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Keeping Social
In 2024 NGINA had a "Keeping Social" section in our fortnightly eNews to help members come up with content to post. We all know that there are lots of reasons why having social media accounts are a great free resource for promoting our business, but sometimes it’s overwhelming to know where to start, or even what to post.
Each eNews our Comms & Marketing guru Leisha Jordan shared tips on what to post so you have no excuses to be pushing the “post” button on your accounts. In case you missed them so far, here is a little recap so you can get stuck into posting. Don't forget to tag us so we can help you share!
Start from Week 1 and follow these post guidelines to start getting some great content on your accounts. We recommend starting with posting once a week... but we won't be mad if it's even once a month. Something is better than nothing!
Week 1: A Tutorial
Don’t worry, you can go as simple or as in-depth as you like on this one.It can be a picture with a short description or it can be a quick video.
It doesn’t have to be fancy or have your face in it. Just whack something online that shows your followers that you know what you’re talking about.
Week 2: A flatlay of what’s in your bag/toolbox/tractor
Choose a clean background with good lighting,
Place down your “hero” items then add the other items in between.
Shoot from above and viola!
Week 3: Your cute pets
Everyone loves a mascot! Sharing a photo of your furry work friend makes you relatable and helps for people to connect with you.What role does this animal play in the day to day runing of your business?
Don’t have a pet? Why not share some wildlife hanging around on your premises? A bird, snail, spider, lizard etc.
Week 4: A drink for your customers
With the weather heating up, sharing a recipe for a refreshing beverage could be a huge hit. Bonus points if it can include some fruit, veg, herbs or edibles that you sell at your nursery. It could be anything from a basic G&T, to a fancy cocktail. Or perhaps you can keep it PG with a mocktail, punch, or a refreshing flavoured water.
Week 5: A client review or testimonial
Don’t underestimate the power of reviews!
Share some of your great feedback on your social media accounts so others can see how wonderful you are.
Why not encourage people to leave you a review while they are there too?
Week 6: Something Festive
Tis the season! Take a minute to post something festive (be it from your home or office) and send some holiday cheer to those following you.
This is a great time to post your holiday opening hours and any seasonal specials.
Week 7: New Years Expectations
Send some well wishes to your followers by wishing them a Happy New Year and thank them for their support.
Let them know what they can expect from you this year or tease them by some exciting secret projects you have coming up in 2023.
If you don’t have much to say, why not just share a picture of your Nursery/products and just caption it “New Year, same great service”.
Week 8: Inspire your followers to get outside and get moving
We are so lucky that our industry allows for us to be outdoors and moving our bodies. Why not share a photo of how your nursery helps you enjoy all the benefits of being in the fresh air surrounded by nature.
Encourage your followers to also take a moment to reflect on how being outdoors and active is good for the soul.
Week 9: A picture of your product or service
This might seem like an obvious one, but sometimes it isn’t always clear.
Take this opportunity while we are still at the start of the year to remind everyone of the great products and services that you offer.
This can be done via some photos or even a quick video where you can connect a bit more personally about your brand.
Week 10: A Sneak Peak
Posting a teaser is always good for your social interactions. Create some hype around a new plant, product, service, staff member etc.
Give out just enough to make people curious without giving it away too soon. Just be sure to not leave your followers hanging for too long.
Week 11: Giveaway Time!
People love a freebie and giveaways are a great way to get more engagement and shares, which means more followers and exposure.
Get people to like, follow and share your page/post in order to be in the draw to win a free gift! Bonus points if you can obtain email addresses in exchange for your freebie!
Week 12: Someone Who Inspires You!
Posting on social media is all about being social. So share a picture, video or post from someone who inspires you. Give that person a shout-out and share with your audience why they are so great in your eyes.
Don't forget the tag the person you are inspired by, so they can repost and share your page with their audience too.
Week 13: A Meme
In the spirit of being social, it's fun every now and again to post something light-hearted and perhaps a bit funny. If you have stumbled across a meme at some point that has made you chuckle, chances are it'll do the same for someone else.
Share a meme that has some relevance to your business with a caption that people can engage with... like "Can anyone relate to this? We know we can".
Posting strong memes had good engagement which helps boots your visibility.
Week 14: Your Morning Routine
You can have some fun with this one by going into a little or as much detail as you'd like. Be it a photo or a reel, this is a great opportunity to showcase your stock plus the love and care that goes into making it so wonderful.
Tasks that might seem mundane, like watering plants, new stock arriving, repotting, washing work vans, etc., can help build trust and quality assurance.
Week 15: A Birds Eye View
What a great way to capture the scope of your property and give your followers an insight into your world.
If you haven't already got one of these handy, or don't have the resources - climbing a ladder and looking down onto a section of your products makes for a good photo. Even taking a photo of your feet on the ground or next to a strategically placed product will give a similar effect.
