Over the past few weeks, I’ve started to see similar Facebook posts popping up again. The post claims that Meta has changed its rules and that you need to copy and paste a statement onto your timeline to protect your photos and personal information.

This same post sometimes worded slightly differently appears every year or so and the good news is – it’s not true! It’s a hoax.

Why it’s not true.

When you create a Facebook account, you agree to Meta’s Terms of Service. Those terms explain how your content can be used to provide the service. A disclaimer on your timeline does not change the contract you’ve agreed to.

The post usually starts with something dramatic – designed specifically to get your attention and to make you panic about your personal data. Something like:

• Big day tomorrow…
• A lawyer has advised everyone to post this…
• This was on TV…

The posts I’ve seen start with ‘Don’t forget that tomorrow marks the start of the new Facebook rule, which allows them to use your photos….’ Here are a few more excerpts from the post…

• The violation of privacy can be punished by law.
• Every member must post a note like this.
• If you do not publish a statement at least once, it will be technically understood that you are allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in your profile status.
• I HEREBY DECLARE THAT I DO NOT GIVE MY PERMISSION FOR FACEBOOK OR META TO USE ANY OF MY PERSONAL DATA.

OK, let’s deal with this:

1. Posting a disclaimer doesn’t override Facebook’s Terms of Service
2. Real policy changes are announced through official channels, not randomly given to people to post with no evidence!
3. The post contains several red flags.

People often share these posts, not because they’re being gullible, but because they are genuinely worried for themselves and their friends. The post deliberately creates fear and urgency, so many just think, ‘well, it can’t hurt – I’ll post it just in case.’ I’ve done it myself in the past. Unfortunately, the more people post, the quicker the hoax spreads.

As a marketing coach, it’s a great marketing ploy showing why emotion drives people to share something!

• Fear – your photos will be used without your permission.
• Urgency – the deadline is today.
• Social proof – you see your friends and family posting it.
• Authority – a lawyer said – it was on TV etc.
• Simple to comply – just copy and paste.

These are all legitimate marketing principles, but in this case they’re being used to spread misinformation, rather than help people.  

Why do these posts keep appearing?

The simple answer is because they work!

Not because they’re true, but because they’re designed to make people react before they stop and think.

How to fact-check before sharing

• Look for official announcements on the ‘Meta Newsroom’ or ‘Meta for business news’ pages.
• Search whether independent fact checking organisations have covered it. You can do this on ‘Google Fact Check Explorer.’
• ALWAYS be cautious of anything that asks you to copy and paste instructions.
• Read it and ask whether it makes sense – often it’s very repetitive and really doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.

Why does this matter for small businesses?

As small business owners, it’s especially important to be careful about what we share. Sharing inaccurate information can affect your credibility – it’s better to say ‘I’ve seen this, (describe the post) and I’m not convinced it’s true, so I’m checking before I share. Or alert me and I’ll check for you!

Every post contributes to the trust we build with our audience, so taking a minute to check whether something is genuine is always worthwhile.

So, if you see one of these….PAUSE – THINK IF IT FEELS TRUE – VERIFY –

It’s worth remembering that protecting your privacy starts with your account settings – if you want more control over your data, the things that actually help are:

• Review your Facebook privacy settings.
• Limit who can see your posts and photos.
• Remove content you no longer want on the platform.
• Check your ad preferences and data settings.
• If you’re in the UK or EU, you have additional rights under data protection laws, such as requesting access to or deletion of certain personal data.

Remember – Social media is full of advice, opinions, rumours, and headlines competing for our attention. Some of it’s helpful. Some of it isn’t.

These posts aren’t shared because people are naïve. They’re shared because they appeal to our instinct to protect ourselves and the people we care about. The best thing we can do is pause, check the facts, and only share information we’re confident is accurate.

Have you seen this Facebook privacy post appearing in your feed? I’d love to know whether you’ve spotted any other social media myths or scams recently. Let me know in the comments.

