A Guide To Conquering the Biggest Social Media Obstacles
We have a love-hate relationship with social media. We love that it connects us with so many incredible people and brands but we hate the emotional string that ties it to us. We love that it is ever changing but we hate that it never sleeps (AKA no breaks for us). We love its accessibility but hate its obstacles.
Social media is its own beast and with every beast comes challenges. Here, we put together a simple guide to help you conquer social media obstacles and tame your brand’s social media monster.
Obstacle: Finding your voice in a sea of voices
Solution: Establishing your voice in the social media world is like trying to be heard during a family game of Catch Phrase… x10,000. Social media has proven to be an amazing platform for sharing your thoughts, opinions, and ideas with the digital community, but as these platforms grow and expand, more voices come with it. With the sheer number of daily active social media users, there is an abyss of lost voices in the cyber world. The first and most important step to take when finding your voice is to reflect on your brand. The brand is unique because you created it and you are a one of a kind. Use this to your advantage. What are the characteristics of your brand that set you apart from the others? What is your personality of your brand? With whom does your brand connect? What are your brand’s core values? If you need help answering these questions, feel free to download our helpful Brand Values Brainstorming Guide HERE! Asking yourself these questions will start to create a list of power words that will describe your brand’s identity. From there you are able to develop your voice and translate it into social media.
Utilize your brand’s distinct identity, fashion your brand’s voice, and be heard!
Obstacle: Creating original content
Solution: All social media platforms are completely saturated with massive amounts of content: photos, videos, tutorials, etc. Developing original and fresh social media content that hasn’t been seen before may feel like an impossible task. During those defeated moments, take a step away from your computer and get your creative juices pumping outside of your workspace. There are times when some of the best ideas come after a walk outside, during a coffee break, or chatting with a friend. It can be so easy to get caught up in the creative trends and movements of the digital world and feel stuck in the repetition of it all. Feed your mind with real-world creativity and art.
Your most interesting and thoughtful ideas will stem from the moments that feel the most influential and authentic.
Obstacle: Truly engaging your followers
Solution: So you have developed your brand’s voice and created some incredible original content, but now you need to engage your followers. This is one of the most frustrating aspects of social media. You have about .1 second to engage your followers before they scroll past your post and onto the next. What elements do people look for in social media posts? What catches people’s eye? This all depends on the audience your brand is engaging.
What audience are you aiming to engage with on social media? Is this audience going to connect with your brand? One of the easiest mistakes to make on social media is targeting the wrong audience. If you are a cosmetic brand marketing aging cream to teenagers, you will not see the response like you would if you targeted 35-50 year old women. After identifying the target audience, evaluate what they respond to. It could be an amazing photo, motivating quote or a giveaway. Find whatever sparks your audience’s attention. From there, adapt your social media posts and add your own twist!
Other aspects to consider when engaging social media followers: time zones, length of posts, posting consistency. Here is an article by Buffer that may help you effectively engage your followers!
Obstacle: Comparing your business with others
Solution: Oh boy, this obstacle is toxic and easy to encounter. As we surround ourselves with other entrepreneurs via social media, you can become easily consumed in comparing your business to others. Now don’t get me wrong, collaborating with other businesses is a great way to share ideas and motivate one another, plus a little competition can be healthy. What I am talking about are the feelings you get after scrolling through Instagram, seeing all of the amazing success and content fellow businesses are acquiring. There have been moments where you have felt a little sense of defeat or jealousy because your brand may not have experienced other’s success. When those feelings start to surface, push them away. Immediately. There is no space for those harmful thoughts in your mind and heart. Feel driven by other’s accomplishments, but do not compare yourself to them. Comparing yourself will lead you down a dangerous path rather than a successful one. For some more insight, here is an amazing article written on the Darling Magazine blog!
Obstacle: Understanding that social media will only take your brand so far
Solution: Although social media is an efficient and effective marketing platform, it can only do so much. The heart of your brand is you. You and your team are the tools that will take your business to the next level. It is important to utilize and maximize your brand’s social media, but don’t rely on it.
Ultimately, it is up to you to get your business to where you dream it could be. Don’t fall into the habit of sitting behind a desk all day typing away. Take your business outside of your workspace and into the fresh air. Interact with fellow entrepreneurs and share with them the amazing brand you built.
With the help of this guide, you are now prepared to face the difficulties that come with social media. What are some obstacles you face when using social media for your business? Comment below with your thoughts on how to tackle the challenges that come with social media!
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