Are your social media stats getting you down? Many marketers invest a significant amount of time into social media, so it can be disheartening when it seems like all that time and effort is going to waste.
If this is the predicament you’re in, it may be time to take a sobering look at why no one’s noticing you on social media.
Here are several harsh truths as to why no one’s noticing you on social media, and what to do about it.
You Aren’t Adding Value to Your Followers
Whatever it is you’re sharing, it’s possible your followers aren’t taking any interest in it.
It could be that your content is boring. It could be that there’s a mismatch with your posts and the audience you’re trying to appeal to. There’s no sense in doing the same things expecting different results.
So, here are some tips on what to do instead:
- Share compelling stats and insights into your industry.
- Share relevant news and add your own spin to it.
- Be controversial, unless doing so would harm your reputation or brand.
- Tell stories. Research has shown that compelling stories can increase the perceived value of a product.
- Add humor to your content, unless it would be inappropriate to do so. People love to laugh.
- Offer something for free. People love to take advantage of free offers.
- Answer relevant questions.
Give your followers a reason to follow you. Add value to them.
You’re Putting Too Much of a Priority on Selling
You’ve probably heard about social selling. And, while direct call to actions can sometimes work, it’s important to recognize most of your followers are at the top of the sales funnel. So, they may not know what your business does. They may not have read any blog posts on your website. And, they may not be email subscribers yet either.
When you’re encouraging your followers to buy before you’ve offered any context or value, they may get turned off. It’s also important to realize that Facebook keeps changing how their newsfeed works. They don’t take too kindly to sales posts these days.
Try replacing selling with educating. Your followers may want to learn about your offers but may not be ready to buy just yet.You can build trust with your audience by giving them information they need to make a purchase decision. Try answering their questions.If you aren’t sure where to start, go to Quora and type in your keyword in the search bar. You’ll then be able to view questions connected to your service or product.
You’re Not Using Visual Media to Engage Your Following
People are drawn to pictures – in particular, faces. Are you using eye-catching photos, images and graphics to engage your followers? Are you leveraging your video content?
If you are already using visual media on social, and you’re not seeing much success, it could be that you aren’t using stimulating imagery.
If so, you’ll want to fine-tune your visual media strategy.
Here are several things you can do to ensure your followers interact with your content:
- Use bright colors.
- Share pictures of people with natural smiles.
- Think outside the box when using a model – don’t use the same types of models everyone is using in their photos.
- Take inspiration from brands that are getting a lot of engagement on their posts. They’re doing something right.
You’re Not Getting Personal With Your Audience
It’s easy to hide behind your logo and brand imagery on social media. Unfortunately, this makes it difficult to build a personal connection with your target audience. People want to know who you are and what you do. They want to know what makes you different and what you stand for.
Social media is a place to be social. It’s where people go to connect with other people. So, if they feel like they aren’t connecting with a real individual, they’re going to feel less inclined to interact.
What can you do to build a personal connection with your audience? Here are several ideas you implement:
- Showcase your staff (i.e. employee of the month) or their pets.
- Share a behind-the-scenes video.
- Live stream a Q&A session.
This type of content will build trust with your followers. It can also break up the monotony of other promotional- and sales-oriented posts.
Final Thoughts
If you aren’t happy with how things are going on social media, don’t worry – it can take time to gain traction. Followings aren’t built overnight.
But before you can make any progress, you must face up to the reality of the situation. It’s not going to get any better if you keep doing the same things.
If you're looking for more tips on how to become a social media rock star, I recommend checking out our free eBook, The 28 Steps to Master Social Media or scheduling a free consultation with one of our social media marketing experts!