I know what you’re thinking…Christmas? In July? However, I know that a lot of my followers who have small businesses DO get involved in this, so I thought I’d offer a helping hand for a Christmas in July campaign.

For most creative businesses, Christmas isn’t just another season, it’s the biggest sales opportunity of the year. And while December might feel a long way off, your customers are often planning much earlier than you think, especially in these times of economic hardship. The need to spread the cost over several months has become more urgent.

People start creating gift lists early and look out for special offers well before the festive rush begins.

That’s where a Christmas in July campaign comes in.

It’s not about putting up a tree and pretending it’s December – although I know my daughters would love that! It’s about creating excitement, building anticipation, and giving your audience a reason to start thinking about gifts before the Christmas season officially begins.

Better still, it’s a fantastic way to boost engagement during a quieter period, generate sales, and get your Christmas marketing plans moving before the last-minute panic kicks in.

Why run a Christmas in July campaign?

A Christmas in July promotion can help you:

• Generate sales during a slower season
• Clear older stock before Christmas collections launch
• Build excitement around upcoming products
• Grow your email list
• Encourage early gift shopping
• Test Christmas offers before the festive season
• Increase visibility and engagement on social media

Most people love Christmas and love any excuse to celebrate. I know I do!

Creative Christmas in July promotion ideas

Give slow-moving stock a festive makeover

Do you have products that haven’t had as much attention as you hoped they would – or have a few products left over from a previous campaign? Bundle them together and offer them as a ‘Christmas in July Special’ or create themed gift sets at a special price.

Sometimes all a product needs is a fresh story and a new angle.

Offer Christmas pre-orders

If you already know what products you’ll be launching for Christmas, give your audience an exclusive first look.

Share sneaky peeks, behind-the-scenes photos, or early product samples and invite customers to join a VIP waitlist or pre-order before anyone else.

Create an early bird bonus

Reward customers who shop early.

For example:

• Free gift wrapping
• Bonus mini product
• Exclusive Christmas design
• Early access to limited editions
• Free shipping over a certain spend

People love feeling special – don’t we all?

Launch Gift Vouchers

Gift vouchers are one of the easiest ways to generate revenue early.

Position them as:

‘Future Christmas shopping made easy.’

Customers can buy now and decide on the perfect gift later.

Run a festive giveaway

Everyone loves a giveaway.

Ask followers to:

• Comment with their favourite Christmas movie
• Tag a friend they’d shop with
• Share your post to stories
• Join your email list

The prize could be a Christmas product, a gift bundle, or a shopping voucher.

Host a Christmas in July live event

Go live on Instagram or Facebook and highlight:

• Bestselling products
• Christmas previews
• Gift ideas for different recipients
• Behind-the-scenes festive preparations

Live video helps customers visualise your products and ask questions in real time. I know a couple of people who do this regularly and it is highly successful for them.

Create stocking filler gift guides

One of the biggest challenges customers face is knowing what to buy.

Create content around:

• Gifts under £10
• Gifts for teachers
• Gifts for colleagues
• Secret Santa ideas
• Luxury stocking fillers

The easier you make gift buying, the more likely customers are to purchase.

Don’t forget your email list

Your email subscribers should always get the VIP treatment.

Consider offering:

• Early access to promotions
• First look at Christmas collections
• Exclusive discount codes
• Waitlist access
• Subscriber-only giveaways

A Christmas in July campaign is a great excuse to grow your email list before the festive season arrives.

Social Media Tips

Christmas in July works best when it’s fun.

Think tropical Christmas vibes rather than traditional December marketing.

Mix festive elements with summer imagery:

• Santa in sunglasses on a beach, sipping a cocktail!
• Christmas cocktails
• Beach towels and baubles
• Palm trees with fairy lights
• Festive backgrounds but in bright summer colours

The contrast is eye-catching and instantly stops people scrolling.

Most importantly, focus on creating conversations rather than constantly selling.

Ask questions, run polls, share behind-the-scenes content, and invite your audience to help choose products, packaging, or Christmas designs.

