August’s Content Creation Circle at Salford Innovation Forum was our busiest session so far. This monthly event is one of the best social media workshops for small businesses in Salford, giving freelancers, entrepreneurs, and marketing beginners practical tools to grow their online presence.
With Artur away this month, I (Sarah, SIF’s receptionist and the person behind our social media and website articles) stepped in to host. I am completely self-taught when it comes to social media, having run the socials for my own small business a few years ago, so I love sharing what I have learned and helping others feel confident with content.
Who Joined Our August Workshop
We had a fantastic mix of attendees this month:
- Caroline – Project Coordinator
- Omai – Retired, focusing on charity social media and tips for the retirement community
- Alero – Marketing & Comms Intern
- Ola – Videographer
- Marcus – Regular visitor, keen to start creating content
- Julie – Administrator from the building, first-time attendee
- Mamun – Tech Ops Manager, eager to grow on LinkedIn
This diverse group made for lively discussions and plenty of fresh ideas.
Social Media Tools and Scheduling Tips
This session focused on the creative and scheduling side of content creation, rather than just AI tools. One key takeaway was that good ideas do not need a big budget. Start with free plans and experiment until you find what works.
Our group shared their favourite content scheduling tools:
- Agorapulse
- Asana
- Buffer
- Publer
- Hootsuite
Everyone agreed that the best tool is the one that fits your workflow, and sometimes the free plan is enough to get started.
Content Creation Ideas for Small Business Owners
One of the highlights was brainstorming ideas for Marcus, who is not ready to share his current project online yet. He is currently doing a beekeeping course which we all thought would make amazing, unique content.
We also helped Omai build her confidence with filming. Ola shared practical tips on what equipment to use and suggested simple ways to start creating video content. We encouraged Omai to record conversations and use AI to turn them into posts, and to share her own retirement story for relatable, inspiring content.
Mamun was interested in growing his LinkedIn presence, so we discussed how personal profiles often perform better than company pages, and how LinkedIn is best for selling yourself as an individual, not just a business.
Key Takeaways for Social Media Success
- Start small: Free tools are perfect when you are just getting started
- Tell your story: Relatable content builds strong engagement
- Repurpose content: Save time by turning one idea into multiple posts
- Lean on others: Collaboration sparks creativity and confidence
Why You Should Join Our Social Media Workshops
Our August Content Creation Circle proved just how powerful a supportive, creative group can be. Attendees left with fresh ideas, new connections, and the confidence to try new things on social media.
If you are looking for social media workshops for small businesses in Salford, this is your invitation to join us next month. Whether you are a small business owner, freelancer, or just curious about content creation, we would love to see you! Click here to visit our event bright page and sign up to our next event.
Sarah Taylor
Customer Experience Assistant
