🎧 Listen to this blog post as a Podcast instead #90 - How To Stop Spending 2 Hours On a Post That Gets 12 Views

If you’ve ever found yourself spending hours in Canva, tweaking fonts and colours, only to post something that gets… crickets - this episode is for you.

I’m walking you through a simple, six-step workflow to create scroll-stopping social posts in 20 minutes or less - that actually lead to sales. You’ll learn how to:
✨ Pin down the exact buyer moment your post needs to speak to
✨ Choose the right angle (pain, feeling, or transformation)
✨ Write a hook that stops the scroll in 3 seconds flat
✨ Use the REI method to write your captions faster
✨ Add share/save triggers that double your reach
✨ Create visuals that attract buyers - without fancy gear

If your content feels like a full-time job with part-time results, this workflow will change everything.

💡 Want all your hooks, captions, Canva templates, and shot lists done for you every month?
Join the Social Media Sidekick (SMS) – it’s your shortcut to consistent, strategic content that sells:
👉 https://www.handmadebosses.com/sms 

🪄 How To Stop Spending 2 Hours On a Post That Gets 12 Views

(And Start Creating Content That Actually Leads to Sales)

Let’s be honest - spending two hours in Canva for a post that barely gets seen is soul-destroying. You tweak, you adjust, you obsess over the font… and then? Twelve views. Two likes. Maybe a comment from your aunt.

If that sounds familiar, this blog is your fix. Because pretty posts don’t equal persuasive posts - and the good news is, writing scroll-stopping, sales-driving content doesn’t need to take you all day.

I’m going to walk you through a simple 6-step workflow to write, design, and post in 20 minutes or less - without sacrificing quality or creativity.

🕐 Step 1: Pin Down the “Buyer Moment”

Before you write a single word, ask yourself:

What is my customer doing in the 30 seconds before she sees this post?

That’s your buyer moment.

Maybe she’s finally sat down at 9pm with a cuppa after putting the kids to bed. Or she’s doom-scrolling on her lunch break, looking for a small treat.

When you know what your customer’s thinking and feeling right before she lands on your post, you’ll know exactly what to say to make her stop scrolling.

🪞 Example:

If you sell candles - “It’s 9pm. The house is quiet. You finally get five minutes to yourself.”

That’s connection. That’s emotion. That’s what hooks people.

🎯 Step 2: Choose Your Content Angle

Every post should have one clear purpose - and that purpose usually fits into one of these three angles:

1️⃣ Relieve a pain – Solve a problem your audience struggles with.

“Candle tunneling? Fix it in one burn.”

2️⃣ Create a feeling – Evoke emotion or atmosphere.

“Your Sunday reset, but it smells like cinnamon buns.”

3️⃣ Show a transformation – A quick before-and-after moment.

“Before: dull glaze. After: handmade glow.”

Pick one, stick with it, and keep it simple.

⚡ Step 3: Write a 3-Second Hook

You’ve got three seconds to make someone stop scrolling. Use it wisely.

Here are three formulas that never fail:

• Call-out: “If your candles keep tunneling, this will save you money.”
  
  
• Mini-scene: “It’s raining. Kettle on. This scent is the hug you need.”
  
  
• Challenge: “Pretty feed, zero sales? Here’s the fix.”
  
  

Keep it short (5–7 words) and make it matter.

✏️ Step 4: Build Your Caption With REI

Think of this as your go-to formula for writing fast, engaging captions:

R – Relate: One or two lines that make your reader feel seen.

E – Educate: A tip, story, or insight that helps them.

I – Invite: A soft call to action, like “Find it via the link in bio.”

🧶 Example:

If your blanket curls at the edges, it’s not you - it’s the stitch.

Switch to a larger hook on the border. It relaxes the edge.

Want the cozy blue one from the video? It’s in the link in bio.

Simple. Helpful. Sell-y without sounding salesy.

💾 Step 5: Add a Save or Share Trigger

Don’t just post and hope. Add a line that gives people a reason to save your content or share it.

Try:

• “Save this for your next pour.”
  
  
• “Tag a friend who always burns candles wrong.”
  
  
• “Screenshot this size guide before you order.”
  
  

That one line can double your reach.

🎥 Step 6: Create Your Visual in 3 Moves

No fancy gear. No studio. Just your phone and a window for natural light.

Here’s your visual formula:

1️⃣ Start with motion – Light a candle, pour wax, lift a mug from the kiln.

2️⃣ Add a close-up – Texture, glaze, sparkle, flame.

3️⃣ Overlay your hook text – 5–7 words from your caption’s first line.

Done. Quick, natural, and effective.

💡 Bonus: Be More Lydia, Less Sam

Sam spends hours perfecting her Canva designs. Her posts are pretty… but quiet.

Lydia? She spends 20 minutes using this exact workflow. Her posts are clear, human, and consistent - and her engagement keeps growing.

You don’t need to post daily or master every trend. You just need a plan that helps you post smarter, not harder.

🚀 Want to Skip All the Overthinking?

If you love this workflow but wish someone could just do it for you - captions, templates, shot lists and all - that’s exactly what the Social Media Sidekick (SMS) is for.

It’s your monthly shortcut to consistent, strategic content that actually sells. You’ll get:

✅ Plug-and-post captions that sound like you

✅ Canva templates ready to personalise

✅ Hooks, hashtags, and prompts that attract buyers

✅ New strategies every month - without the overwhelm

All for just £34.99/month.

👉 Join the Social Media Sidekick here and spend less time staring at a blank screen and more time running your handmade business like the pro you are.

Love Steph & Team HB xox

👋 Welcome everyone! My name is Steph, I've been running my handmade business full time on Etsy since 2016, and I'm here to help you! 

🧡 I'll help you to start an Etsy shop, Etsy ads, show you how to sell more on Etsy, get to grips with Etsy SEO, Etsy branding, Etsy product ideas, finding your target market, identifying your niche and many many more.

🛍️ If you have an Etsy shop or your own website selling handmade products, or want to start one, this is THE channel you need to be subscribed to!

💰 I help makers start, run and scale their handmade businesses. Turning them from an expensive hobby to profitable businesses making 4 and 5 figure months on Etsy and your own website.

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✨ Work with us for deeper transformative results

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