social media has become an essential tool for Dietitians and for consumers who are looking for nutrition solutions. And it's also accessible for beginners like you, but it can feel overwhelming and you might not know where to. , and I could totally relate with that because when I first started using social media, I wasn't sure what to do, which is why I bought a course, and it really helped me get focused.
So in today's episode, I'm gonna break down the steps that you need to take to start using social media effectively, step by step. Firstly, I wanna share that today's podcast episode is sponsored by practice better. So if you're a registered dietitian looking to manage your private practice with ease, and I want you to get started with practice better on their plan, and they've got a free 14 days and as an exclusive listener, I can offer you a 20% off discount for your first four months on any paid plan when you use our promo code, DIETITIANBOSS20 at checkout.
When I talk about social media for beginners, my goal is to really make social media accessible. Social media is a tool, it's a digital marketing tool and an opportunity for Dietitians like us, like you and me, to become seen and heard, and to increase your confidence. And one of the best parts about social media.
That it's free. Unlike a website that costs money to host, even though there are low cost options, social media is something that you can do all, all you have to do is have an account that you can set up for free. So I love the accessibility of using social media as a dietitian. So the first step I want you to think about today is to determine your.
because before you start using any social media platform, let's say Instagram, it's important to to determine what you wanna achieve through the platform. And if you're looking to increase, let's say, brand awareness or get clients or maybe even connect with your customers and clients, It's important to clarify what that goal means, and even write it down because writing down your goal of how you want to use the platform, right, like Instagram is a good way for you to make sure that you're making the most use out of your effort.
So what that might look like is that you wanna post a certain amount of times per week for a certain length of time. So in the next six months, you're gonna post twice a week, every week. You can even pick the days, let's say Monday and Thursday. And you on those days, you also wanna spend 10 minutes or 15 minutes engaging with, let's say, similar professionals or people within spaces of nutrition that you enjoy.
And that's a good. If you have a little more time, you could dedicate to engaging for longer. Maybe you might want to post three or four times a week, but if you're feeling intimidated, then you can start with saying, I wanna post a couple times a week, every week for the next six months. And that would be a really good way for you to set that goal.
And again, it's gotta, that goal has to support your overall strategy. So if you, if you say, well, I'm doing this, To increase exposure or I'm doing this to be a resource for my existing customer, so I have a digital presence. Or maybe you're doing it like most people and like most of our clients, and you wanna get clients.
That's how I first started using Instagram, and it worked really well. I mean, I, I used it to be a resource and then I really used it to get clients. Now I use Instagram a lot for brand awareness. And our number one platform is actually here, our podcast, and also YouTube. Our Instagram is used a lot for brand awareness.
And then the second tip is I want you to choose the right platform. Now, there's a lot of social media platforms to choose from, and this can feel exhausting as a dietitian. It's important to select the ones that are best suited for your goals and even your target audience, right? So if you're working with young kids and maybe you're targeting their parents, and their parents are gonna be on Facebook or Instagram, but you're gonna have to start thinking about where is a good space for you.
To start, and if you're looking for customers and clients, Facebook and Instagram are gonna be fantastic options, and I want you to consider what is an effective social media platform and using all of them at the same time is the fastest way to burn out. So I'm a big fan of. using one platform and having a system that works.
And that usually takes six to 12 months before creating a second platform. So you do wanna make sure you have success in your first platform, let's say Instagram before you create a second platform. Let's say, you know, Facebook or TikTok or something of that nature. And the third tip is I want you to create a plan.
So once you've determined our, your goals and and your platform, that's time for you to then, it's time for you to create a plan. And that's kind of where I mentioned the plan would be posting a certain amount of times per week, but that's not enough. You don't wanna have a strategy, like a checklist of what is it?
That you're posting when you do post, and I've got a content checklist that's progressive in my academy membership, and I'll tell you that first part of that content checklist. I have a 101, 201, and 301 content checklist. The 101 content checklist starts with you making sure that you've decided how many times a week you wanna post for the next six months, and that you're actually being consistent.
