More Clicks, More Customers, More Sales—With A Focused Effort

Good morning!

This week is a special one—today we hit 10,000+ faithful readers! We’re beyond grateful to have you here as we tackle real business challenges together. Whether you’ve been reading from day one or just hopped on board, thank you for being part of this journey!

Now, this week is flying by—here is our Tuesday Deep Dive:

1. More Clicks, More Customers, More Sales—With A Focused Effort
   (4 min read)

2. Dear TCoL: I need help but don’t want to hire a virtual assistant
   (1 min read)

Let’s get you set to raise your brand’s awareness and finish the week strong!

-TCoL

Missed our last feature article? “Corporate Transparency Act—Don’t file if...”

Read it here.

If you run a small business or recently launched an LLC, you already know this: social media is a moving target. One day, X (formerly Twitter) is shifting its algorithm; the next, TikTok is doubling down on short-form videos while new platforms like Bluesky promise decentralization. LinkedIn has a new 2025 algorithm (read our article here).

The real challenge isn’t just keeping up—it’s making every dollar and minute spent on social media count. ROI isn’t a buzzword; it’s survival. Here’s how you maximize it, without burning out or wasting resources.

Step 1: Pick your platform but pick smart—you don’t need to be everywhere.

Spreading yourself thin across X, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn weakens your impact and drains your resources. Instead, go where your customers already are and show up with purpose.

• Action Item: Spend 30 minutes this week researching where your audience hangs out. Selling handmade jewelry? Search X for hashtags like #HandmadeJewelry or #ShopSmall to see where buyers engage. Offering B2B bookkeeping services? Check LinkedIn groups where small business owners ask financial questions. What problem does your product solve? Search Reddit for who is asking. Free tools like Google Trends and TikTok’s Creative Center can help you spot platform-specific interest in your niche.

• Example: A new LLC selling eco-friendly pet products might find TikTok’s pet-loving community (think #PetTok, 1.2 billion views) far more engaged than X’s broader audience. Focus there first.

Once you pick a platform, commit. Half-hearted posting across five platforms won’t get you results. Consistent effort on one will.

Step 2: Lean Into Short-Form Video (Even If You Hate It)

Like it or not, video is the king of engagement. By 2025, Cisco predicts 82% of internet traffic will be video. Short-form clips (15-60 seconds) on TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts deliver outsized results with minimal investment.

• Action Item: Create three short videos this week. No fancy gear needed. Script: 10 seconds introducing your product/service, 30 seconds showing it in action (a customer unboxing your candle, you explaining a tax tip, etc.), and 20 seconds with a call-to-action (CTA) like “DM me to order” or “Link in bio for 10% off.” Use free editing apps like CapCut to add captions—80% of viewers watch muted.

• Example: A bakery LLC posts a 45-second Reel of dough rising, captioned “Fresh sourdough daily—order by 5 PM!” Last month, a similar tactic boosted a small baker’s sales by 15%, per their X post.

Post at peak times (your platform analytics will tell you when). If a video flops, tweak the CTA or hook and try again.

Peak Posting Times (All in Eastern Time, ET):

• TikTok: Tuesday–Thursday, 2 PM–6 PM

• Instagram: Monday–Friday, 11 AM–2 PM

• YouTube Shorts: Wednesday–Friday, 6 PM–9 PM

• X (Twitter): Monday–Thursday, 8 AM–10 AM

• LinkedIn: Tuesday–Thursday, 9 AM–12 PM

Step 3: Use AI Tools to Punch Above Your Weight

AI isn’t just for tech giants. Free or low-cost tools can automate posts, analyze performance, and generate content, saving you hours.

• Action Item: Sign up for Buffer (free tier) to schedule posts across platforms. Then, try ChatGPT (free) or Canva’s Magic Write ($15/month) to brainstorm captions. Example prompt: “Write five punchy captions for a coffee shop promoting a new latte.” Pair this with Later’s free analytics to see what’s working.

• Example: A new LLC selling custom planners used Buffer to schedule 10 X posts over two weeks, targeting 7 PM when their audience was active. Analytics showed a 3x increase in clicks versus random posting. Total cost: $0.

Start with one tool. Master it. Then add another. The goal is efficiency, not overwhelm.

Step 4: Build a Niche Community, Not Just Followers

Chasing followers is a vanity metric. Real ROI comes from engaged micro-communities who trust you. Think loyal customers, not faceless likes.

• Action Item: This week, reply to every comment or DM within 24 hours. Then, start a conversation. If you run a fitness LLC, post “What’s your biggest workout struggle?” on X or Instagram Stories and follow up with responders. Offer a quick tip or discount to the first five. Host a 15-minute Instagram Live Q&A next week—promote it three days ahead.

• Example: A soap-making business with 300 followers ran a “Soap Swap” contest on X, asking users to share their favorite scent for a chance to win. Engagement spiked 40%, and 10% of participants placed orders within a week. Cost: two bars of soap.

Engagement compounds. Turn strangers into advocates who amplify your reach for free.

Step 5: Measure What Matters (and Skip the Rest)

ROI isn’t a guessing game. Track metrics that tie to your goals—sales, leads, or foot traffic—not just likes.

• Action Item: Set up a free Linktree or similar link-in-bio tool with trackable URLs (e.g., bit.ly). Direct every post’s CTA there— “Shop now” or “Book a consult.” Check weekly: How many clicks? How many converted? If you spent $10 on a boosted post and made $50, that’s 5x ROI. Double down on what works, ditch what doesn’t.

• Example: A new LLC offering virtual yoga classes tracked 100 Linktree clicks from a TikTok video, with 10 sign-ups at $20 each. Cost: 2 hours filming. ROI: $200 profit. They cut X posts after seeing zero conversions there.

Review results every Friday for 10 minutes. Data beats intuition every time.

The Bottom Line is social media isn’t a slot machine—it’s a tool you can master.

For small business owners and fresh LLC founders, the shifting digital landscape of 2025 offers more opportunity than chaos. Pick your platform, embrace video, lean on AI, build a tribe, and measure relentlessly.

Start with one step today—say, filming that first video—and build momentum. Your ROI won’t just grow; it’ll prove you don’t need a big budget to win big.

We really hope this plan helps you. Make it your own based on your available time and budget.

And remember, we aren’t here to give you a perfect morning routine—The Co. Letter exists to help you improve efficiently, solve problems, and thrive. Period.

Dear TCoL: I need help but don’t want to hire a virtual assistant.

Question: I really need help but I don’t want to hire somebody virtually to write social media posts when I have had great success on my own. I also don’t want the commitment of hiring somebody and having to keep them busy. I own a small LLC and my social media is my only source of advertising. I just don’t think they will care as much as I do about each post. Any thoughts?

Answer: Your hesitation makes sense. Social media is your only advertising, and you want every post to reflect your style and standards.

But, if trust is the real issue, hiring someone—virtually or otherwise—might not solve your problem.

Have you fully explored AI tools like Grok, ChatGPT, or Perplexity? If their default outputs felt too rigid, you might not have customized them. Here’s a trick: feed 8–10 of your best posts into AI and tell it to “study and remember” the style as “Dave” (or whatever you want to call it). Then, ask for new posts written in "Dave" style. You may be surprised by how well AI can match your voice.

We’re not ruling out hiring help—just that you might want to get the most out of AI first. If you still want a human touch but don’t want the overhead of an employee, consider a local freelancer who understands you and your audience better than a virtual assistant.

Your time is valuable—spend it where it matters most.

Have an interesting business question and need a free bit of advice? Send your question to [email protected]. No confidential info, please!