social media marketing

If you’ve ever clicked that little ‘Boost Post’ button on Facebook or Instagram and wondered, “Is this the same as running an ad?”, you’re in good company.

This is one of the most common questions small business owners ask - and it’s a crucial one.

The truth is: while boosting a post is a form of advertising, it’s not the same as running a proper Facebook or Instagram ad campaign through Ads Manager.

In this blog post, we’ll explain:

• The difference between boosting and running ads

• W…

Let’s be honest - social media isn’t what it was a few years ago. If you’ve been asking, “Are Facebook Ads still worth it in 2025?” or “Do Instagram ads still work for small businesses?”, you’re not alone.

With rising ad costs, changing algorithms, and more competition, it’s fair to wonder if paid ads on Meta platforms still deliver results.

In this blog, we’ll break down:

• Whether Facebook and Instagram ads are still effective

• What’s changed (and what hasn’t)

• Who should still be…

Do you ever feel like social media is taking over your life? You know you need to post consistently, but coming up with content every single day is exhausting. The good news? You don’t have to be stuck in the endless cycle of “What should I post today?” A content plan can save you hours every week while keeping your social media strategic and effective.

In this post, I’ll walk you through how to create a content plan that actually saves you time, so you can focus on growing your business - with…

Social media is a powerful tool for growing your business - but only if you use it the right way. Many business owners make common mistakes that slow their growth and hurt their sales. The good news? These mistakes are easy to fix! Let’s dive into the top social media mistakes that might be holding you back and how to avoid them.

Mistake #1: Posting Without a Plan If you’re posting randomly without a strategy, you’re making it harder for people to engage with you. Without consistency, your audi…

Do you ever feel like you’re running out of content?

Do you struggle to come up with content ideas that pack a punch with your audience?

Get ready for my top tips for never-ending Instagram content that lands.

I get this question a lot: “Frances, how do you never run out of content ideas?!”.

As a social media manager, it’s important for me to practice what I preach. This means posting consistently, coming up with engaging content and sharing the stuff that gets my audience nodding their head…

It might have been more than two weeks ago now… but I’m still feeling ALL the feels after delivering my very first InstaBrains workshop at CREATE Business Hub in Shenfield on 26^th and 27^th April.

A group of five fabulous marketers and business owners joined me for top tips on all things Insta. During the two-day session, these lucky attendees learned how to:

• Build a killer Instagram strategy

Together, we dissected what each guest wanted to achieve with their business, and helped them expl…

There’s been lots of talk recently of Instagram’s declining engagement rates.

And while I can’t deny that I have seen less interaction on this platform than usual recently, I definitely don’t think now is the right time to jump ship and let all the hard work you’ve put into building your following here go to waste.

In fact, I think Instagram can still be extremely valuable for businesses.

Why?

Well, firstly, Instagram has 2 billion monthly active users – and it is still growing!

Plus, it’s …

Do you show your face enough for your business?

Are you confident being your authentic self online?

Do you struggle with being visible as a product-based business?

Professional personal brand photography can help you show up on social media with confidence and authenticity so you can build the know, like, trust factor within your community.

I recently spoke with my friend Amanda Hall on The Social Brain Podcast to discuss everything you need to know when it comes to preparing for, and gettin…

There are so many different ways that we can grow our contacts so we can expand our business. But what are the different types, and how can you network effectively so you can get the best results?

I recently spoke with my friend Katy Davies on The Social Brain Podcast to discuss how to be an effective networker so you can increase your referrals and sales in your business. 

Prefer to listen to the audio version of our conversation? Go here. 

Including networking in your business strategy 

Th…

(Want to listen to this blog post instead? Check out Episode 7 of The Social Brain podcast.)

Does creating a content strategy for social media leave your head in a spin?!

So many business owners post on social media without having a clear content plan, which can lead them to not get the results they want (and deserve!).

When you’ve got a well thought out content strategy in place, you’re likely to see an increase in followers, engagement and most importantly, SALES!

If you follow me on Insta…