Salt Leaf Agency

Content Idea Challenge: Foraging Workshops + Foraging Walks

This was a fun one! I’ve been connected to farming, foraging events, and local food for many years, so writing these slides made me think of friends and meals based around the topic.

For any account, remember the 80/20 rule. Only 20% of your posts should be promotional or sales focused. Maximum (imagine I underlined that) 20%.

Have some fun with your content! This topic could have lots of great videos, recipes, and some dreamy imagery. I wish you the best of luck!

Still more content idea posts to come!
xx Amy

Content Idea Challenge: Vacation Rentals.

At the end of July, I posted in my Stories that I would share content ideas for different business types and niches, and I just needed you to suggest those business categories for me. I received 8 responses, and today I am tackling the first on the list.

What could a vacation rental property share on their social media?

My response is intentionally broad because the best strategy will be tailored to the specific business. Are they a luxury rental? Budget accommodation? Adults-only? Backpacker-centric? For any content strategy, a deep dive into the brand and target audience is needed. However, this is a gateway to help others with some ideas, so if you're running a vacation rental or boutique hotel, perhaps something on these slides will inspire you with a few content ideas moving forward!

Remember, always think about your target customer and who you are trying to attract when creating your content. Speak to them directly. What does your accommodation provide for them, and what are the unique elements that set you apart?

As a photographer of 16 years and a travel-focused individual, my recommendations for visuals are to use photos and videos that inspire your customers. Allow them to visualize themselves in your spaces and aspire to be there. Draw on their deep desires and keep your brand top of mind so when they are ready to book their next vacation, they'll be thinking of you first.

Share this with a hotel manager or vacation property owner you know who is feeling uninspired with their posts!

xx Amy

I'm thrilled to share that I'm in the running for the Premier's People's Choice award in this year's Small Business BC Awards. It would mean the world to me if you could take just 10 seconds to cast your vote. Your support would be immensely appreciated! 💗

Thank you!
xx Amy

Salt Leaf Agency - Small Business BC Awards Salt Leaf Agency was founded in 2023 by Amy Lobb, an entrepreneur with a passion for supporting local businesses. After a brief maternity leave, Amy harnessed her 15 years of experience as a brand photographer and business owner, alongside 4 years of marketing expertise, to expand upon the services....

The top three tools I use for my organic social media management, both for myself and for my clients:

🗓️ Metricool for scheduling
🎨 Canva for design
🗄️ Google Workspace for organization, storage, and so much more!

And want to hear something neat? I made this in Canva then sent it directly to Metricool for scheduling. No downloading and re-uploading. I even typed out most of the caption while still in Canva. Easy peasy.

Are you using any of these tools or find this information useful? If you aren't using a scheduler, or are using Meta Business Suite for scheduling (hey I used to too, it's fine, but Metricool is so much better!) then if you do nothing else, go sign up for a free Metricool account. I added a link in my profile to their site too. I'm not endorsed by them, but I seriously just think they're great!

Save this post to come back to it again and reference any information you might otherwise forget about.

xx Amy

What's stopping you from incorporating paid ads into your social media strategy?

On top of our regular organic social media strategy for Facebook and Instagram (3 to 6 posts a week), this client and I have been discussing their company goals extensively. They've noticed that their brand story—who they are and what they do—has been lost recently. While we've run event-specific lead campaigns, we are now shifting our focus toward awareness campaigns. We're leveraging their best-performing organic posts and freshly created videos to better convey their unique story.

And the results are paying off. Soon, we'll integrate ads that guide customers further down the sales funnel.

Curious about our budget? We're spending just $15 per day, testing three different audiences and three ads. You don't need to spend a fortune to reach new eyes!

Keep in mind, organic social media reach typically dips in the summer, especially in August. If you're curious about leveraging paid ads for Facebook and Instagram, reach out!

Work scene. Today is my husband’s birthday. I packed in work over the days leading up to today so that I didn’t need to do too much today and we could all hang out. Honestly, we didn’t do much. Tomorrow we’re going into town and will head to an exhibition and have lunch and enjoy time with family. I think our birthdays look very different than they did even 3 years ago. But hey, it felt good having posts scheduled and being able to sit back knowing my work was doing itself.

Quote of the day:
Me - “What do you want to do after the kids go to bed tonight?”
Hubs - “Something sexy. Like get that Facebook ad up.”
Guess we’re officially a dorky digital marketing household now!

My models that pull at my heart strings 💘

Did you know that you can bring your own picnics to enjoy at Bilston?

Gather your loved ones, your book club members, or even treat yourself to a tranquil afternoon escape. Connect, relax, and create memories amidst our peaceful property.

