Words matter. You know it and I know it. Christian authors make their living from knowing it.

Unlike the rest of the world, Christian writers know words drive their online reputations. Sure, slick designs are pretty. We all like beautiful photography and bold features.

But words and wordsmithing are always going to get the bulk of a reader’s attention. They should get yours, too.

Are you using yours well? More importantly, are you using yours consistently?

If you fail to execute your social media posting plan, you're stuck on start. Click To Tweet

Christian writers owe it to their readers to suit up and show up every day. You owe them daily posts on your social media channels, weekly emails and monthly blogs (at least). Content is king, as the saying goes. But consistency is most certainly queen.

Why Christian Writers Don’t Post to Social Media Consistently

Consistency is tough, though. I hear it all the time from the authors I advise. Here are the top three reasons authors give me for why they aren’t posting to social media consistently:

1. They don’t have enough time to post;
2. They don’t get enough response to justify making time to post
3. They don’t know what to say when they do post

Some time ago, I posted a poll on Facebook asking followers why they weren’t consistent on social media.

The responses were split between “not enough time” and “not enough response.”

These results led me to publish my longest blog article to date, the Ultimate Guide to Creating Social Media Content. The article is a monster…it’s a comprehensive guide of why you should create social media content consistently, how to do it and what type of content is most effective.

No time to read a 5,000-word article about posting to social media?

Consider this article the next best thing.

Why Christian Writers Struggle With Social Media Consistency

Christian writers struggle with posting to social media for the following reasons:

1. They don’t understand the format
2. They don’t make it a priority
3. They have unrealistic expectations

Posting to social media requires a different slant than many writers are accustomed to. It takes practice, a lot of it, before you get the hang of what words work best with your readers. Meanwhile, you already feel like you don’t have enough hours in the day to do what you want — and what you need.

Bold truth: Strong reader relationships require a strategy, a plan and consistent execution.

You don’t have to be Beth Moore or Jen Hatmaker. Nobody expects that of you. But you do have to set yourself apart from everyone else striving to encourage and empower Christian women.

Even if you’re a prolific writer and speaker, you have to dedicate time to your social media strategy. It takes time to repurpose your blog articles into emails and social media posts, especially if you intend to do it well. However, this is time well spent because it builds deeper connections with your readers!

Set a Goal for Posting to Social Media Consistently

If you want a solid social media strategy, start with the end in mind.

Ask yourself:

• What is your goal?
• What does success look like?
• How will I know I’ve won?
• How long am I willing to wait for results?
• What numbers matter most?

Goal setting is about being kind to yourself! Know your goals. Make a plan. Execute the plan and reach your goals faster than you thought you could.

Create a Plan to Achieve Your Goal

There’s best practices and realistic practices. Each of us has to find our own middle ground.

You KNOW you should post to social media every day. If that’s not realistic for you, you need to figure out what small step you can now to get closer to the ideal of daily posting. Or consider hiring help.

Something is better than nothing — but whatever you choose to do, you have to be consistent. Any algorithm-based platform is going to rank consistent activity higher than inconsistent activity.

Execute the Plan You Create

If you fail to execute your social media posting plan, you’re stuck on start.

No matter how big or small your plan is, commit to following it for 30 to 90 days. The longer you do it, the better data you can collect on what works and what doesn’t. After 90 days, take a hard look at the numbers to see what changes can be made to amplify your successes.

If you don’t know how to read your data or what numbers matter, find someone who does. You can phone a friend, hire it out or join my Facebook Group on thriving online communities. The focus over there is online communities and the successful management of them, but I host regular live coaching sessions where you’re welcome to ask me just about anything.