The goal isn’t just Christmas sales.

The goal is building excitement, gathering future customers, and making sure your business is top of their minds when holiday shopping begins.

Conclusion

Christmas in July isn’t about rushing the festive season.

It’s about giving your audience a reason to engage, shop, and plan ahead.

Whether you’re launching pre-orders, building a waiting list, clearing stock, or simply having some fun on social media, a Christmas in July campaign can help you create momentum long before the Christmas rush begins.

And when December arrives, you’ll be glad you started early.

If you need help with building your Christmas campaign from now onwards, get in touch and we can start preparing an action plan with post ideas and content.

Contact me for a free, no-obligation chat.

We all know that social media can help us attract new customers, build brand awareness, and generate sales, but knowing where to start – or how to stay consistent – can feel overwhelming. How many times have you sat there staring at a blank screen or blank paper?

That’s why social media marketing challenges have become so popular. They provide structure, support, and accountability to help business owners take action and see real results.

Here are some of the biggest benefits of taking part in a social media marketing challenge.

Be clear on what to post

One of the biggest barriers to consistent marketing is not knowing what content to create.

A social media challenge helps remove the guesswork by giving you clear prompts, strategies, and tasks each day. Instead of spending hours wondering what to post, you’ll have a plan that helps you create content that connects with your audience and supports your business goals.

The result? Less stress and more confidence.

Increase your visibility

You can’t attract customers if they don’t know you exist.

Consistent posting helps your business stay visible to both existing followers and potential new customers. A challenge encourages you to show up regularly, increasing the chances of your ideal audience discovering your business.

The more visible you are, the more opportunities you create for conversations, enquiries, and sales.

Build better habits

Successful marketing isn’t about posting perfectly, it’s about showing up consistently.

A challenge helps you develop sustainable habits around content creation and marketing. Over the course of several days, you’ll see how to create content more efficiently and get new ideas on how to make content that will make it easier for you to incorporate it into your routine.

Over the course of the past few years, when I’ve hosted a few challenges, I’m told that it gives businesses a different perspective and helps them see that finding ideas for posts isn’t as difficult as they thought.

Learn what works

Social media trends come and go, but it’s actually the basics of marketing that helps create long-term success.

A challenge can help you create content that engages your audience, builds trust, and encourages action. You’ll see how to use different types of content strategically rather than posting randomly and hoping for the best.

This means you’ll spend less time on ineffective marketing activities and more time doing what delivers results.

Your confidence grows

Many business owners worry about being visible online. They question whether their content is good enough, whether people will engage with it, or whether they’re saying the right things…that old imposter syndrome chestnut!

Taking part in a challenge helps you overcome these doubts by encouraging you to take action every day. As you post, engage, and receive feedback, your confidence naturally grows.

The more you show up, the easier it becomes.

Connect with other businesses 

It can sometimes feel very isolating running a small business. You don’t have the luxury of being in an office where you can bounce ideas off other people. This is the bit I struggled with the most at the beginning.

One of the most valuable aspects of a social media challenge is the opportunity to connect with other business owners who are on a similar journey. Sharing wins, challenges, ideas, and encouragement can make a huge difference to your motivation and progress.

We all have our crowd, those who interact with us regularly. A challenge can help you make new connections, collaborations, and friendships as well as new marketing skills.

Generate leads and sales

Ultimately, marketing should help your business grow.

When you improve your visibility, create stronger content, and build trust with your audience, enquiries and sales often follow. While results vary from business to business, many challenge participants find they attract new followers, increase engagement, generate leads, and make sales during or shortly after the challenge.

The key is taking consistent action and implementing what you learn.

Creating a momentum

Sometimes all you need is a focused period of action to create momentum – I’m not saying this is what everyone needs, but it can help those who do struggle with regularly finding content without struggling.

A challenge gives you a reason to prioritise your marketing and make progress every day. Small actions quickly add up, helping you move from feeling stuck and overwhelmed to feeling motivated and in control of your marketing.

That momentum often continues long after the challenge has ended.