We're open Wednesday through Sunday from 11am to 5pm. Join us at Bilston and let the picnic adventures begin!

What will be in your basket?

Is your business on Facebook? When used effectively, Facebook can be one of the greatest assets to your marketing strategy. If you aren't already using it for your business, what's holding you back?

Here's just a few reasons why we think you should stop what you're doing and create a Facebook business page tonight!

1. Facebook is the biggest social networking site, with THREE BILLION active monthly users. That's 37% of the world's population.

2. While h a c k s can happen, your account can be frozen, and you don't "own" your audience, the cost to sign up and use Facebook is free. That's a price that's hard to beat.

3. Linking your page from your website adds a valuable backlink that is favoured by Google and increases your domain authority. Which means your website can be ranked higher in search.

4. You might be like me and haven't got a chance to create your website yet. A Facebook business page will still show up in Google searches, even if you don't have a website. Get found online!

5. Give your brand a face and personality. Connect with your audience, gain their trust, and convert them to loyal brand advocates. Be authentic, everyone can smell a fake a mile off. In our digital social world, people want connection and stories with real people, so put yourself out there and be real!

Bonus: People have a chance to follow and remember you. They might come across your website and be intrigued, but if they aren't purchasing anything at that given moment, they may forget you by tomorrow. If given the chance to follow you on social media, they are creating a lasting connection and you can show up in their lives (aka feeds) again.

What's keeping you off of Facebook?

I appreciate those who are already putting their trust in my expertise!

I really do love this job and watching others thrive.

Thank you for these kind words 🙏

How do you know you need a social media manager? If any of the below situations apply to you, it might be time to ask for help!

🌿 You have no idea what to post
🌿 You’re not getting engagement
🌿 You can’t keep up
🌿 You hate being on social media, but acknowledge its importance in the modern business world
🌿 You need more time for other tasks
🌿 Just reading this stresses you out

A social media manager can help you develop a comprehensive content strategy, create high-quality content, engage with your followers, and analyze your social media performance to make data-driven decisions that improve your results.

Not only that, but they save. you. time.

Time to focus on what drives your business; time to handcraft your products; time for yourself; or time with your family.

The age old saying of "you can't buy time" has just been disproven!

Today is the day!

While I've been receiving messages over the past month, enquiring about my services, the time for accepting clients is finally here! Whether you've been quietly following along or new to the account and curious, send me a DM or drop me an email at [email protected] and let's begin the conversation!

Or if you aren't in need of management of your social channels, but know of someone else that is, please share my profile with them! I'm based on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island, but able to accept clients worldwide.

Now to sit and jump with every notification sound 🙃

"A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take."
- Cardinal Meymillod

This quote got me. I lost my own mom unexpectedly when I was 13. She was my best friend, and over 20 years later I still feel the gaping hole. I am sad my children, as well as my nieces and nephews, will never know her. And now that I'm a mom myself, I can't help but worry about leaving my kids too early.

If you're a mom, have a mom, stepping in as someone's mom, missing yours, hoping to be a mom... whatever your connection is with the word, I want you to know that I see you. If you're able to find a way to celebrate this relationship this weekend, I hope it brings you happiness, warmth, reflection, and memories.

It is a fitting holiday to mark the end of my maternity leave before this new business grows.

📷 Noa Furfaro Photography

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

While I'd like to say I'll be resting and dedicating the weekend to some me-time and family-time, I'll be busy on Sunday taking Mother's Day photos through my photography business, Amy Lobb Portraits .

As of Monday, my books will be open and I'll be onboarding new clients, while also resuming work with accounts I managed before having my son.

Salt Leaf is ready for you!

I'm a fan of small independent businesses, good people, delicious coffee, and a well fitted out space. Saint Cecilia definitely checks all of these boxes. Plus they have a kids' space so I'm able to actually focus on a conversation or me-time, while my toddler is enjoying herself instead of running into traffic.

Last week we stopped by Saint Cecilia and I grabbed a bit of content for . I love building up other businesses and sharing their stories to the world. I can't wait to do this for more people throughout my journey with Salt Leaf.

This week I'm head down trying to finalise all the big and little details I need in place before onboarding clients. Think insurance, contracts, branding, marketing, processes, and client packages... social media management isn't just logging into someone's account and posting a pretty picture. There's strategy, research, planning, and more that goes into it. It's a business. And I find it FUN!

My final week of parental leave - ever!

I'll be feeling a lot of emotions this week: nervous, excited, anticipation, tired, and joyful. Tinged with sadness, as I complete this dedicated period to being a mom and focusing my time on my children. I need to work though. My mind never stops, and being able to focus that energy on my business and clients, in turn allows me to be happier and more present when I step away and have devoted family time.

