Ready or not, the holiday season is here!
If you are using social media to grow your business, this time of year truly offers so many opportunities to reach your audience in a personal, authentic and meaningful way. Today I want to share 3 ways you can find success this holiday season using social media intentionally; especially if you are a small business owner, entrepreneur or real estate professional.
1. Plan to work and work your plan. There may be a temptation to checkout during this time of year, or to assume that everyone is busy doing other things that what you have to offer doesn't matter. This could not be further from the truth. Just like any other time of the year, I believe consistency is key if you want to see your business thrive during this season.
Plan to be using social media during this season and plan ahead. I'm not talking months or even weeks out, but plan once a week to schedule 3-5 days worth of content. Set aside an hour or so each week to create and schedule content. The holiday season is a busy time so scheduling some of your content in advance can help.
Remember, this doesn't mean automate your content or 'set it and forget it' - but it's important to be intentional about the content you share and think beyond the now.
Stuck on what to post? Download my free content grid with 30+ social media posting ideas for your business - this is sure to get your wheels turning!
2. Create, curate and schedule. Once you decide what you want to focus on for the week, you have several options for deciding how you're going to roll out the content. You can do it manually, or schedule with a tool like Buffer or Hootsuite.

On Facebook, you can also schedule posts directly to your business page and then edit them later on. I also recommend setting aside time to create images for your social media posts. A few of my favorite tools for this are the WordSwag mobile app and Canva.com.
Again, everyone has their plates full this time of year so planning ahead is going to be crucial to ensure that you continue to provide quality, valuable content for your network.
Also, don't forget the power of not just curating great content - but creating great content. Review content you've already created throughout the year (i.e. blog posts, podcast interviews, videos, Facebook Live content, and others) and see where there are opportunities to repurpose and extend the life of that content.
3. Make it personal. A personal photo or post is more meaningful than a generic stock photo and the holiday season is a great opportunity to connect on a personal level.

We all have our own personal family holiday traditions, as do our local communities. Why not take this special time to share photos of your Christmas tree, your decorating or the most delightful homes in your neighborhood?
A quick video created on Instagram or Snapchat can be a great way to connect with your audience too.
Haven't updated your profile photo in awhile? The holiday season is the perfect opportunity to update it with a more personal photo. Also, don't forget to comment and engage with your clients when they share their holiday traditions!
Need a little inspiration for your holiday social media content? Here are a few great 2016 social media campaigns worth taking a peek at.
What social media tips do you have for the holiday season? I'd love to hear! Leave me a comment below or share your insights in our Social Media Forum Facebook group.

This post originally appeared here.
Katie Lance is a social media strategist, keynote speaker, author, consultant and coach. Her first book will be released soon! Connect with Katie on Twitter, Instagram and Periscope @katielance or on Snapchat at @katielance1
