Social Media Tips for Pole Businesses Just Starting Out

Social media marketing may seem confusing and overwhelming sometimes.

It is still a great way to find new clients for pole-based businesses as part of a wholistic marking plan.

Here are some tips from IPIA’sown social media manager, Kelsey Truex. Kelsey is a graphic designer, pole dancer, and Meta-certified expert. IPIA members can view her whole webinar for free here.

Kelsey has a six-step approach to working with clients on their social media marketing. The focus of this post is on Instagram, but all the tips can be applied to your favorite social platform.

Which platform should you be on? Whichever your clients are on!

Strategy First

Before meeting with your social media manager or before starting your own adventure in social media marketing, figure out what you plan to contribute to the social media space.

Are you going to post training tips? Performance videos? Clothing and costumes? Have an idea of what you’d like to post and how often you’d like to post.

People may tell you that “the algorithm” wants you to post every day, or every other day, but really all anyone knows about the constantly changing algorithm on any platform is that the algorithm rewards consistency. Find a rhythm that works for you.

Content Creation Tips

Batch creation is the key to avoiding burnout.

Set aside dedicated time to create multiple posts at once, rather than scrambling daily.

Pay attention to these details:

• Sizing: Using the right size photos and videos for a specific platform will make your feed look more professional.
• Captions: Should be short and descriptive; the algorithm looks for keywords in addition to hashtags.
• Hashtags: Use a strategic mix of hashtags and keywords; just because hashtags aren’t the only game in town doesn’t mean they’re totally irrelevant.

Make sure your content is on brand. There are lots of free and low-cost tools (more on that below!) that you can use, just try to modify them a bit so you don’t wind up looking like everyone else.

Posting Effectively

The algorithm rewards consistency regardless of platform.

The two most common ways to post are manually or scheduling posts.

Posting manually has the benefit of you already being in the app—ready to interact with your followers as they interact with your post.

Scheduling posts has the benefit of being incredibly consistent, but you may not be there in the crucial first few hours where the algorithm will reward interactions. You can schedule in Meta if you have a business profile or with a social media scheduler tool like Metricool, Hootsuite, or Sprout Social.

Remember that the algorithm constantly evolves but consistently rewards genuine engagement and regular posting.

Analytics That Matter

If you have a business account, especially on Meta platforms, there are business analytics in the app that you can review and track.

It’s worth tracking what material does well and what doesn’t. Adapting to your audience is a must.

Remember, it is possible to make money and not have a lot of followers at the same time. Find the metrics that help you connect from marketing to sales.

Maximize Resources

Lean in to features within the apps like:

• Tagging and location check-ins
• Collaborative posts
• Trending audio
• Polls and story stickers (these extend interaction time)

This features can increase engagement.

Check out free or low cost resources to look professional at this post and in this one.

Don’t forget about your community connections in real life or people you’ve met on social media! There are so many creative people in the pole industry that could help you improve your social media marketing.

Remember while AI (probably) isn’t coming for your job as a pole instructor, use AI wisely—always proofread any AI-generated content for captions and limit AI-generated images. If you do use AI-generated images, identify when an image is AI generated or edited in the app.

Dealing with Shadowbanning

In 2023, Instagram’s CEO finally acknowledged the practice of “shadowbanning” (thanks to Blogger on Pole, IPIA members can view her webinar on this topic for free).

Shadow banning is where platforms limit visibility without notifying creators.

If you suspect shadowbanning (sudden drop in follower interactions), try these actions:

1. Check your account/page status in settings
2. Look for yellow or red alerts on posts and investigate what actions need to be taken
3. You can appeal the decision, though appeals are lengthy.

There is still a lot of question marks about shadowbanning and things are changing all the time. In early 2025, Meta announced they would do less content moderation. It’s unclear how this will impact (positively or negatively) the pole industry.

Final Tips

If you found these tips helpful, you’re already on your way to improving your social media presence!

If you feel you need more help, reach out to a social media specialist, like Kelsey.

Kelsey can be found on her website: https://www.kelseytruexdesign.com/