Week 16: Work Culture
"How do I find employees?" One of the most common questions we get asked at NGINA.
Yes, there seems to be a shortage in the workforce right now, but there are people out there looking. Something you can easily do to entice new employees is to post about your work culture.
Most young people will check a business's social media pages when applying for a job, so why not make your workplace impossible to resist?
Be sure to share all the awesome benefits your employees get and share snapshots of staff get-togethers & celebrations.
The wider community will appreciate your efforts to look after staff and get a glimpse into the culture of a business they support. Most importantly though, potential employees will be enticed to want to be part of the culture and trust you as a favorable employer over someone else.
Week 17: A picture of YOU
I know, I know... you don't like your photo being taken. But it'll be worth it, trust me!
Photos of people are 38% more likely to get a like than photos without faces. Face photos also were 32% more likely to get more comments too.
So show us the face behind the business and kept building that relationship and trust with your valued customers.
Week 18: A cool app you found
Be present on technology by sharing some knowledge too.
Have you found a cool app lately that your followers might find interesting?
It could be industry related, or it could be just a handy life app.
People will appreciate being able to get useful information from your social media, which makes you more desirable to follow.
Week 19: Productivity Tips
Social Media is a great place to pick up tips and how-to's. Thinking of creative advice that relates to your business and connects you with your customers will prove to be some follow-worthy content.
Tips could include products that make life easier or proven methods you practice yourself or in your business.
What rituals do you have? What can't you live without?
Week 20: A Question
You don't have to have all the answers. Why not ask your followers a question? Engage with them about something you wish to know. This is a great opportunity to use the "poll" settings on Facebook and Instagram stories.
Your question can be to obtain information on something OR you can use it as a market research exercise to get an inside into your followers. Either way, questions are a great way to boost engagement and interaction.
Week 21: Show off your work outfit
It's time to boost brand awareness! Snap a picture of your sleek new uniforms that might have just come in or capture your team rocking their work outfits.
Have some fun with it... who wore it better?
Take every opportunity to showcase your logo with pride!
Week 22: Your DIY Project
Just a fun post to increase engagement and generate some post saves. This interaction will help boost how many people see your posts.
Show us a DIY project of something you're working on. Before/after projects are always a huge hit be it in video or photo form. People love a transformation! Better yet, share some advice or tips for others you picked up along the way.
Week 23: Spring Pics
It's the best time of the year to be capturing and selling your stock. So your social media feeds should be reflecting all that spring has to offer to showcase your products.
Hire a professional photographer to capture a bunch of pictures for you to use for content and other business purposes that will last the year.
Or, you can save money by doing it in house. Make sure you camera lens is clean and your focusing on the main hero in the image.
Don't be shy, show the world all the awesome stock they can buy by coming to you!
Week 24: Time to go live!
Going live on IGTV is an awesome idea that not only boosts engagement with your audience in real-time but also enhances your visibility and authenticity. It opens up a world of possibilities for diverse content options and higher engagement rates.
Why not experiment with different topical issues and see what gets your audience buzzing? Or give different staff members the chance to talk about topics they are passionate about. Oh, and jot down some notes so you don't miss a beat!
Week 25: Plant of the week
Feature a "Plant of the Week" series where you focus on a specific plant, providing care instructions and interesting facts.
This is a great way to showcase your product, gauge customer interest and establish yourselves as experts in this field.
Tip: Spring is a great time to take a bunch of photos to use during the year, while your stock is looking its best!
Week 26: Plant History
Share interesting facts or stories about the history and cultural significance of certain plants.
By incorporating plant history into your social media strategy, you can create content that not only promotes your products but also enriches your followers' knowledge and understanding of the botanical world. This can lead to increased customer loyalty and a more informed and engaged customer base.
Week 29: Holiday and Seasonal Decor
Posting about holiday and seasonal decor not only highlights the versatility of your plants but also taps into the emotional and festive aspects of gardening. By showcasing creative ways to use your plants for holiday decorations, you inspire customers with ideas for enhancing their homes during special occasions, establishing your nursery as a go-to resource for both aesthetic and functional landscaping needs. Additionally, this type of content can boost sales by connecting your products to specific seasons and celebrations.
Week 30: Environmental Tips
Week 27: Customer Gardens
Encouraging customers to share photos of their gardens featuring plants from your nursery is important because it not only showcases the success of your products but also fosters a sense of community and trust among your customers, demonstrating the real-life impact and satisfaction that others have experienced with your plants.
Week 28: Plant Care Tips
Share tips on how to care for specific plants or offer general plant care advice. It empowers your customers with the knowledge and guidance needed to nurture their plants effectively, ensuring the longevity and health of the plants they've purchased from your nursery, and ultimately enhancing their overall gardening experience. Sharing plant care tips also positions your nursery as an expert in the field, showcasing your knowledge and commitment to helping customers succeed in their gardening endeavors, thus enhancing your credibility and reputation within the industry.