Kristin F. Simmons

Author: Kristin Fuhrmann-Simmons

5 Tips for Amazing Social Media Posts

Posted on by Kristin Fuhrmann-Simmons

5 Tips for Amazing Social Media Posts.

I have a great solution for you when it comes to what to post on social media.

We ALL — and I MEAN WE ALL have times when the words don’t flow as easily from our fingertips as we had hoped; or we have impostor syndrome and we don’t think we are good writers; or we just don’t feel like posting..and blah blah blah.

5 tips for Amazing Social Media Posts What to Post on Social media with Kristin Fuhrmann Simmons

I get it.

I fall back on this simple formula of 5 Tips for Amazing Social Posts ALL-THE-TIME. It helps me to stay focused and get creative even when I feel as juicy and exciting as a piece of cardboard.

These steps help me to stay-on-task as a business owner who uses social media as one of my primary marketing tools. It is crucial that my posts be purposeful and a means-to-an-end, whether it be feel-good branding or targeted sales. (The “Spray-and-pray-haphazard-method of social media posting is a sure-fire way to burn out and lose, rather than engage, an audience.

5 tips for Amazing Social Media Posts What to Post on Social media with Kristin Fuhrmann Simmons

I remember the mantra: “All you need is already within you. You are creative and powerful” and then I take these steps:

5 Tips for Amazing Social Media Posts

  1. ENGAGE

    Start with a hook in the form of a question or quote.

  2. INFORM

    Share your personal perspective and expertise.

  3. SHOW

    Add great photos or video to bring your posts to life.

  4. LINK

    Include a link to your business/booking page.

  5. INVITE

    Ask your followers to share & comment.

Formulas help me know that I am on-task and on-target in my business goals, and this outline does the trick.

I invite my community in by asking a question; I share myself, which is an important part of my connection to my customers; I show a photo or video because I know this is part of getting good visibility; I make sure to link back to my business; I invite them to share and be part of the conversation.

For example:

Have you ever driven a vintage truck? (Tip 1)

I drive an old Ford F150 all through college that I bought for $500 cash. I called it “Beatrice” because it meant “blessed.” That’s the way I felt in that old truck and I loved it. (Tip 2)

You can see all of the vintage truck we have on our lot here: ArundelFord.com  (Tip 4)

Did you ever drive a vintage F150? Do you have a photo? We would love to have you share it in the feed below. (And let us know if you had a name for it!) (Tip 5)

And make sure to jump back to Tip 3 to share a photo with every post you do. It doubles your engagement!

Do you have a post formula you like to use? You can download my mantra and my 5 Tip Outline here for your desktop when you sign up for my mailing list. CLICK HERE. I don’t spam or sell your information ever.

Let me know your tips and tricks for great posts on the Facebook Page.

Happy Posting!

A special thanks to the team at Arundel Ford for letting me share one of their posts. They are incredible clients I Iove helping them tell their stories on social media.

Lumbar Puncture – Does it hurt?

Posted on by Kristin Fuhrmann-Simmons

Lumbar Punctures, ER Visits, & a Sense of Humor with Chronic Illness

I layed on the gurney, looking at the IV bag and the rapid drip of the caffeine and sodium benzoate into my arm. It was a busy Friday in the emergency room. I listened to the sounds of a man wretch repeatedly in the next bay. I watched the rush of staff move back and forth down the halls to attend to a steady stream of patients.

I was triaged from a hallway stretcher to a brightly lit private room – its equipment all tagged by someone supremely excited to exercise their skills with a label maker. I appreciated their fastidiousness. I studied the sizes of the intubation tubes as I laid back in the hopes of physical relief.

Prior to this ER visit, I had experienced several days of a crunching, body- seizing kind of pain that would not bend to ibuprofen and increased hydration. I had a lumbar puncture just days before; a next step in a long series of diagnostics on the road that is neuro-demyelinating disease. The procedure itself went smoothly. It was high-tech, pain-free, and without incident. I went home numbed up and relaxed, intent on “taking it easy” and resuming a slower, but engaged pace of day-to-day life.