A goal with Salt Leaf will be to limit my notifications and set "quiet times" on my phone to allow myself personal time. This is a tricky industry where expectations can often be that we are available to answer messages and emails 24/7, but I'm a small business owner and human that genuinely enjoys the occasional time without a device in my hand.

How do you balance life and work?

While this study and article are 10 years old, the numbers are still relevant today, and probably even higher now!

By hiring a social media manager, small business owners will get these hours back! You can put those hours into other aspects of your business. Or here's a crazy thought, put those hours towards your family and personal time!

What would you do with an extra 25 to 80 hours per month?

Source: https://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/33776/43-of-small-businesses-spend-6-hours-per-week-in-social-media-infographic.aspx?__hstc=246577179.5506597e94d0b7541b490d277ba0bce0.1682886819035.1682886819035.1682886819035.1&__hssc=246577179.1.1682886819036&__hsfp=3887566761

Content creation for Bilston Creek Farm in 2022, by Amy Lobb Photography .

For those looking to freshen up their feed and websites, but don't need full social media support, I will be offering creative content only packages. I am a professional photographer with 15 years of experience in local and international markets and am ready to hear about your vision for your business!

If you are looking for help from a visual storyteller, I'm ready to listen.

Happy start of May!

This is one of my favourite months of the year. Spring is starting to feel like summer, more flowers are in bloom, and honestly, if feels like the month of love to me far more than February does. My parents AND my parents-in-law were married in May, which led to my husband and I choosing a May date for our wedding: honour the examples of love that we were shown.

What does this have to do with the launch of Salt Leaf? Absolutely nothing. Other than I'm excited and as of May 15th I'll be ready to accept new clients. So in my books, May is great.

We still have more to do behind-the-scenes to make sure the business is ready for clients. I've been thinking in my head that I wanted to do the launch sooner, but I'm keeping with the timeline that coincides with the completion of my maternity and parental leave.

May 15th will be the official "launch" of Salt Leaf Agency. While I'm active now, it is the date when I can begin onboarding new clients.

If social media management is something you are considering for your business, I'm happy to begin a conversation with you now. Reach out at any point!

Tips for businesses on Instagram

Have you ever been browsing Instagram, come across someone eating at a restaurant that you just HAD to try, click on the restaurant's profile and subsequent posts trying to figure out where it's located but there is zero information telling you where it is? If you want customers visiting your place of business, why would you make it so hard to find out where you are located?

If you're a business on Instagram and reading this, stop what you're doing and go view your own profile. Make sure it's optimized so your potential customers can find you! Here's a few spots where you can add your location in your profile:

📍Add your business address to your profile
📍Mention your location in your bio
📍Include your location in your name or handle
📍Use location tags in your posts
📍Choose location relevant hashtags
📍Create a story highlight showing off your local area

Has anyone else tried to find a business location via social media, just to give up out of frustration? Drop a 🙌 below.

I don't know who needs to hear this today.
Time feels like the obstacle in my life right now, however in 2 weeks that will change as my husband goes on parental leave for the reminder of the year.
What obstacles do you feel like you're facing currently?

📷 Amy Lobb Photography

What IS a social media manager? And do you really need one?
View the images to learn more about what we do as a social media management service and determine if it's time for you to get one for your business or personal brand.

Hi there! This is me, Amy (the grown up person), the face behind Salt Leaf. As I begin to establish this company on the internet, I thought it would be worth allowing you to get to know a bit about me.

Surface details:
• I live on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
• I have degrees in photography and psychology.
• I'm a mama of two kids under 2 years of age (although that will soon change).

Getting a little more personal:
• I have travelled to 32 countries, and would love to add more to that list.
• I love animals. Currently we have 2 dogs, 3 ducks, and 17 chickens.
• Until recently, I ran my own flower farm. I fell in love with arranging flowers by creating my wedding bouquet. It was therapeutic and grounding during a busy time.

I-guess-we're-friends-now details:
• Love You Forever is one of my all-time favourite books. And makes me cry every. single. time.
• Sometimes I base where I travel to on how photogenic I think a place is.
• If you forced me to choose my favourite place on Earth, I think I'd say Whistler Canada. It has been many things to me throughout every stage of my life and will always feel like coming home.

I'd love to learn something about you! Pop a hello in the comments for me to read.

📷 by the amazing Noa Furfaro Photography

Salt Leaf Agency - a social media management and creative content agency that will be launching May 2023. Stay tuned for more...


Social media manager for hire
Freelance social media manager
Content creator