Social media strategy, man. I thought I could just post a random pic on Instagram and call it a plan. Big nope. I’m sitting in my tiny Seattle apartment, rain smacking the window like it’s got a grudge, laughing at how clueless I was. My first post was this blurry pic of a skateboard deck I made—got three likes, one from my mom, one from a bot, and one from me fat-fingering the screen. But I’ve stumbled through it, spilled coffee on my notes, and somehow built a social media stratgy that’s not terrible. Here’s my messy, real-deal story, typos and all.
Why I Even Bothered with a Social Media Plan
I’m no influencer with a fancy setup. Just a dude in Seattle trying to sell custom skateboard decks from my kitchen table. But in 2025, if you ain’t on social media, you’re yelling into a void. I learned that when I posted some wordy X thread and got zero traction. My phone’s cracked screen laughed at me as I checked for likes at 3 a.m. A social media strategy ain’t just for big brands—it’s for anyone who wants to get noticed. I read on Hootsuite that like 5 billion people are on social media now That’s a lot of eyeballs, yo.
So I grabbed a notebook, spilled coffee on it (classic me), and started scribbling. It was a hot mess, but it was my hot mess.
Step 1: Figuring Out Who I’m Posting For
You gotta know your people. I thought everyone would dig my skateboards. Wrong. I was posting edgy X threads when my crowd—skater kids and artsy weirdos—was vibing on TikTok and Instagram Reels. Found this dope breakdown on Sprout Social about who’s on what platform. Like, 60% of TikTok is Gen Z? Blew my mind I was shouting into the wrong void, man.
- What I Did: Spent a night scrolling TikTok, eating stale Doritos, and realized my people wanted short, colorful videos, not my long-ass rants.
- Dumb Move: I tried to be on every platform—X, Insta, TikTok, even LinkedIn (wtf was I thinking?). Burned out so fast Pick 1-2 platforms and go all in.
Step 2: Content That Doesn’t Totally Blow
Content is everything, right? My early posts were straight trash. I tried a TikTok of me doing a kickflip to show off a deck. Fell on my butt in front of my neighbor’s dog, who barked like I’d personally insulted him Got 12 views, mostly me refreshing. A social media strategy needs content your people actually vibe with. For me, that’s quick, bright videos of my decks—think paint splashes and skaters doing tricks (not me, I’m still sore).
- What Worked: I mix it up—60% fun stuff (skater clips), 30% behind-the-scenes (me painting in my janky kitchen), 10% salesy stuff. Saw this 60-30-10 rule on Buffer, and it’s legit.
- Weird Win: Used a random trending sound on TikTok—some Cardi B track—and it hit 2,500 views No clue why. I’ll take it.
Step 3: Posting Like I Actually Mean It
I’m the worst at consistency I’d go hard for a week, then ghost for a month cause I was “busy” (aka rewatching The Boys for the third time). A social media plan needs a schedule. I started with post-it notes on my fridge—my roommate thought I was losing it Now I use a cheap app, but it gets the job done.
- My Vibe: Post 3-4 times a week on Insta, 2-3 on TikTok, and quick daily hits on X. Later says similar stuff, and it works.
- Cringe Moment: I scheduled a post for 3 a.m. instead of 3 p.m. Woke up to no likes and my buddy texting, “Yo, you good or nah?”
Step 4: Analytics (I Hated This Part)
I avoided analytics like they were taxes. But checking X and Insta insights was a game-changer. My posts did best at 7 p.m. when skaters were chilling Who knew? Social Media Examiner has tips, but I learned by screwing up. Biggest shock? People loved my fail videos, like when I spilled paint on my favorite jeans. Go figure.
- Quick Hack: Check analytics weekly X’s dashboard is chill; Insta’s is a pain, but you’ll get it.
- Big Oops: Ignored comments for weeks. So dumb Replying to a “nice deck lol” comment boosted my engagement like crazy.
Step 5: Keeping It Real (Even When It’s Cringe)
Real talk: a social media strategy ain’t about being perfect It’s about being you, messes and all. I posted an Insta Story about how I legit cried when my first deck order shipped. Got 50 DMs from people saying they felt that Being real made me connect. Don’t overdo it, but don’t be a robot either.
Wrapping Up This Social Media Strategy Chaos
Building a social media strategy from scratch was like learning to skate—lots of falls, some bruises, and a few times I felt like a total boss My apartment still smells like spray paint and bad choices, but I’m making it work. Start small, be real, and don’t sweat the flops Check analytics, stick to a schedule, and talk to your people like they’re your homies. Wanna try it? Post something on X and tag me—I’ll hype you up, for real.
