Potty training is sh*t but your social media needn’t be

If you've ever tried to potty train a toddler, you know it takes patience, consistency, and more than a few bribes (hello, chocolate buttons).

At the time of writing, I am two days into this journey, and I’ve eaten all the chocolate buttons.

Believe it or not, those same principles apply when you're mentoring someone—or being mentored—on social media marketing.

I’ve worked with creatives at various stages of their digital journey. One pattern I’ve seen time and time again? Social media is a lot like toddler toilet training. Here's why:

Everyone starts somewhere (usually in a mess)

Just like toddlers aren’t born knowing how to use the toilet, no one wakes up knowing how to create engaging reels or write viral posts. Early attempts will be clumsy—there might be some mishaps—but that’s how you learn. Progress is more important than perfection.

Routine is everything

Toddlers thrive on consistency, and so does your audience. Social media growth doesn’t come from one brilliant post—it comes from showing up regularly with relevant and relatable content.

Positive reinforcement works

When my toddler has a successful potty trip, he (and I) celebrate like we’ve won the lottery. I translate this across to social media mentoring – I’ll celebrate milestones with you, no matter how small they are. I know how exciting it is to have a comment on a post, when someone shares your post to their story or to gain your first follower.

Encouragement keeps momentum going.

There will be accidents

Even the most planned-out campaigns can flop. And that’s okay. Whether it’s a post that doesn’t land or a hashtag that backfires, these “accidents” are part of the learning curve. I’ll help you to think about what didn’t work, and what we can try next time.

Eventually, they get It

With the right mix of guidance, independence, and time, toddlers learn to navigate the world without nappies. The same is true for emerging social media marketers. With support from me and consistent effort, you'll start seeing results that feel natural, not forced.

Final thought: you don’t have to do it alone

Just as parents sometimes call in reinforcements (that reminds me – must make another trip to the “hootermarket” (supermarket) for some more chocolate buttons -  social media mentoring is smoother with expert support. I blend strategy, structure and a lot of real-world know-how to help individuals and small businesses grow confidently online.

Whether you're still “potty training” your online voice or looking to scale your strategy, I’ll help you ditch the guesswork and post with purpose.

Ready to make fewer messes and more impact?
Contact me today for mentoring that meets you where you are—and takes you where you want to go.

Do you want dutiful or beautiful social media?

In a world where it can feel like we scroll more than we speak, social media has become a dominant lens through which we view everything—brands, friends, causes, even ourselves. But as you build your online presence, whether personally or professionally, it’s worth asking: Do you want your social media to be dutiful or beautiful?

Dutiful social media: Reliable, predictable, safe

Dutiful social media is the version that ticks all the boxes. It’s on schedule, consistent, follows the rules—platform best practices, posting calendars, engagement routines. It’s the kind of content that gets things done, hits deadlines, stays on brand and avoids risk.

You see this a lot – accounts that never miss a #MondayMotivation or #ThrowbackThursday. There's a calm rhythm to it, a comforting predictability. It’s not trying to surprise you—it’s trying to serve you.

And it does its job. Dutiful content can maintain presence, communicate clearly, and even build trust. But at its worst, it’s...forgettable. Scroll right past it, check a mental box, move on.

Beautiful social media: Riskier, rarer, more human

This is where I come in.

I create templates that are easy to use, but also bespoke to your brand and effective. I make sure that we get YOU across to your dream audience: your talent, personality and why they should buy from you in particular.

Beautiful social media doesn’t always follow the rules. It challenges expectations, prioritises emotions over algorithm, meaning over metrics.

This is where we find the magic—visually stunning content, deeply personal captions, honest storytelling or creative experiments. I’m a firm believer that marketing is full of experiments – try something and if it doesn’t work, try something else. By this trial and error approach, you’ll find out what works for you. Roughly the same as parenting a toddler, I’m rapidly finding out!

So which one do you want?

The truth is, social media strategy isn’t a binary choice. You don’t need to pick one and abandon the other, but finding a balance is really important.

