Organic Social Media Success IS Possible!

Have you ever been told that it's impossible for your social media posts to gain serious traction, without spending $ on sponsored ads? While ever-changing algorithms can have an impact on how your posts are seen by existing and potential followers, organic posts are still very successful. You do NOT have to spend money for online ads, especially if that takes you beyond your marketing budget.

Take this post (pictured below) for example, would you believe it reached a massive 226.9k people on Facebook, with 3.2k reactions? The same post reached 11.4k people on Instagram, with 837 likes. Zero dollars spent. We have managed this account for @leodasmaui for almost six years and our posts normally reach audiences of at least five figures. In 2022, this account reached 998.5k people on FB, with a further 287k ppl on IG. Again, zero paid advertising dollars spent.

The key to getting your posts to reach far and wide without spending heavily on advertising is fairly straightforward:

• Engage your followers, respond to their messages and comments. If you grow and nurture your online community, they will become your biggest advocates

• Make good use of User Generated Content (UGC). Customers/guests create some incredible content, as seen in the picture above. This image was taken by a guest—we asked for permission, tagged it correctly, and reposted

• Use “National Days” and events to your advantage. The picture above uses the #nationaldessertday hashtag - be on the lookout for national and international days like this, adding those hashtags can really further the reach for your content

• Be consistent. Over the course of the last six years, we have posted consistently for this client, using a recognizable online voice, a strong sense of branding, and regular post timing. It works!

• Of course, it helps if your subject matter is something highly photogenic that everyone loves, in the case of dessert from Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop!

If you would like to learn more, or feel like you need help achieving your social media marketing goals, please get in touch!

Imua Family Services

We recently had the good fortune of meeting the incredible team at Imua Family Services—a Maui non-profit organization that provides early developmental services for children with special needs, as well as support and resources for their families.

“Imua Family Services’ mission is to, ‘Empower children and their families to reach their full potential.’ Our programs and staff assist children and their families overcome developmental learning challenges in their most critical formative years using play-based instruction designed to help them move forward.”

We were blown away when we found out about the work that Imua carries out here in Maui County and, needless to say, we were delighted and honored to work with them on two very different fundraising projects in the first half of 2017.

Imua Family Services' main headquarters in Kahului, Maui.

The first was the Imua Ball, an annual fundraising gala held at the Hyatt Regency Maui. This year’s event, the Platinum Jubilee, celebrated 70 years of operation for the non profit.

Cake Media were there to help with social media, mostly in managing Imua’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts on the day of the event. Taking on Imua's voice and using it across all our posts, we built up anticipation in the hours leading up to the ball, then covered the festivities as they happened. Our aim was to raise awareness, while encouraging engagement, new followers and—importantly—donations. You can still donate by the way, right here!

We were also taken on by Imua to manage a team of local social media influencers who were helping to get the word out, thank sponsors and spread the use of the #imuaball hashtag. Cake Media had pre-prepared event guides, with key information about the Ball, its performers and key event sponsors and were on hand to provide support as and when needed.

Social Media Prep Kits, created for the Maui influencers.

The second time we worked with Imua was Saturday May 6 on the 2017 Bluesmiths Paddle Imua, a race from Maliko Gulch to Kahului Harbor. The annual downwinder is open to a number of disciplines, including outrigger canoes (OC-1, OC-2, OC-6), Stand-up Paddle Boards (SUP), Surf Skis, Prone Boards and Hydrofoil SUP.

All funds raised from this event go to Camp Imua—a week-long camp for Imua’s children aged 6 to 16. Here they have an opportunity to do all kinds of fun activities such as horseback riding, ziplining and flying in a helicopter, to name just a few.   

We know the Maliko race well, having paddled it ourselves a handful of times in an OC-6 and we were in our element working at this event, considering our mutual love of paddling and Laura’s passion for and history of covering sports (yep-that’s my first love! – LG)

Image courtesy of Paddle Imua

Based at the finish line, Jenny took on the social accounts for Imua Family services – covering the day’s events from a human-interest angle that would make sense to existing and potential followers. 

Starting at the Maliko Gulch start line before zipping back to Kahului Harbor to see the athletes cross the finish line, Laura took over the social pages for Paddle Imua, sharing content before, during and after the race. Laura’s content was geared more towards people that might have been entering the race, paddlers, sponsors, water people, etc – focusing less on the human interest angle and more on the sport, the conditions, the athletes and the action. Taking on different “voices” for the clients and the respective social media pages that we manage is something that we love to do.

To make a long story short, we had a blast. We relish new challenges and what could be better than working with such an incredible organization and cause? 

For more on Imua Family Services and Paddle Imua, give them a follow on Instagram!

Thanks for reading! Laura and Jenny