Week 17: Wrapping It Up

Wow, I can’t believe the semester is already over! This class really flew by, and I’ve honestly learned so much, especially when it comes to using social media to build a business. Even though Pure Glow Organics is just a fictional brand I created for this class, it feels very real to me now. As a new mom, this idea came from a personal place, wanting safe, plant-based skincare for myself and my baby, and now I feel like I actually know how to bring it to life one day.

Before this class, I mostly saw social media as something fun or a way to keep in touch with people. But now, I see how powerful it can be for small businesses. I had no idea how much thought and strategy goes into planning content, engaging with followers, and staying consistent. It’s not just about posting a pretty picture, it’s about creating something people care about and want to connect with.

I found myself really enjoying the process of mapping out posts, thinking about what would resonate with other moms or families, and imagining how I could show off the values behind Pure Glow Organics. Instagram and TikTok felt like the right platforms for my audience, especially because they’re great for visual storytelling and short videos. This class helped me get comfortable with the idea of batching content, planning ahead, and also making time to respond and stay engaged.

One thing I really appreciated was seeing examples of other businesses that are doing  well, and also the ones that kind of dropped the ball. It made me realize that you don’t need to be on every platform, just the ones that make sense for your brand. I feel more confident now, not just in using social media, but in knowing what kind of message I want to put out there if I ever launch my own business.

If I could change anything or add to this class, I’m not sure I would, because I really enjoyed it. I loved being able to tie my personal story into the business idea, and this experience has made me even more excited to maybe turn Pure Glow Organics into something real one day.

Thanks for such a great class and for giving us the space to be creative and real with our ideas. 💛

Week 16 Part B: Building Out Your Strategy

This is a fictional plan created for class, but inspired by a real dream to launch my own family-safe, organic skincare brand one day.

Social Media:

Instagram (4x per week)
TikTok (3x per week)
Facebook (2x per week)

Content Types:

Short-form videos (TikToks/Reels), Behind-the-scenes content, Ingredient spotlights, Skincare tips for moms and families, Customer reviews or quotes, Stories (daily on Instagram).

Estimated Time Commitment:

Planning: 1 hour - week (Mondays)
Content Creation: 4 hours- week (Tuesdays & Fridays)
Editing & Scheduling: 2 hours- week (Wednesdays)
Engagement: 30 minutes- day
Analytics & Improvement: 1 hour- week (Sundays)

Weekly Breakdown:

Monday: Plan the week’s posts (IG, TikTok, FB)

Tuesday: Content creation day: film short videos, take product photos
Post on IG & FB: Brand story or personal experience as a mom
Post TikTok: A "Did You Know?" about harmful skincare ingredients

Wednesday: Edit and schedule the rest of the week’s content

Thursday: Post IG: Product spotlight (Example: baby balm or family-safe lotion)
Post FB: Skincare tip or quote from a happy customer

Friday: Content creation day: batch record weekend content
Post TikTok: fun or relatable mom moment with skincare tip
Post IG Story: behind-the-scenes footage or poll/question

Saturday: Rest day from content creation (engage only if needed)

Sunday: Review post engagement - analytics

look at what worked and what could be improved for next week

Goals for the Month: 

Build brand awareness with consistent content.
Connect with other moms/families.
Grow Instagram followers by 10%
Gain feedback on what kind of content resonates the most.

Engagement Strategy:

Respond to DMs and comments daily (15–20 min morning & evening)
Use interactive stories and polls to increase visibility
This plan helps me stay consistent and organized while allowing space to adjust based on what my audience enjoys. As a new mom, I know how important it is to make the most of my time, this structure keeps me focused while also moving toward my long term dream of making Pure Glow Organics to a reality.

Week 16 Part A: Developing Your Marketing Strategy

This semester, creating Pure Glow Organics as a fictional brand gave me the chance to explore how different social media platforms work for business. I realized that Instagram and Facebook would be the best fit for this type of brand because they’re so visual and that’s key when you’re marketing beauty or wellness products.

For scheduling, I use Meta’s tools, which make it easy to stay consistent without having to post in real time. It’s a huge help for staying organized and saving time.

Out of all the platforms, I enjoyed Instagram the most. It feels natural to use and I had the most fun creating content there. I also noticed how important it is to focus on platforms you actually enjoy, because it shows in the content you share.

If this were a real business, I think spending about 4–6 hours a week on social media would be enough to stay active, respond to followers, and keep things fresh without getting overwhelmed

Week 15 Part B: What We Can Learn from FaceBook and Other Analytics

I took some time to dig into the analytics on my Instagram for Pure Glow Organics. It was an eye-opening to see how my posts are actually performing and what kind of impact they’re having.

 I haven’t been posting consistently. The posts that did well usually included bright, clear photos. I also saw that posts published in the evenings got more engagement, which tells me that’s when my audience is most active.

Looking at the engagement data, I found that some posts had a lot of views but fewer likes and comments. That made me realize I need to create content that encourages more interaction, like asking questions.

The analytics dashboard also showed me options like tracking follower growth, story views, and how users find my page. These insights will definitely help me plan better content and post at optimal times to connect with more people.

Going forward, I plan to use this data to be more intentional with my posts, posting regularly, sharing more authentic and interactive content, and experimenting with Instagram Stories. Using analytics to guide my strategy feels like a powerful way to improve my marketing and grow Pure Glow Organics.

Week 14 Part B

This week, I commented on Austin, Coco, and Alex.

Austin gave a clear comparison of Buffer, Hootsuite, Later, and SocialBee. I liked his thoughts on Buffer being great for small businesses like my skincare brand. Coco’s post introduced me to Metricool, which seems perfect for creators managing multiple platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts. Alex focused on tools for his cat café and bookstore, The Whisker & Quill, and highlighted how Buffer and Later offer good free plans and usability for small businesses.