The best social media presence? Likely a thoughtful blend—dutiful enough to be dependable, beautiful enough to be memorable.

In a world full of content, beautiful grabs attention—but dutiful holds it. Ask yourself not just what kind of content you’re posting, but why. What are you trying to offer? What are you trying to feel?

Because in the end, the best social media isn’t just dutiful or beautiful—it’s meaningful.

I’m ready and waiting to help you go from dutiful to beautiful with bespoke Canva templates – get started here.

High Weald Marketing on tour – South East Open Studios 2025

As SEOS 2025 encapsulated Kent and East Sussex from 6–22 June, I decided to create for myself a tour of studios across the High Weald area to meet the people behind the Instagram accounts and see some of our region’s most vibrant creative spaces. Here’s some stories from the studios…

The landscape surrounding us is not just beautiful, it’s bursting – with creative energy and talent.

My SEOS tour started in Cornford Lane in Tunbridge Wells, at the newly created studio of Liz Pangrazi. I first spotted Liz’s work in a Tunbridge Wells shopping centre, where empty shop fronts were being used to display pieces from local artists. Ever since then, I’ve loved seeing her work pop up on my Instagram feed – bright colours, delicate brush strokes and scenes from nature: what’s not to enjoy?

Liz was sharing her studio with Charlotte Coe and Kelly Harwood – I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Kelly, but it was lovely to chat with Charlotte. As well as being an artist she also works in marketing, so there was plenty to talk about! Liz’s hospitality was superb, and this was a great start to my SEOS experience.

The next stop was over to Hildenborough, and the studio of The Soldersmith. I made the mistake of taking my toddler with me for this visit, but Alf was another excellent host and made him very happy with a drink and biscuit! The jewellery made here is absolutely stunning, and I keep flicking back to the online shop – the headline on the website is ‘jewellery for the everyday brave’ which I can really connect with.

The following weekend, I was pleased to call in on Hannah Buchanan’s studio. Whilst my toddler was being entertained by my husband and watching Wheels on the Bus on Youtube 70753758745 times, Hannah and I had a lovely chat about realistic art, marketing, marriage, nature and so much more. Her work is intricate, draws the eye in and each piece has a story to tell. I learnt a great deal, and wish she had been my art teacher at school!

The final stop on my art tour for this year was the studio of Lucy Homer Jones, near Penshurst. I didn’t think I was going to make it here, as it was the last day of SEOS and my toddler decided that this was the time to get a heat rash that looked like chickenpox. Thankfully, he was OK and I squeaked in for the last hour of the event.

I’m so pleased I did, as I got to meet all four artists exhibiting here – along with Lucy, I met Sara Giacomini, Lucy Merriman and Luana Asiata. As well as a barn, all four artists had work displayed in a home setting, which I thought made it even more beautiful and more realistic. I couldn’t stop taking pictures here, and could have sat in Lucy’s studio for the rest of the day!

I created a video at each studio, and this was great to be able to promote SEOS whilst it was life, and showcase their work to different audiences. By inviting the artists to collaborate with me on my Instagram reels, it meant that the video appeared on their grid as well as mine. This meant that they had a piece of user generated content, showing the studio in a positive light and a piece of marketing ticked off their list!

Have you got a SEOS story to tell? Book your social media audit or power hour and I’ll help you have an audience all year round, not just for the month!

What to do in Quarter 3 on your social media: Suncream, sea and social media strategy!

Where is this year going?!

Quarter 3 is just around the corner, starting in July. Whilst you might be thinking about jetting off on holiday, trying to come up with activities to entertain the kids or hoping for a summer without a sun burnt neck, its important to keep your social media going at the same time.

Now is a great time to refocus, make the most of the summer months and get ready for Autumn and the sales season leading up to Christmas. Here, I’ll look at how to stay visible over the summer, build a presence and get the basics right.

Now, I’m not usually an advocate of looking back on things, but in this case it’s important to reflect on what’s worked well so far.

