What Now Advisors

What Now Advisors I help small businesses succeed by leveraging the power their local community.
- Community Outreach - Events - Digital Marketing

💡 July Tip #9 – Plan and Schedule Your ContentI’ve been off this page for over a week. Why? Life happened — I got sick,...
07/25/2025

💡 July Tip #9 – Plan and Schedule Your Content

I’ve been off this page for over a week. Why? Life happened — I got sick, client work piled up, and social media took a back seat. Sound familiar?

That’s exactly why scheduling matters. When life gets busy, your content can still show up.

Here’s the system I use for clients (and need to use for myself!):

🗓️ Start with themes
Assign types to each day — e.g., Monday = Tips, Wednesday = Testimonials, Thursday = Sales.
Stick with 3–5 consistent themes to match your weekly posting goal.

📝 Plan weekly
Draft 1–2 weeks of posts, then gather visuals.

💬 Use ChatGPT
It’s great for writing, formatting, and hashtags. (more on this later)

📊 Stay organized
Use a Google Doc or Sheet to track copy, images, and dates.

📅 Schedule with Meta Business Suite
It’s free, easy, and saves serious time. (More on that soon!)

✅ Always double-check your posts after they go live.

Feeling overwhelmed? Start small:
1️⃣ Pick 3–5 content themes
2️⃣ Write 2 posts at a time
3️⃣ Stay 2–3 days ahead
4️⃣ Confirm your posts went up

✨ Small steps = big results.

Need a free content calendar or template? Just ask.

💡 July Tip #8 – Content Idea: Promote a Fellow BusinessAs much as we love to talk about our own business… sometimes it’...
07/14/2025

💡 July Tip #8 – Content Idea: Promote a Fellow Business

As much as we love to talk about our own business… sometimes it’s even more powerful to shine a light on someone else.

Why?
People love businesses that support other businesses — and when you tag another business, your post can reach a whole new audience.

Not sure where to start? Ask yourself:
☕ Where do you shop?
👋 Who are your neighbors?
🥪 What’s your go-to spot for coffee or a quick lunch?

Now turn that into a post! Here are a few easy ways to show support:
🤝 Tag a neighboring business you admire and tell your followers why
📸 Post a behind-the-scenes visit (bonus points if you bought something fun!)
🗺️ Share a “Perfect Day” itinerary that includes both your business and theirs
📣 Shout out a fellow business your customers love
🌟 Cross-promote — ask them to share your post or do one of their own

💡 You don’t have to overthink it. A quick photo, a kind caption, and a tag can go a long way in building connections — and reminding your audience that local supports local.

👋 I’m Christine — a local marketer helping small businesses grow on a budget.
You might know me from Explore Forest Park or my daughter’s biz, Balloons by Lily 🎈

New to social or seeing slow sales? Let’s fix that.
📲 I’m sharing free tips all July to help your business stand out.

👉 Follow along for more.

One of the things I love about marketing? Spending time with our local businesses — and the amazing people who support t...
07/12/2025

One of the things I love about marketing? Spending time with our local businesses — and the amazing people who support them. 💚

We were out on Friday filming a new reel for A Perfect Day in Forest Park and it was SO MUCH FUN!

Huge thanks to Bethany for showing us around and sharing her perfect day. Stay tuned — this one’s going to be a good one! 🎥✨

✍️ Late-night posting? Distracted multitasking?That’s when mistakes are most likely to sneak in — like the one I made y...
07/12/2025

✍️ Late-night posting? Distracted multitasking?

That’s when mistakes are most likely to sneak in — like the one I made yesterday. Not in the caption, but on the image itself (hello, “lot” vs. “a lot” 👀).

So what can you fix after a post goes live?

✅ Caption Edits
Good news: You can edit captions on both Instagram and Facebook after posting.

Perfect for fixing typos, adding hashtags, or updating details.

🚫 Image Edits
Here’s where it gets tricky:

Facebook: You can replace a photo on a post

Instagram: You can’t edit or swap the image after it’s posted.

Your options are:
🟣 Leave it as is
🟣 Note the error in the caption
🟣 Delete and repost

👉 Tip #1
If it’s a minor issue and the post is already performing well, it’s often better to just call it out in the caption rather than lose momentum by deleting.

👉 Tip #2:
If you are posting to group, I like to share the post to the group vs. posting directly. That way if there is any issue with the caption or photo, you can change it in one place and it is updated everywhere you shared it to. We'll talk about that in an upcoming post.

Let’s talk honestly… does it feel quiet around town?Open tables at restaurants. Easy-to-find parking. That nagging feeli...
07/12/2025

Let’s talk honestly… does it feel quiet around town?

Open tables at restaurants. Easy-to-find parking. That nagging feeling that other communities are “busier.”

But here’s the good news:
We’re not stuck. There’s a lot we can do—right now.

🟣 People have endless choices — let’s give them a reason to choose you.
🟣 People are busy — so make your business easy to remember, find, and love.
🟣 Consistency matters — showing up regularly builds trust and keeps you top of mind.
🟣 Great photos, fun videos, and standout offers — these are what get attention.
🟣 Social media isn’t optional — 3–5 posts per week is the baseline now.
🟣 Email still works — especially when it feels personal and offers real value.
🟣 Collaboration helps everyone — cross-promotions, shared events, and creative partnerships make a difference.

