Social media continues to be an indispensable tool for public speakers, coaches, and consultants. Whether you're looking to book more speaking engagements or build your brand, mastering social media marketing can be a game-changer for your career. It doesn't have to be difficult. With a plan and the right tools, you can create a systematic approach. This blog post will explore 2024 social media marketing: the tools, platforms, and trends for public speakers that can build your brand and help you get speaking engagements. To follow me on Facebook, X, Pinterest, and LinkedIn, click the links above. Follow me on Instagram by clicking here. 

Advantages of Social Media Marketing for Public Speakers

Expanding Your Reach: It's amazing how social media allows you to reach a larger (local, regional, national, even global) audience without the constraints of time and geography. Whether you're targeting event organizers, corporate clients, or individual followers, platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube can connect you with people next door and across the world.

Building Your Personal Brand: Establishing a strong personal brand is crucial for any business but expecially for public speakers. Social media gives you an excellent platform to showcase your expertise, share your insights, and build credibility. Through consistent posting and engagement, you can position yourself as a thought leader in your niche. Even if you don't have a lot of followers, you will be creating and establishing your authority on your topic.

Attracting More Speaking Engagements: A well-curated social media presence can absolutely lead to more speaking opportunities. Event organizers and corporate training departments often look for speakers with a strong online presence, as it reflects their influence and ability to engage audiences. By sharing videos of your speeches, testimonials, and content that resonates with your audience, you can attract more bookings. You don't even need to do a lot of video. You can alternate images, text, and video like l do.

Connecting with Your Target Audience: Social media offers direct engagement with your audience. You can interact with followers, answer questions, and receive feedback, making it easier to tailor your content and presentations to their needs. This connection not only builds rapport but also increases the likelihood of referrals and repeat engagements.

Social Media Marketing Tools 

ChatGPT for Content Creation: Need fresh ideas or help drafting a blog post or social media caption? ChatGPT is an excellent tool for generating content that resonates with your audience. Whether it's brainstorming topics, refining your message, or creating engaging posts, ChatGPT can streamline the content creation process.

Cost: ChatGPT has a free version and paid version ($20).  The only advantages of a paid version are early access to features and advanced data analysis tools.

Canva and VistaCreate (formerly Crello) for Graphics: Visual content is king on social media. Canva and VistaCreate are user-friendly tools that allow you to create stunning graphics, presentations, and short videos without any design experience. These tools offer templates tailored for social media platforms, making it easy to create professional-looking content. I have been using Canva for years and because of ChatGPT, I found out about VistaCreate and will start using it to test it.

Cost: Both have free versions. However, when you subscribe, you get all their features such as access to all images. VistaCreate starts at $10 a month and Canva at $15/month. 

VistaSocial for Scheduling and Automation: Managing multiple social media accounts can be overwhelming. VistaSocial (not affiliated with VistaCreate) is a comprehensive tool that allows you to schedule posts, track analytics, and engage with your audience across platforms. Its user-friendly interface and powerful features make it a go-to choice. I have used several different social media platforms. I like ones that are easy and affordable and VistaSocial fit the bill.

Costs: I was able to purchase VistaSocial through AppSumo for just $50 as a lifetime/one time fee.  AppSumo has incredible deals for new software. Currently, VistaSocial starts at $39/month. At the time of writing this blog, AppSumo has tons of deals on social media tools.

I may receive a commission from VistaSocial and AppSumo from the links provided! Regardless, these are my "go-to" platforms for social media tools and great deals on software!!