From their posts, I learned that picking the right tool depends on your budget, content type, and needs. Trying free plans or trials is a smart way to find what works best without overspending.

Week 15 Part A: What We Can Learn from Google Analytics

Google Analytics has some great features that can really help my business, Pure Glow Organics, grow and improve the overall experience. The 5 features I think would be very useful are:

1. Tracking Across Devices: Google Analytics helps track how customers use different devices. People might check out Pure Glow Organics on their phones and then make a purchase on their computers. Knowing this helps me ensure the site works smoothly on all devices, so customers can shop anytime, and anywhere.

2. Customizable Reports: With customizable reports, I can keep track of things like how many people are viewing our products or how many actually make a purchase. This makes it easier to see what's working, so I can fine tune our marketing and make more sales.

3. Integration with Google Tools: By linking Google Ads to Google Analytics, I can see how well my ads are performing. This helps me understand if the ads are bringing the right people to our site, and it allows me to make adjustments to target the right customers and avoid wasting money.
4. Predictive Analytics: Google Analytics offers predictive tools that can show me which customers are most likely to make a purchase. This lets me focus my marketing on the right audience, which can help increase sales and improve conversion rates.
5. Mobile Insights: Since so many people shop on their phones, it is really important to know how our site performs on phones. Google Analytics gives me the data I need to see how many people are using their phones to visit our site, so I can fix any issues and ensure our customers have a smooth experience no matter what device they’re using.

Week 14: Social Media Management Tools

 This week, I looked into a few social media management tools to see which ones might actually help me stay on top of things, especially for my Pure Glow Organics page. Right now, it feels like posting, replying, and planning content across platforms is kind of chaotic, so I wanted to find something that could help me stay organized without being too expensive.

I checked out Buffer, Hootsuite, Later, and Zoho Social, and here is what I found:

Buffer was my favorite out of all of them. It’s super easy to use and pretty straightforward. The free version lets you connect up to 3 social accounts and schedule 10 posts per account, which honestly feels perfect for someone just starting out like me. If you want more, it’s $6.00 per month per channel, which isn’t bad. I liked the layout, and I feel like it wouldn’t take long to figure out.

Hootsuite has been around forever, and I can see why. It does everything, scheduling, analytics, replying to messages, and more. But it’s kind of expensive. The paid plan starts at $99.00 a month, which feels like too much for me right now. The free version is also very limited, so unless you’re managing a big team or brand, it might be overkill.

Later is great for Instagram. I really liked that you can visually plan your feed and even get hashtag suggestions. The free version gives you 10 posts per month per platform, and the paid version starts at $25.00 month. I think this one would be really good if Instagram was my main focus.

Zoho Social was a surprise. It offers a decent free plan, one brand, and up to 7 social channels. Their paid version is $15.00 a month, and it comes with tools like bulk scheduling and a content calendar. It feels very balanced for the price, and it looks like it would be great for long term use.

If I had to choose one right now, I would probably go with Buffer or Later depending on where I want to focus. Buffer is more all around, and Later is great if I really want to polish my Instagram. Either way, I’m glad I looked into these because I feel like managing everything from one place will save me time and stress.

Week 13 Part B: Developing Online Advertising

 

        Each ad I created for Pure Glow Organics has a unique angle to appeal to different customer needs. The Mom and Daughter Organic Skincare Ad is effective because it speaks to families who want safe, non-toxic products for themselves and their children. The image of a mother and daughter using the products together creates an emotional connection, and the call to action "Shop Now" encourages immediate purchases. The Sensitive Skin Skincare Ad targets those with sensitive skin, highlighting the product’s gentle, organic ingredients. The "Learn More" button invites users to dive deeper into the benefits of the product, helping build trust. The Shampoo Ad is aimed at consumers looking for natural hair care products, with a focus on eco-friendliness and non-toxic ingredients. The call to action "Try it today" creates urgency and encourages immediate action.

The objective of an ad is the specific goal we want to achieve, whether it’s driving sales, increasing website traffic, or generating leads. For Pure Glow Organics, the best objective is likely "Conversions" or "Traffic", as the main goal is to get people to visit the site and make a purchase. These ads are designed to encourage immediate action, whether it's buying a product or learning more about what makes Pure Glow different and unique. 

Week 13 Part A: Online Advertising - Analysis of the Marketplace

 I’ve been paying attention to the ads popping up on my Instagram and Facebook feeds lately, and it’s clear that social media advertising has a huge impact. What grabs my atention the most is when ads use eye catching imagery or videos and have a strong call to action. For example, I recently saw a fitness ad with a high-energy workout video and a “Shop Now” button. I clicked it right away. Same with an ad offering a free trial for an online learning platform, I couldn’t resist clicking "Start my Free Trial."

What makes these ads work for me is that they feel relevant. Sometimes, I’ll search for something online and then, boom, ads for it show up on my feed. It’s almost like they’re reading my mind, which can be a bit creepy but also convenient when it’s something I actually need or want.

On the flip side, some ads just don’t hit the mark. When they use cheesy stock photos or show me things I’m not interested in, I quickly scroll down. I had one ad for cleaning supplies that kept showing up, even though I had no interest at all. It felt repetitive and intrusive.

Comparing this to traditional advertising like TV commercials, billboards, or magazine ads, it feels less personal and less effective. Traditional ads are meant for a broad audience, so they often don’t connect with me on a personal level. Social media ads, though, can be tailored to my interests, which is why they feel more engaging and effective.

With that being said, sometimes ads go too far. When I search for a pair of shoes and then see ads for them everywhere, it can feel a little stalkerish. Still, I think social media ads are generally more helpful and targeted than traditional ones. The best ads are the ones that feel authentic and aren’t just trying to sell me something.