Continue reading

Ask a Question: What to Post on Social Media for Small Businesses?

Posted on by Kristin Fuhrmann-Simmons

Do you ever wonder what talk about  on social media? Do you get excited to use social media for your marketing, but then lose steam after a few posts and then give up?

I hear you.

We have all been there. The stops. The starts. The lack of feeling creative. The need to take care of EVERYTHING else in your business and Social Media becomes ONE-MORE-THING you need to juggle.

Fret not, fellow business friend. I am here to help. I have a full-proof tip to share with you, so that you know what to post on social media.

Kristin Fuhrmann Simmons Social Media Tips and Tricks What to post on Social Media Desk with Social Media and Connection Concept

Here it is: ASK A QUESTION OF YOUR AUDIENCE

 

Yes. THAT is what you should talk about on social media for your small business.

You should ASK A QUESTION of your community, the likes of which YOU are asked all of the time. As business owners, we solve problems everyday and answer questions.

Some juicy and/or mundane examples may be:

What kinds of service do you offer on old cars? Can you mail a package to Borneo? Do you offer small party catering? What time is your 3 o’clock seminar? Can you hem pants AND dry-clean clothes? Do you have evening hours?  How much for drop-in child care?  Do you allow dogs in your hotel?

You get the calls. You read your emails. You have the lady that wants to hang out, chit-chat, and then pepper you with questions about pairing wines and cooking for 20 people at the holidays. You know the drill and you answer these kinds of business questions EVERYDAY.

Guess what folks? These questions are AMAZING fodder for social media posts.

Ask a Question: What to post for small business on social media Kristin F Simmons
Click Through for a step-by-step video on “How to Ask Questions of your Audience on Social Media.”

Now that you know WHAT to do, it’s time to take action and get posting on social media.

 

Take a look at the steps below, and download a brainstorming guide to help get the juices flowing.

Grab a piece of paper or download the worksheets below. Write down at least 5 questions you are asked everyday in your business.

Remember: All social media posts need to have an image or video attached to them to be the MOST engaging to your audience.

When you look at the most commonly asked questions, feel free to provide an answer directly in the post, or leave it open ended for your community to respond. Here is an example: “Have you ever come to on of our yoga classes? We would love to hear feedback from you!” or “We are asked if we fix older models of cars in our shop all the time. Here are some photos of the antique autos we have repaired. Have you seen them on the road? Share your antique auto photos below or call us for a repair at 555-1212.”

Kristin Fuhrmann Simmons Ask A questions What to post on Social Media

Make sure to ask in a way that encourages a response. Our social media business posts are seen on average by 2-5% of our TOTAL audience. Up-the-ante by creating a “Ask a Question” post and over time, you can improve your visibility ten-fold.

Use this as an opportunity to connect with your community. The more you respond, the stronger the connection between you and your clients. (AND, the more comments and feedback, the better your posts perform, and are shared with a wider audience.)

Get your staff in on the social media action. A good group brainstorm helps to engage your team IN REAL LIFE. Everyone loves to participate and feel like they can contribute.

WORKSHEET PDF TO DOWNLOAD

If you get a customer with a legitimate concern, offer to take the conversation offline and provide a direct phone # for them to call.
If they get nasty, inappropriate and/or abusive, delete it and/or block them. We WILL get concerns and comments. There is NEVER a call for abuse or snarkiness.

So, when you wonder: “What do I post on social media for my small business?” you NOW know what to do.

Remember: My goal is to help you feel CONFIDENT, COMPETENT, & CREATIVE online.

Share your comments below an on my Facebook Page at Kristin F. Simmons Digtal Media | Visual Storyteller. Make sure to keep these worksheets on-hand as a reference and LET ME KNOW how its going.

Need help with planning and execution of social media? I can do that. See my services here. I look forward to hearing from you!