Are you ready?

If you’ve been struggling with your marketing, are fed up with staring at that blank page not sure what to post, or if you want more visibility, a social media marketing challenge could be exactly what you need.

In just a few days, you can gain clarity, confidence, consistency, and see how a planned content strategy can help your business get noticed.

Your audience is out there; they just need to find you! If you’d like to join the 10-day social media marketing challenge starting on 15 June, click on the link below and you’ll get a free PDF that takes you through all the suggested posts and how you can use them for your business for the full 10 days. I’d love to see you there.

Having a beautiful stall is important, but making sales is what it’s all about when you pay for a stall at a market or fair. It’s much more than just displaying beautiful products, even though this is important!

The most successful sellers know how to create conversations, connect emotionally with customers, and make people feel confident about buying.

Here are some simple but effective ways to sell more at craft fairs and markets.

First Impressions Matter

Customers decide within seconds whether they want to stop at your stall.

Ask yourself:

• Does your display look welcoming?
• Can people immediately tell what you sell?
• Are your prices visible?
• Is your branding clear?
• Does your stall feel approachable?

A bright, tidy, uncluttered display instantly feels more professional.

Don’t Hide Behind Your Table

One of the biggest mistakes stallholders make is sitting silently behind their display waiting for customers to speak first.

You don’t need a hard sales pitch, but a friendly greeting goes a long way.

Simple conversation starters work well:

• “Hi, feel free to have a browse.”
• “Everything here is handmade by me.”
• “Those are one of my bestselling items.”

People buy from people — especially at handmade markets.

Tell Stories About Your Products

Stories create emotional connection, and emotional connection helps people buy.

Instead of simply describing what something is, explain:

• How it was made
• What inspired it
• Where the materials came from
• Why it’s special

For example:

“This jewellery is made using sea glass I collected from the Cornish coast.”

That feels much more personal and memorable than simply saying “sea glass necklace.”

Appeal to the Senses

Whenever possible, encourage customers to interact with your products.

People are more likely to buy when they can:

• Touch
• Smell
• Taste
• Try
• Experience

For example:

• Encourage people to feel soft fabrics
• Let customers smell candles or soaps
• Offer food samples if appropriate
• Display products out of boxes where possible

The more connected people feel to a product, the easier it is for them to imagine owning it.

Offer Lower-Priced Items Too

Not every customer arrives ready to make a large purchase.

Having a few smaller, affordable products can:

• Encourage impulse buys
• Attract children and gift shoppers
• Increase overall sales
• Introduce new customers to your brand

Often a small first purchase leads to larger future orders.

Make It Easy for Customers to Find You Again

Many people won’t buy immediately.

That doesn’t mean they aren’t interested.

Make it easy for customers to reconnect with your business later by displaying:

• Your Instagram handle
• A website QR code
• An email signup QR code
• Business cards or thank you cards

Customers often look businesses up online while standing at the stall, so make sure your social media is active and up to date.

Build Repeat Customers

One market sale can become several future sales if you stay connected.

Consider offering:

• A simple loyalty card
• A discount for repeat purchases
• A newsletter signup incentive
• Early access to new collections
• Exclusive offers for subscribers

Email marketing is still one of the best ways to encourage repeat business.

Useful tools include Mailchimp, Mailerlite and Substack. I personally use Mailerlite, but some of my clients use Mailchimp. I’ve never used Substack, but it is very popular.

Create Content During the Event

Markets are brilliant opportunities for social media content.

Take photos or short videos of:

• Your stall setup
• Your products
• Busy moments during the day
• Packaging orders
• Behind-the-scenes moments

This content helps you continue generating interest and sales long after the event has finished.

Conclusion

Selling successfully at markets isn’t about being pushy. It’s about creating a welcoming experience, telling stories, and helping customers connect emotionally with what you make.

When people enjoy interacting with your stall, they’re far more likely to buy from you — and remember you afterwards. And the more markets you do, the more confident and natural those conversations become.

Good luck and happy selling!