by Mandy Green, Busy Coach
Hopefully you will check out my NCRC presentation on Social Media for coaches.
With Covid-19 shutting down coaches ability to recruit the way you normally would at this time of year, you need a new way to build trust, build rapport, and create connection. I think you can do that through social media.
You and I both know that being a coach means that it’s really important to get your name out there.
The more people that see you, the more opportunities you have to tell a recruit and their parents what it is like behind the scenes at your program.
One of the secret pieces of the social media puzzle is learning how to use the different platforms in a way that creates a strong, recognizable brand and not just a program based on the sport you coach.
Social media can be a very useful tool moving forward if you can stay on top of it.
The thing I find is that posting on social media is the last thing on coaches list so it is the first to fall off when things get busy.
Below are the tools I use for managing all of my social media accounts. These will help grow your following AND make your life easier with automation and scheduling.
CANVA is the tool to create graphics for everything from Instagram posts to email headers. It’s super easy to use and if graphics aren’t your thing, there are layouts and designs to guide you to create something on brand that looks great!
EDGAR is a great social media scheduler for Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. You can schedule brand new posts there, plus Edgar also stores all your posts in a library and re-circulates them when you don’t have new content to post. You’ll never get behind on your posts ever again!
DESIGNCROWD is an incredible resource for having custom designs and/or logos created at a reasonable price. DesignCrowd gives you the ability to put your needs out there and get quick bids at exactly your price range from a variety of freelancers.
INSTAGRESS is an app that allows you to build your Instagram following by liking, commenting, and following similar accounts to yours. Build a following by increasing your engagement!
GRUM is the best Instagram scheduling tool I’ve seen. It’s simple, easy to use, and posts your pics and captions exactly as you would post them live.
HOOTSUITE is a great free social media scheduler for Facebook and Twitter that allows you to track your analytics and post efficiently and effectively based on what gets you the best results.
BUILT-IN FACEBOOK SCHEDULER Facebook actually has a built-in scheduler that gives you the best reach for scheduled posts (including videos!) on your public page.
Let me know which tools you like best and how you use them! Share what works and tag me in the Facebook Group: The Productive Coach and Recruiter. Now go get’em!
Remember, growing a following takes time. These tools won’t gain you 10k followers overnight, but they’ll help you get there much faster (and easier) than if you’re doing everything manually and on your own.
The following tools are the tools I use the most for all things social media, and I hope you can get as much out of them as I do.
And don’t forget my top tips for growing a following: Always be consistent. Always be authentic. Always be in service.
Mandy Green is a former Division I soccer coach and the founder of Busy Coach, and also serves as the lead national recruiting consultant for Tudor Collegiate Strategies. To contact her with questions, email her at mandy@dantudor.com.