How To Rethink Marketing Your Brand

Have you ever had that feeling where what you’re doing is pretty successful, but it’s just not enough?  That’s sort of where I was this week with my portfolio project.  

My portfolio project to start out with was fairly simple: Create a Shopify store and learn how to run FaceBook ads for that store.

I have run five ads, and one was a split test with two different creatives, so I could say I’ve run six ads.  I’m actually pretty happy with the results I’ve achieved so far.  

This week I have:
1. Learned how to run a split test campaign
2. Experimented with and created video ads with several different sites (I ended up just sticking with Facebook’s creator for financial reasons)
3. Created a logo for CoziGurls

4. Researched drop shipping on eBay and listed one new item drop shipped from Walmart and relisted some clothes I’d put up for sale a few months ago and hadn’t sold.
5. Posted on Twitter
6. Posted on CoziGurls’ Facebook page
7. Started an Instagram page for CoziGurls

I decided that just being able to say “Hey I can run Facebook ads for you, here’s what I know and here are the results I’ve gotten in the past,” isn’t quite enough.  So, with just over a week to go, I’ve decided to slightly alter my goals.

As I mentioned above, I started an Instagram page.  Now, not only do I have a store and a Facebook page, I also have a Twitter and an Instagram.  With these new platforms, I’m going to change my end goal from “I know how to run Facebook ads” to “I can do what it takes to create a brand on social media”.  

I know that at a glance that might seem a little overwhelming and even inapplicable to you.  However, let me explain how I’ve used and will use these platforms to build a brand.

Facebook

Like I mentioned, I’ve set up a page and run five ads through Facebook already, six if you count the split test.  I’m pretty happy with the results.  I have learned how to run engagement ads, conversion ads, and split tests.  I’ve learned how to create video ads and I’ve created a tracking pixel for my store.  Do I know everything about Facebook ads?  No, but I know enough that I’m confident I could run fairly successful ads for a business.  

Since by the time my split test, which is the last Facebook ad I have running, finishes on the 22nd I’ll have spent over $100 on ads, I decided to take a different approach.  I’m going to consume as much content as I can about running Facebook ads, and put it in a blog post, teaching others what I’ve learned.  That way, I’m still learning and I’m saving money.

Twitter

So far, Twitter hasn’t been the most productive. I’ve only gained two followers, and though using hashtags have helped me reach around 20 people a tweet, I don’t consider it a valuable way to spend my time. Even if I ran Twitter ads, I don’t think I have enough followers for that to be worth the money. Last time I ran a Twitter ad for my personal page to promote one of my books, they charged me a flat rate of $50 and then I didn’t even get to choose my audience. I think it’s harder to get a following on Twitter because it’s really not an image-based platform, and people are a little less likely to follow a brand’s page than say a funny influencer or a political figure.

Instagram

This platform is the one I have the most experience with, and in my opinion is the easiest to get some kind of following on. I set up an Instagram page, posted a couple images of the products I sell, and added some hashtags. Then, I went through some of the hashtags I used, and liked dozens of pictures with the same tags and with a similar vibe to what I wanted for CoziGurls. Of course, the results weren’t anything amazing, but I did manage to get about fifteen followers in the first day.

To grow my Instagram, I’m going to look into joining a few “Instagram Pods,” which are basically private groups of about ten people. When one person in the group posts something, they let the group know, and everyone has to go like and leave a comment. It’s supposed to trick Instagram’s new algorithm so their posts get shown to people earlier in their timeline, since chronological order has been done away with.

I’m also going to consider running one Instagram ad, just so I can know how. I wish I had set up the Instagram account earlier, but I thought I would just focus on Facebook. However, when I thought about it, I realized I personally am far more likely to investigate and respond to an Instagram ad than a Facebook ad. This is partly because I’m rarely on Facebook, and partly because when the ad shows up in my Instagram feed, it’s the only thing I see and I’m far more interested in giving it my attention.

Though it has been a challenging week, I am happy with the results I’ve had, the insights I’ve gained, and the new goal I’ve set. I’m confident what I’ve learned and will learn will be valuable and applicable to a real brand, and I’m excited for future opportunities.