it’s time for me to post and I’m just like can’t think of anything. So what advice do you have for people who are just having the social media writer’s block? That can’t think of new content. What advice do you have for them?

Anna Turner:
The very easiest thing that I could do is think about what is a problem point in what I offer? What can I teach someone today? And I know it is hard to come and think about content, but another thing that you could do is think of high level themes. If you’re going to teach someone how to speak, that is your high level theme. One point could be how to get ready. What ways to prepare to speak. So it’s like you have to start at a high level theme and then think down on like, “Well, from this point, what can I actually teach?” It’s like problem solving. So you think of what problem can I solve? And then those are all points.

Anna Turner:
So it’s also helpful to just keep a note on your phone whenever you come with up with an idea and put it on your phone. Or also, I use my Instagram saves a lot. So if I see an Instagram or if I have an idea and I see a sound or something, I just save it under a theme on my phone.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
That makes perfect sense. So I know also one thing that you’re good at is teaching about repurposing content.

Anna Turner:
Yes.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
So I have so much content, Anna. When I say so much content, from the videos from when I first started my law firm to whatever I’ve posted on social media to I have four online courses now and it’s hours and hours of just me on the camera teaching about stuff. Right? But I have not used that as much as I know I can on social media in reel. So teach me about repurposing content, please.

Anna Turner:
Yes. You know what? It’s like you can really pull about 10 pieces of content out of a long form video, to be honest, because have you ever read something and then a couple months later you go back and read it and you’re like, “Oh, I didn’t even know this was in here.”

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
Yes.

Anna Turner:
That’s how it is even with your content. Someone may see it and then months later, you pulling stuff out and they’re like, “Oh, this was in that video? I didn’t know.” But it’s so important to know that when you have different points, like if you speak on three different points of something, each of those points is a short form video that you can use for a quote, that you can turn into a quote. You could turn it into a reel. You could turn it into a Facebook post or put it in a group and quiz people. So it’s like taking the information that you have in there and not necessarily cutting up 10 different videos, but taking the points that you have and recreating it to share to people in different forms. You have memes. You have graphics. You have videos. You can post a photo and make sure in your caption that you’re providing content. You could turn it into a blog. You can do so many things with even, like you said, a video. Yeah. I love it.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
And you’re inspiring me, because I think I have … There’s so much, and I know I could do more with it. So thank you for that inspiration, because I don’t normally think about repurposing content, but there’s already probably so much that we have that we can use that we’re not utilizing to the best of the ability.

Anna Turner:
And that’s why I feel like people get content burn out as well, because you don’t have to recreate the wheel, especially if you have honed in your niche and you’re reteaching the same, something that you taught before. It’s okay to repurpose content. It’s okay to use old content, very old content, because it’s still relevant because it’s still something that you do. And then even if it’s old, you could say, “Hey, this was X, Y, and Z, but now even adding onto that X, Y, Z.” So it’s like you’re building on that content to create new content. So yeah, I would totally repurpose content.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
Nice. So we heard or see that social media has a stigma of being for young people. Right? So would your advice differ for entrepreneurs that are in older age groups?

Anna Turner:
No. I would encourage everyone to be on social media, just simply just the fact that the way that the world is turning, it’s turning digital. So I would not discourage anyone that’s older from being on social media because the most important thing is to authentically be yourself. We see people on TikTok who are older, older who have large followings. That’s because they’re authentically themselves. They’re not trying to reach Generation Z-

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
That’s true.

Anna Turner:
… or the millennials. They’re just being themselves. And I feel like the type of generation that we have now, especially Gen Z, they’re so accepting of every single person. So you don’t have to try to be anything, because they can sniff that out. So just be yourself, but it’s okay. And I think it’s just important, too, if you’re older to seek out more how-tos instead of trying to figure it out yourself. You can always pair up with someone else. So yeah, I would not discourage anyone older from being on social media. Social media is not a young person thing. It’s a everyone thing, and yeah, definitely no.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
And it works to grow businesses. So we have to stick to what’s working if we’re trying to get the results and to get to certain audiences as well.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
So we often see that people use Instagram reels and they’re being silly or there’s comedy in it. And I definitely see that those are effective. But do you think that Instagram reels are effective if there’s not silliness or comedy or entertainment in it in some way?

Anna Turner:
Absolutely. Now, let me say something. I love to laugh. Okay? I love to laugh. I love to dance, but I have definitely seen it work, even for myself. Not dancing, not singing, not following a trending audio, because even now it’s more important because Instagram is favoring original audio. So just simply if you go in and you have something that you can teach and maybe you have a saying that maybe all your friends know, but that’s something that you introduce to the world. That would actually be picked up more than a trending audio would.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
Wow.

Anna Turner:
So like with you, if you have courses, your original audio content is going to be favored right now. So this is actually a great time for artists, people who teach other people how to speak, educators, all of that type of thing, preachers, because your original content is getting pulled right now. So I do encourage people to get on there and talk, because that is actually being favored right now.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
Well, I’m glad you said that, because I don’t use social media to be silly. I’m not saying that I’m stuffy or anything like that, but I see a lot of dancing and this and that, and I love watching it. It’s super entertaining, but I also want to make sure people can understand that you don’t have to be silly. You don’t have to have comedy in every post. I think that a lot of people, if they’re authentically themselves, that will naturally come out, but it doesn’t have to be the mission to make someone laugh in your reel.

Anna Turner:
And I was just going to say that. If you are authentically yourself, it’s going to show in your content. So if you are authentically just goofy, it’s going to show in your content. Or if you really just want to put something out and you may throw humor in there, if you don’t, it’s going to … You just authentically be yourself. That’s essentially what you need to do.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
Well, Anna, thank you so much, because you’ve inspired me. I want to go record some … There’s probably content that I can take from this episode right now. So thank you so much for sharing that for us. I know that social media can be intimidating for a lot of people. The algorithm is the enemy of everyone, but I think that hearing from you can help to inspire us and really take it down. It doesn’t have to be so intimidating. Just capture the content instead of always feeling so required to create new content all the time. We learned that we can repurpose content. We learned that we can use content that we’ve had from before.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
So I hope that everyone who is watching is motivated and not intimidated by social media. Instagram reels is popular right now to help promote your business, and I am always a fan of doing whatever it takes to be successful in entrepreneurship. And if it takes posting some Instagram reels, then you should be on that as well. So thank you, Anna, for being here. I really appreciate it.

Anna Turner:
Thank you.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
All right. And so make sure, let us know. How can we connect with you and learn more tips about social media for our business?

Anna Turner:
Awesome. So the Instagram page that I actually grew 10,000 in three months is my personal page. You could go and see what I did. That’s I’m Anna Turner on Instagram. And then my business page is clevercontent.co. That’s where I explain everything and where you could book me and all of that.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
Sounds great. Thank you, Anna.

Anna Turner:
Thank you, Dayna.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
Awesome. Well, I hope today’s show helped to educate and inspire you as you pursue your business goals. Be sure to share today’s show with someone who can benefit, and visit myasbn.com and subscribe. If you have any questions or comments about today’s show, I would love to hear from you. Just send me a message or comment on Instagram at Dayna Thomas Law. Remember to tune in next week and every week to make sure your business is launched and legal.

Dayna Thomas, Esq.:
Be sure to share today’s show with someone who can benefit and visit MyASBN.com and subscribe. If you have any questions or comments about today’s show, I would love to hear from you, send me a message or comment on Instagram at @daynathomaslaw. Remember to tune in next week and every week to make sure your business is launched and legal.