Take a look back at your insights for Quarter 2 – which posts got people talking? Were they stories, videos, carousels? Did your posts encourage new followers and link clicks? Was there anything that didn’t work so well? Why was that? Do any patterns emerge?

This will give you an idea of what to keep and what to adjust this time around. If something has done well, could it be repurposed? Could a carousel be made into a reel or set of stories perhaps?

You don’t need to come up with a brand new idea every time you make a social media post – can you remember what you saw on Instagram three months ago? I can barely remember three minutes ago these days! (although its likely to consist of me saying to my toddler something along the lines of ‘please stop licking the television'!)

Having said this, July and August do bring some seasonality – school holiday juggling, sun lounger scrolling and a desire for some ‘lighter’ content. How can you match what your audience wants with the content that you’re able to provide?

Here’s a few ideas. Do you have any summery colours in your brand? Now’s their time to (sun)shine! Bring a fresh feel to your content, and if you have any seasonal products in your shop, let them have their moment. Perhaps you’ve been working on candles with a summery scent, stained glass items that would look perfect with the sunshine behind them or seasonal British flowers that will brighten up any home.

Within your boundaries, you could also show what a day in the life looks like for you as a business owner. Do you have a primary school aged apprentice coming to work with you or are you answering emails whilst enjoying some holiday views? People love to see what’s going on behind the scenes and these ideas all help to build the connection you desire with your dream audience.

To help you build that dream audience, have a think about how you can increase awareness of your brand. Could you collaborate with another relevant brand? Run a competition? Investigate print advertising or being featured in community social media groups?

You want new eyes on your content now — so by Q4 (aka sales season), they already know, like, and trust you.

Not sure where to begin? Take a look at my services page to see the range of ways I can help you, and drop me a message to get started!

Florists: Do You Want a Grid That's as Beautiful as Your Bouquets?

Today is National Floral Design Day, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to support florists in making their grid as gorgeous as their geraniums.

Floral displays are works of art, both bold and delicate, and are filled with your care, love and passion. How wonderful would it be to be able to transfer this personality to your social media?

Read on to gain ideas on how to make your social media visually appealing and be considered your digital shop window. Your physical shop has kerb appeal and draws the eye in - its perfectly possible to create the same effect on social media and encourage your dream audience to stop scrolling and pop in. 

Defining your brand

When you look around your shop floor, how would you describe your style? Are your floral arrangements pastel and delicate, bold and bright or modern and glossy? 

Transferring this style to your content creation will give you a good start - do you have a selection of colours that you work with, are featured in your logo and can be seen across your website? Choosing a palette of two or three colours will create posts that look efficient and smart, without being too busy or cluttered. 

Showcasing your brand

Speaking of being smart and efficient, have you considered investing in a brand photography session to help you get the best out of your brand on social media?

I recently worked with the lovely Maria, from The Colourful Brand, who produced natural, smart yet relaxed images of me. Here, I'm handing over the reins to her so you can hear from the expert. 

  1. Reflect your unique style and values
    Think about the personality of your brand. Are you known for bold, dramatic arrangements, or do you specialise in soft, pastel tones? Personalised brand photography should embody your style by incorporating the colours, textures, and details that set your work apart. For example, if your brand emphasizes luxury and romance, ensure your imagery highlights these qualities with elegant compositions and warm, inviting lighting.
  2. Keep your imagery on point and on brand
    High-quality photos of your floral arrangements are essential, but don’t stop there. Showcase the vibrant textures of your bouquets, the inviting atmosphere of your shop, and even behind-the-scenes glimpses into your creative process. This variety makes your grid feel dynamic and authentic while giving your audience a deeper connection to your brand. Consistency in colours and aesthetic ensures your grid feels cohesive, polished, and instantly recognisable.
  3. Help your audience experience your brand
    We buy with our eyes and hearts. Use authentic images to let potential clients feel the warmth of your personality, the care you pour into every arrangement, and the joy your work brings. For example, include images of a happy bride holding your bouquet or a heartfelt thank-you or get well soon note from a client alongside their arrangement. These moments tell a story, build trust, and create an emotional connection that inspires clients to choose you.

