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Why You’re Not Getting Results on Social Media

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Social media marketing is a cost-effective way to reach a target audience. Yet small businesses often tell me they are not getting results on social media.

I help clients work through this type of frustration all the time. Here are some common reasons businesses don’t see the results they want on social media.

No Social Media Strategy

As a default, I like to work off of a strategy. But I am learning that the majority of people see that word as a negative. Jumping right into doing things on social media may seem like a great way to avoid the perceived pain of planning, but doing so sets you up for even more frustration.

Activity without an underlying plan has a slim chance of helping you achieve your goals. You need to take the time to define your goals and research the specific ways to use social media to move toward that goal.

No one has unlimited time. You need to make sure every second you spend on social media is moving you toward the goal you want to achieve.

Squirrel!

Social media platforms crop up and add features all the time. It is easy to get distracted by the latest option and lose focus on what you want to achieve. Yes, Clubhouse is growing in use, but is it a tool that moves you toward your goal?

Your strategy needs to be an evolving document that takes advantage of new tools that are a fit. It also needs to morph as you learn what resonates and what falls flat with your audience. The fast paced nature of social media means that you can waste less time doing things that don’t work.

Be Real About Your Time

I recently showed a client how to post to her new blog. I suggested that she post once a month, based on my knowledge of her goals and her time available to blog. She wanted to do more and committed to posting once a week. It’s been four months now, and there have been no posts.

Be real with yourself about the time and resources that you have to commit to social media. It is better to do what you can than to over commit. That just sets you up for a sense of failure and could really disenfranchise your target audience.

Another client spent his whole marketing budget on social media efforts in the first 3 months of the year. With social media, the effort is over the long-term. Short bursts are not effective. You are better off pacing your resources in a way that will allow you to sustain a level of effort over time.

Putting It Off

If you are like most small business owners, you probably really don’t know where you stand on social. You are afraid to ask about what’s not working or look into a strategy because you just can’t add one more thing to your plate.

I hear you! If you are not getting results on social media, I offer a 60 day online presence boot camp. In a short period of time, we’ll dig into what you are doing and come away with a plan that you can work with moving forward. None of us has time to spend on anything that’s not getting results. Let’s turn that around for your business.

How to Use Social Media in Online Marketing

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Is social media part of your online marketing for your brand? There are many reasons it should be. Here is an an outline on how to use social media in online marketing.

Most Americans use one or more social channels, so it is a great way to connect with your audience.

Many small businesses struggle to achieve marketing success on social media. You need an intentional strategy that follows best practices.

Have a Social Media Marketing Plan

Define your goals and the platforms that are best suited to help you achieve them. Further, define exactly what you need to do on each channel you select.

Pick the Best Social Media Channels

You do not need to be everywhere on social media. I repeat, don’t sign up for every channel you hear about. Use only the channels that your target customer uses.

Look online at the data about who uses each platform. You can also ask customers and others who represent your target audience what they use.

Focus on Building the Right Social Communities

Don’t focus on amassing the most followers, focus on connecting with the right followers. You want to use social media to connect with your target audience. Know who your target is and focus on making those connections. Quality trumps quantity every time.

Pay Attention to the Competition

Watching what your competitors do on social media isn’t unethical. It’s smart. Pay attention to what works and what doesn’t.

Listen as Much (or More) than You “Talk”

Social media should be, well, social! That means a two way interaction. Your posts are the equivalent to your part of the conversation. Engagement from your community in the forms of comments, posts, and reactions are their part.

Make sure you invite a balance! No one likes people (or brands) who only talk about themselves and don’t let others share. Engage in serious social media listening.

Measure Social Media Marketing Often

Take time to measure the effectiveness of your social media efforts. Your great ideas may be getting you to your goal or they may be falling flat. You won’t know unless you take time to assess.

Pay attention to short term data, like the interactions on your most recent post, as well as longer term trends. Don’t be afraid to change your plan to make the most of what’s working!

Social Media for Lead Generation

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More and more brands report that they use social media to generate leads and new business. Here are current best practices for using social media to boost business.

Use Multiple Social Platforms

Every social channel you use increases the potential for reach and effectiveness. Integrating and interconnecting those platforms also enhances connection with audiences online. Be sure to leverage all the platforms used by your target customers and clients.

Be Engaging

It’s not enough to post content and links to your website. Post interesting content that is useful to your customer. Bonus points for doing that in a fun way. Visuals and video are still great ways to capture attention if they are done well.

Be Interactive

Connect with customers on social beyond your own accounts. Comment and share their posts. Join groups and share ideas and help that aren’t direct sells. Businesses that effectively create positive impressions and beneficial relationships online are positioned to gain customers and reinforce relationships with existing customers.