If you have ever felt, even for a second, like social media just isn’t worth the trouble, this one’s for you.
Feeling like you want to throw in the towel and call it quits on social media is a totally normal feeling for business owners (which, FYI, that’s you if you have a cosmetology license). It can be so frustrating if you feel like you’re putting amazing content out there, but it’s not getting likes, saves, comments, or really any engagement at all.
But social media is getting more and more popular by the day. Recent studies show that in 2017, people spent nearly 135 minutes a day on social media. That number is projected to creep up to 153 as more recent data is analyzed.
This means you need to have a strong social media presence to keep your business stable and thriving. But how are you supposed to do that when you can’t get their attention?
Think of social media like a cocktail party. If you sit in the corner and don’t talk to anyone, no one’s going to talk to you. But if you sit down and engage with your followers, meet some new people, the word will spread about your business.
Let’s dig into some major mistakes that you could be making that are holding you back from making big things happen online.
You aren’t making time to engage with your followers
Imagine you’re at a networking event and someone comes up to you and asks you a question about your business. Do you answer their question and open up a conversation or just stare at them blankly until they go away?
Pretty obvious, right? You open up the conversation and make a connection.
It’s the same thing if a follower comments on your social media post, but you don’t respond. They’ve walked up and initiated a conversation, but if you don’t meet them halfway, they’ll find someone who does.
You don’t interact on other social media accounts
You can’t be the wallflower waiting in the corner of the room for other people to come talk to you. You have to get out there, introduce yourself over the cheese plate, and strike up a conversation over the punch bowl.
Instead of waiting for someone to come and comment on your posts, reach out to other accounts and start conversations on theirs. Leave meaningful comments and questions, not just “Pretty color!”
Getting out there and interacting with other social media accounts helps expose your brand to more people and gets you on your target market’s radar.
You mindlessly scroll
There’s nothing wrong with a mindless scroll through social media every now and again, but if you’re getting on a platform to post content and engage with your followers, stick to it.
Why? Because mindlessly scrolling through your feed only wastes your time.
Instead, go in with intention. Set a timer, do what you need to do (post, respond to comments, interact with other accounts), and get off.
Slowing or stopping your social media accounts to cut down on clients
Sometimes the temptation to slow down or even stop your social media efforts is too much, right? You tell yourself you’ll it’s only temporary, just at least until you have time/energy/everything is under control again.
If you slow down or stop your social media activity, you will fully pay the price.
Taking a break on social media is doomsday. Because when you slow down online, your marketing funnel (aka how clients find you) will slow down and eventually stop. So take a moment, remember why you’re continuing to show up for those amazing clients you love, and know if you’re overwhelmed, it’s totally understandable.
When you are marketing to grow a business, it is an ever-evolving slope. You constantly have to up-level – shift your schedule, raise your prices, redefine your target market – but you can’t stop your social media.
Once you stop making these big mistakes and start to get a response from your followers, you find a rhythm with social media. It doesn’t feel so painful, but easy and fun when you start to see a return on your time investment.
So grab your drink and join the party!
Want to dig deeper into Instagram’s latest features and how to use them? Click here!