That's the first point of the checklist. And the second point would be that you're not using clinical language. So you wanna make sure that your content is not at a level that people don't understand. And if you remember from your RD exam that people understand nutrition, I think at a fifth grade level. So that means that in order to reach people that don't have a science degree, I wanna make sure you're not using words that they don't get.
So you want your marketing to be effective. And then the third piece would be to show emotion. Now that can be through emotionally compelling words or through an emoji or showing your face, because let's face it, and social media should be relatable and that's why I like to use a lot of videos of me, my team, and my clients so that you can know that we're faces.
You know, this brand is, has a lot of faces and that can be relatable for you to know what it's like to become a Dietitian Boss. The next tip would be to set up your profile. All right, so once you have a plan in place, now you wanna set up your social media profile for the particular platform you've chosen.
So then you wanna pick a profile picture. You don't have to overthink it, you can even take a selfie, and that'll work. Try to have a somewhat clear background, and that means you also wanna fill out your bio, which can keep simple. And you might also need a little bit of contact information depending on what platform you're using, and keep it really simple, but you do wanna set it.
Then you wanna start posting with your profile set up. It's time to start posting content, right? And that can include everything. Photos to videos. I am a big fan of videos and you might know, and I've had a recent podcast episode about short form videos, so that means a vertical video where you have, you're showing your face or you're explaining something.
Those are really popular. Of course, you can, you can do a, a. Like a food demo or something where you're using words and not showing your face. But vertical video is really the gold standard right now for content, and that can be reels on Instagram or tiktoks. And you wanna be sure to regularly keep your content relevant.
So if you've got something planned for a season, a time of year, the summer, make sure that your content is aligned with what's going on in the world, at least you know, seasonally, so you don't have to necessarily. talk about everything recent, but keep it relevant enough so that people know that you are in touch with your content.
You also wanna engage with your followers. And this is a step that a lot of Dietitians skip. And they come to me and say, why isn't my content effective? And I'll ask them, well, how are you engaging on the platforms? And they say, I'm not. I just hope people come to me. And I understand that logic because effective content does allow for people to come to you.
But in order for you to create effective content, that process will require you to start engaging with other people. and start building relationships online. Remember, social media is a tool and the principles of building relationships still apply whether you're online or in person. So taking that time and effort to meet other practitioners, to talk to people who might be in your demographic, and ask them what questions they have around nutrition are gonna be helpful ways for you to start making an impact and start really building up your.
on your network. And then finally the last step would be to measure your success. It's important to measure your success and track your progress, and that's why I'm a big fan of tracking your metrics and you can keep it super simple. So that might be saves. That can also be shares from your posts. And of course if you're able to see insights like website clicks that can help indicate the amount of people that have used your link in your bio to inquire about, let's say, your services or your sales page to your course.
So you wanna have an understanding of what posts are getting the most traction so that you can then learn how to recreate your top performing posts. And that process can take a while, which is why I first want you as a beginner to focus on being consistent for six. And during that six month time, make sure that you're using vulnerability in your post by showing your face and using compelling, emotionally compelling words, and that you are not creating content or words or visuals at a level that's above and beyond the comprehension level of the general public in relation to nutritional science.
So, you know, social media, it can feel overwhelming as a practi. I totally get it. And when you follow my steps, especially the steps for a beginner you can build your confidence and start building your presence and connecting with people. Building meaningful relationships with your peers and potential clients online by engaging with them in a meaningful way and determining your goals is gonna help you keep you on track.
And selecting the right platform is important. And then posting content regularly and remember to not forget to measure your success. So you're looking at your. To define what's performing best so you can recreate your top performing post. Now, if you follow these steps, you were likely to see some better traction with your social media efforts.
I want you to tag me on Instagram, a Dietitian Boss, and let me know what tips stood out the most. What is it that you're not doing, or what is it that you think you can add to your existing routine to maximize the results and your efforts to get clients and be seen and heard as a dietitian.