 Other Scheduling Tools:

• Buffer: Offers a free plan for scheduling posts on various platforms, making it ideal for beginners. Paid plans start at $6/month but for only 1 channel, where the free plan for 3.
• Hootsuite: A popular choice for more advanced social media management. No free plan. Paid plans start at $99/month. Pricey and comes with lots of features. Hootsuite has been around for years.
• Facebook Creator Studio: A free tool specifically for managing Facebook and Instagram posts, with built-in analytics. To access it, sign in to your Facebook account and then go to this page: facebook.com/creatorstudio.  You can also schedule your posts manually in groups and on your FB page. FB groups no longer allow social media tools so to post in a group, you need to either use FB Creator Studio or manually schedule each group post.
• Later and Planoly: Later offers a 14 day free trial while Planoly offers a 7 day fee trial. Later's paid plans start at $25/month and Planoly's starts at $14/month. plans. Both offer all platforms with all plans. I have never used these but they look pretty good.
• Note: All paid plans are discounted if paid annually.

Analytics Tools:

• Emplifi: This tool provides in-depth insights into your audience, content performance, and competitive landscape, helping you refine your strategy. Honestly, this stuff is way above my pay grade and makes my head hurt! But, take a peek and see if it resonates with you - or someone on your team. 
• Google Analytics: While primarily for website traffic analysis, Google Analytics can also help you measure how effectively your social media efforts are driving traffic to your website or blog. But, I don't understand Google Analytics or how to configure it. I just know it's important for your website. I usually hire someone from Upwork to assist me with GA.

Choosing the Right Platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X, LinkedIn, YouTube

Facebook: Best for reaching a broad, diverse audience and engaging with community groups. Facebook's extensive user base and group functionalities make it ideal for building a community around your brand.  

Instagram: Ideal for visual content and connecting with a younger demographic. Use Instagram to share behind-the-scenes content, quote graphics, and short video clips either from your talks or you providing tips.

Pinterest: Perfect for niche topics and driving traffic to your website or blog. Pinterest is particularly effective if your content is visually driven or focuses on DIY, motivation, or education.

X (formerly Twitter): Great for real-time engagement and sharing insights. X is excellent for joining conversations, sharing quick thoughts, and keeping your audience updated on your latest work.

LinkedIn: The go-to platform for professional networking and B2B marketing. LinkedIn is where you can connect with other professionals, share long-form content, and engage in industry-specific discussions.

YouTube: Essential for video content, showcasing speeches, webinars, and long-form content. YouTube allows you to reach a global audience and is particularly powerful for public speakers looking to establish their authority through video. 

Insights into 2024 Marketing Trends

Video Content Dominance: Short-form videos are here to stay. Platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts are leading the charge, and public speakers should consider incorporating these formats into their content strategy.

AI and Automation: AI tools like ChatGPT are revolutionizing content creation, making it easier to produce high-quality content quickly. Automation tools will also play a crucial role in managing and optimizing your social media presence. Both AI (ChatGPT) and Automation (VistaSocial) save me so much time and enhance my creativity.

Community Building: The shift towards creating engaged, loyal communities rather than just followers is gaining momentum. Focus on fostering genuine connections and interactions with your audience. It's important to review your posts to see who has commented and to respond to them. 

Sustainability and Authenticity: Audiences are increasingly drawn to authentic, purpose-driven content. Public speakers should aim to share their true selves and their mission, resonating with those who value transparency and sustainability. If you follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Instagram, or Pinterest, you'll see how I include personal content.

Platform-Specific Trends:

• Facebook: Expect more emphasis on community engagement and group interactions.
• Instagram: Continued growth in Reels and Stories, with a focus on visual storytelling.
• Pinterest: Rising importance for niche content creators.
• X: Real-time conversations and quick, impactful posts will remain key.
• LinkedIn: Expansion of creator tools and features for professional content sharing.
• YouTube: Increasing demand for high-quality, educational, and inspirational content.

Wrapping Up

Social media is more than just a tool for self-promotion—it's a powerful way to connect with your audience, build your brand, and open doors to new opportunities. By leveraging the right platforms, using tools, and staying on top of trends, public speakers can create a dynamic online presence that drives success.

What are your favorite social media tools or trends for 2024? Share in the comments below—I’d love to hear your thoughts!