Running a business is hard enough — you don’t have to do all the marketing too.

That’s where I come in.

I’ve spent the last 7+ years helping local businesses grow with strategies that work and pricing that’s fair.

If you’re ready to try something new—or just want to brainstorm ideas—let’s talk.

Our community is full of amazing businesses. Let’s make sure people know it. 💜

Enjoy the best that summer has to offer. Join us in Forest Park for a variety of fun for the entire family!
07/11/2025

Enjoy the best that summer has to offer. Join us in Forest Park for a variety of fun for the entire family!

💡 July Tip #7 – Content Idea: What Are People Thinking About Right Now?It’s almost mid-July — and if you want your cont...
07/11/2025

💡 July Tip #7 – Content Idea: What Are People Thinking About Right Now?

It’s almost mid-July — and if you want your content to connect, it needs to be relevant.

Ask yourself:
What’s on my customers’ minds this week?
Here’s what’s trending, according to ChatGPT 👇

✨ “Summer is flying by!” → Nostalgia & urgency are kicking in
🌴 Family vacations & weekend getaway planning
🎒 Back-to-school prep (yep, parents are already looking!)
🧊 Beat the heat with cold drinks, pools, shaded patios & AC
🎶 Outdoor fun — concerts, park events, patio dining, kids' camps

💡 Use this list to inspire your next few posts. Whether it’s a product spotlight, local event, or just a reminder of how your business fits into summer life — meet your customers where they are.

👋 I’m Christine — a local marketer helping small businesses grow on a budget. You might know me from Explore Forest Park or my daughter’s biz, Balloons by Lily 🎈

New to social or seeing slow sales? Let’s fix that.
📲 I’m sharing free tips all July to help your business stand out.

👉 Follow along for more.

💭 July Tip #6 – Content Idea - What's Important About Your Business? Start by telling your story or you why 👇✨ What in...
07/08/2025

💭 July Tip #6 – Content Idea - What's Important About Your Business? Start by telling your story or you why 👇

✨ What inspired you to start
🛍️ What products or services you offer
💬 What makes you different
💸 Any current deals or specials
❤️ Why your business matters to you
➡️ Your community wants to support you — give them a reason to feel connected.

Add a Personal Touch
📸 Post a photo of you, your team, your space, or something that captures your vibe.
➡️ People connect with people, not just logos.

👋 I’m Christine — a local marketer helping small businesses grow on a budget.
You might know me from Explore Forest Park or my daughter’s biz, Balloons by Lily🎈

New to social media or seeing slow sales? Let’s fix that.
💡 I’m sharing free tips all July to help your business stand out.
👉 Follow along for more.

💡 July Tip #5 – Posting Best Practices for Facebook & InstagramWant to boost engagement and grow your reach? Start with...
07/06/2025

💡 July Tip #5 – Posting Best Practices for Facebook & Instagram
Want to boost engagement and grow your reach? Start with these 3 tips 👇

Post Consistently
• Facebook: 3–5 times per week
• Instagram: 3–5 times per week + 1–2 Stories per day (we’ll talk more about Stories later this month)
➡️ Consistency builds trust and keeps your business top of mind

Strong Visuals
• Use bright, high-quality images or videos
• Instagram prefers square or vertical images
• Facebook is more flexible with image size
➡️ Post a mix to determine what type of visual and content performs better.

Post at Optimal Times - Some general rules
• Facebook: Weekdays 9am–1pm or 6–8pm
• Instagram: Weekdays 10am–2pm or 7–9pm
➡️ Check Facebook Insights to find your best-performing times for your followers

📅 Not sure what to post about or how to create the right photos, images or videos? We'll talk about next.

👋 I’m Christine — a local marketer helping small businesses grow on a budget.

You might know me from Explore Forest Park or my daughter’s biz Balloons by Lily 🎈

New to social media or seeing slow sales? Let’s fix that.
💡 I’m sharing free tips all July to help your business stand out.
👉 Follow along for more.

I had the pleasure on Monday of attending the open house for Forest Park’s newest business—Prime Athletic Club—as both a...
07/06/2025

I had the pleasure on Monday of attending the open house for Forest Park’s newest business—Prime Athletic Club—as both a rep for Explore Forest Park and as the proud mom/employee of Balloons by Lily , who created the giant balloon arch at the entrance. 🎈💪

A few things I absolutely loved:

A great turnout. As someone who plans events regularly, I know the nerves that come with hosting a free event and just hoping people show up. This one was full and buzzing!

The transformation. As a former employee of the previous tenant, EnergyTees, I was amazed at how much work the Prime Athletic's Team put into the space.

They nailed the details. From free food and t-shirts and kid-friendly fun to great signage, and solid photography—this grand opening was well done.

I didn't have to do anything. I couldn’t help but reminisce about the grand opening's Jenny Shepherd and I planned for Play It Again Sports - Forest Park, IL and Candycopia —SO much work behind the scenes! That’s why it was such a treat to just attend this one, not do anything (other than making sure my kids behaved 😅).

It’s important to celebrate what’s going right in our community—big or small.
Congrats to Prime Athletics and their team on a successful opening—and thank you again for hiring Balloons by Lily ! 🎉

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