Sign up for our Tips & Tricks, Specials, & Social Media Updates

Learning to love myself deeply: A new health horizon

Posted on by Kristin Fuhrmann-Simmons

A new way of loving myself deeply: My diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.

 
 I went to the doctor yesterday and she told me: “Kristin: THIS is the hardest part – the part when you are waiting to begin treatment and it is all so new. You don’t need to be UP or ON or optimistic. It’s totally okay to NOT be okay right now.”
 

I broke down into tears and she handed me a wad of Kleenex from one of the six boxes in the examination room that upon closer look, seemed to be strategically placed near every piece of equipment. It was as if she knew that at any moment of the medical evaluation, whether on the table or at the scale, patient tears may flow, and she wanted to be at-the-ready to lend a tissue.

With her words “It’s totally okay Not to be okay” a weight was lifted and I opened up like a flood gate. It was like she had been reading my mind and saw straight through me.

I had been chatty at the start of the exam; funny even. I made jokes when she asked me: “How are you feeling today?” and I quipped with a talk show host accent, “Well other than the brain lesions, constant pain, and near paralyzing exhaustion, I am totally great!” 

The truth was,  I was NOT okay and the past three weeks since my MRI and first round of diagnostic appointments, I had tried to mask my fear with dignity and positive self-talk mantras.  I told myself, “Multiple Sclerosis was not what it used to be,” and “I am going to be fine.”  I tried to jump right into a fearless faith without acknowledging the worry and fear that bubbling just below the surface. 

In truth, I didn’t feel fine. 

I felt supremely scared of the unknown; of not knowing what to expect for treatment; of the unplanned-for expenses; for how much I would or wouldn’t be able to work; for who I would be if I weren’t always doing/being/trying so much.

 

Multiple Sclerosis: What does it mean?

 What do I mean when I say that I have Multiple Sclerosis or MS?

In a nutshell, It is a chronic disease where the body attacks itself. The immune system attacks the nerves in the body and breaks down the fatty protective coating of the nerve cells called the Myelin sheath.  Without the protective layer in place, nerves become damaged and the brain can’t send signals to the body the way that it should to help you move properly and to feel, both emotions and physical sensations. Scar tissue can show up in the brain and spine and begin to affect the activities of daily living.

There are four kinds of MS and everyone who has it experiences it differently.  It tends to run heavily in white women who live in northern climates, (there is a connection with lack of Vitamin D and MS) although anyone can get get it. There is some link with MS to viral exposure that occurs in puberty, the effects of which can lay dormant for many years. It is chronic and incurable, however not untreatable.

 

The disease I was not expecting, but the change I truly needed.

No one ever expects Multiple Sclerosis. When my diagnosis came, it conjured up images of wheelchairs, paralysis, endless drip bags and infusion therapy, and loss of independence. 

That is the way that it was in the not-so-distant past.  

Current treatment is radically different  from what it was even a decade ago. I have been assured by my doctors, and both my friends and family who know someone with MS, that “these people are the most kick-ass people that they know.” (I have heard this over and over again and I am optimistic about the carpe-diem, fact-facing hard-coreness that comes with chronic disease.) 

My patient advocate even asked me: “Are you ready to stop tolerating any bullshit in your life?” Once I got over the Tony Robbins-esque tenor in her voice, I said a grunting “YES!” with the same kind of teeth-gritting tenacity and relief I felt after the labor and delivery of my 1st daughter.

Truthfully, I had not felt well for months. 

I worried that I was in a cycle of depression and that my severe lack of motivation was a result of some cosmic judgment on my capabilities as a human. (Yes, quite dramatic – but I am never one to go at things quietly!) This kind of bad stretch had happened before and I had cycled through, feeling some relief and then onto progress, growth and elation in my life.

This past autumn, I felt like I had been running in mud –  way more tired than the  working-mom-tired I had normalized since I had kids, and scared of the weird changes in my vision, the lightheadedness, and the dizzying nausea. I had chalked it up to my busy travel schedule and promised myself that I would schedule myself differently in the new year.

