Week 16 Part A: Developing Your Marketing Strategy

Looking back, one of the biggest mistakes I made was deleting my Facebook account. At the time, I really didn’t think it had much value anymore. I assumed everyone had moved on and that platforms like Instagram and TikTok had taken over. But this class helped me realize that Facebook still has a lot of power for business. It’s where people leave reviews, share recommendations, and join groups that are actually full of potential clients. I couldn’t fully explore how useful it could be because I deleted it too soon, but once JEWELS AI Consulting is up and running, I’ll be using it again for sure. I can see how it could be a great place to build real community and trust.

Instagram, on the other hand, gave me some interesting insight. I assumed hashtags weren’t that helpful anymore, but that turned out to be wrong. When I started paying more attention to hashtags and experimenting with how I searched for content, it became clear that they still play a big role in visibility. Posts with well-chosen hashtags tended to bring in more traffic. But I also noticed that Reels often do better without them. I think this is because Instagram is already prioritizing Reels in its algorithm and pushing them out based on engagement and sound trends. So instead of stuffing Reels with hashtags, it feels better to focus on creating something short, relatable, and scroll-stopping. That approach seems to get more views naturally.

Google Analytics impressed me the most. Even just researching what it can do made me realize how valuable it will be for my business. Being able to track where my visitors are coming from, how long they’re staying, what they’re clicking on, and whether they’re taking action like signing up or reaching out, that kind of data is everything. Once I have a solid business plan and website in place, I’ll be investing in it without a doubt. It lines up perfectly with the work I want to do for others, using AI to simplify decisions and automate smarter.

I didn’t use a ton of different platforms this semester, but I spent a lot of time researching tools that align with what I’m building. Simplified stood out to me. Even though I haven’t used it yet, I can see how helpful it would be in the future. It combines design, content writing, and scheduling all in one place, which is perfect for someone like me who wants to do more with less. It’s the kind of tool I’d recommend to clients who feel overwhelmed by social media and need something intuitive and efficient.

For JEWELS AI Consulting, I think spending around two to three hours a week on social media is realistic. That includes planning, scheduling posts, checking in, and responding when needed. I want to be present, but I also want to automate what I can. Social media should support my business, not run it. As I grow, I’ll use AI tools to create content in batches and stay consistent without burning out.

This class helped me see where my assumptions were off and gave me space to test what actually works. Now I feel more confident moving forward with a strategy that’s thoughtful, manageable, and based on what I’ve seen and learned firsthand.