These tailored photos aren’t just pretty pictures – they’re strategic assets. They help you create a cohesive and visually stunning grid that draws in your dream clients, sets you apart from competitors, and builds trust with your audience. High-quality imagery forms the foundation of a social media presence that’s not only visually appealing but also deeply engaging.

So, take a step back and scroll through your feed. Does it reflect your brand’s unique essence in a way that’s authentic, compelling, and scroll-stopping?

Thank you so much Maria - what fabulous tips! You can follow Maria over on Instagram here.

If you're sitting comfortably...

Steph here again - when you read through my social media posts, you'll see I love telling a story. I have mixed motherhood and marketing to become my personal brand and tell stories of how they can be so similar. The captions of your social media are the perfect place to tell the story of a bouquet, share the lovely experience you had setting up at a wedding or ask questions of your audience.

As well as storytelling, another perfect way to engage with your audience is to provide practical advice such as how to care for your flowers, the flowers that are currently in season or what else you can buy from your floristry store (perhaps you collaborate with a chocolate or English wine supplier, as The Cove do?). These type of posts are a great opportunity to engage with your audience - remember, social media is a two way street, and its so important to encourage readers to answer questions, participate in polls and submit user generated content to help build a community and ultimately stop them scrolling on.

To help you keep up to date with national awareness days and be able to guide your audience to purchasing the best flowers for the best occasion, how about purchasing my content calendar? Its the perfect place to gather all the dates you come across. To give you a start, here's a recent blog I wrote with some awareness days for creatives throughout the year.

Final thoughts...

Creating an Instagram grid as beautiful as your bouquets is not just about aesthetics; it’s about telling your story and connecting with your audience. 

Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of this? I'm here to help your grid bloom! By working with me, you'll get bespoke Canva templates that showcase your brand to your dream audience.

To book your Canva templates bundle, click here. Remember if you're a TN Card holder, you'll get 10% off - just let me know in your enquiry.

Three ways to make the most of social media before Christmas

What's the key to standing out during one of the busiest and most competitive times of the year? Harnessing the power of social media and using it as your digital shop window.

Here’s some quick wins to help you build sales over the festive period and foster long-term relationships with your audience.

Get organised with a content calendar

Planning your content for the next few weeks will help you to create social media posts that are relevant and useful to your audience, and perhaps most importantly means that you’re less likely to panic.

Here’s a few ideas to get you started…

To help you get prepared for 2025’s social media – how about purchasing my content calendar template? This will start you off with a few key dates, and each box is clickable, so perfect for adding in awareness days bespoke to your industry! 

Promoting special offers

At this time of year, you’ll find yourself surround by special offers and discount codes. I love a special offer, but I’m also an advocate of only doing what you can afford to with your business. PLEASE – don’t feel pressured to do something just because your competitors are. Remember, comparison is the thief of joy.

If you do want to engage with special offers, you could hold a time sensitive promotion to create urgency – perhaps “20% off for the next 24 hours” or “orders placed before 14th December will include a free gift”.

My special offer is all-year round: I’m pleased to be part of The TN Card, which promotes shopping locally with small businesses - take a look here.

Sharing User Generated Content

When customers purchase from you, they love being part of your story, and this is a great thing to encourage. You could create a hashtag bespoke to your business, for example #LoveHighWealdMarketing, and ask customers to use this in their posts when they share your items in use.

User-generated content not only builds a sense of community but also acts as social proof, showing potential customers that real people enjoy your products. You can repost customer photos and testimonials, which is a great way to build trust and engagement.

Conclusion: The Power of Connection

For small businesses, the run-up to Christmas isn’t just about making sales—it's about connecting with your audience. By being festive, creative, and responsive, social media allows small businesses to form deeper relationships with their customers during this joyous time.

So, whether you’re promoting a discount, engaging with festive content, or sharing your brand story, social media is your perfect companion. With a little planning and creativity, your business can stand out this season and build a loyal customer base.