I was beginning to turn on myself, telling myself crappy stories like: “You just need to work harder. You are not enough and will never be enough. You are never going to make it in this life.” While on the one hand I knew these thoughts were lies and just plain wrong,  there was another part of me that believed it – the part that I had worked so hard to change and transform. 

I had an old story that was trying with every thought  to keep a grip on my life. It found fertile ground in my fatigue and illness. I told myself such shitty things and bullied myself. I thought I was cursed and that I somehow I deserved to suffer. 

 

Then came the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis

 Was it a  weird sense of relief?  Yes. It totally was.

The first thing I actually said to my husband was: “This is a gift” and I meant and felt that wholeheartedly. 

It was almost  instantly that I reframed everything that I was saying to myself about my symptoms. I realized that many of the cycles I had experienced in the past were probably part of the disease course.  It was an opportunity for me to  observe that self-doubt and blame in a new light.  I laughed about it. I cried, and then laughed and cried some more. I realized that I didn’t need be so hard on myself and that “bad thoughts” were just thoughts, and feeling fatigued was just feeling – and not some greater judgment on my abilities as a human. I needed to be okay with it ALL – and let all the feelings flow through.

Now, as I step into therapy, I realize that the most significant treatment will come in the way that I treat myself. The biggest opportunity is to be present, to observe, and to be fully loving toward myself in everything that comes my way.

My friends have asked me: “What can we do for you to help you?” 

My reply? “Tell me stories of people who have succeeded and overcome, and let’s kick some ass in everything that we do.”

More to come as treatment continues and I continue on my path of radical self-love. 

-xo Kristin

 

Get Organized & Ready for 2019: Social Media Consulting for the New Year

Posted on by Kristin Fuhrmann-Simmons







Get Organized and Ready for 2019: Social Media Consulting & Instruction.

Are you in need of a social media boost for 2019? 

Do you want to get in-depth, personalized training on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Twitter, or Pinterest for your business? 

Do you need step-by-step instructions and a clear path ahead on how to BEST use social media for your business?

Then this is the package for you!

Social Media Training and Classes with Kristin F. Simmons Digital Media Maine

At Kristin F. Simmons, my goal is to help you feel competent, confident, and creative in your social media marketing.

It is my goal to help you get the most from your marketing outreach and maximize your engagement through connected, relevant, and engaging stories.

Social Media Marketing is cost effective – especially when you know how to use it and use it WELL!

The HOLIDAY Package includes:

  1. A 2-hour, custom, one-on-one lesson on the social media platform of your choice.
  2. A comprehensive review of ONE of your social media accounts and a personalized, detailed recommendations for improvement and how to best maintain and use your social media accounts. (Consistency is KEY to mastering social media for business!)
  3. A Detailed 3-Month Editorial Calendar with daily, weekly and monthly post planning to help you reach your 2019 Business goals.
  4. A 1-hour post training follow-up Skype call to review best practices and troubleshoot.
  5. BONUS! Three custom designed photo & graphics posts to use on your social media platforms.

Regular price: $1,500
HOLIDAY SALE PRICE: $799 

Only 5 packages are available until they are sold out for the season!

Email more for more information: kristin.f.simmons@gmail.com

Terms: All sales final. Maine State Sales Tax included. Buyer must send phone and email address to Kristin F. Simmons at kristin.f.simmons@gmail.com to schedule trainings. Payment must be made via PayPal. All initial trainings must be complete by June 1, 2019. 

Questions about the package and what can best serve your needs? Please reach out to me at kristin.f.simmons@gmail.com

I am here to help you be your BEST on social media.

Remember: My goal is to help you feel the “Three C’s: Competent; Confident; Creative.”

Happy Holidays and MY BEST to you!

-Kristin Fuhrmann-Simmons
kristinsimmons.com

Social Media For Business training and Classes with Kristin Fuhrmann Simmons
Sign up for our email list, full of tips, tricks, and great stories