I grew my Instagram account by less than 30 followers in q1
Here’s what went wrong, and what I’m doing differently in Q2
This is slightly (very) embarrassing to admit as someone who has worked in social media for over 5 years. But I’m only human, and it has become so easy to focus on my client work, rather than creating for myself and growing my own accounts.
Q2 is all about changing this, and here are the mistakes I made and how I’m going to fix them:
Mistake 1: I didn’t have a social media strategy
If you’re a client reading this, do as I say, not as I do. If I did, I’d have known what my goals were and how my social media ties into them. As a result, I’d have been able to plan and create content that aligns with these business goals. A social media strategy would have also reduced overwhelm and given me clarity on where I want and should focus my efforts!
How will I fix this?
I’ve sat down and thought about what I want to achieve for the rest of the year, something I neglected to do at the beginning of the year (I know, I know, we’re nearly halfway through the year, but it’s better late than never). The next step is to dedicate time to creating a social media strategy that aligns with these goals.
Mistake 2: I didn’t create content consistently
I can’t grow my account if I’m not showing up, it’s as simple as that.
How will I fix this?
Step one is to fix mistake number 1. After that, I need to use the social media strategy to create a content plan that is realistic and won’t burn me out. I’ve recently attended a workshop by Lauren Dudley (if you don’t follow her, I’d 100% recommend you do) after being inspired by her challenge of achieving 50K Instagram followers by the end of the year, and it’s left me so inspired. In light of this, my social media content is going to change somewhat and lean more into what I enjoy creating, experimenting with content, yapping about my passions, as well as showcasing my expertise. It’s time to make content exciting for me, because if I’m finding it exciting to create, my community are far more likely to find it enjoyable to consume!
I’ve also noticed a huge disconnect between who I am and who I’m portraying myself as online. Online me is too professional, too straight-laced. I have a far easier time selling in person, through not even trying to sell, and people coming to me because they’ve met me in person and trust me, than I do trying to sell through my content. So it’s time to stop hiding.
Mistake 3: I didn’t have a clear audience in mind
I can’t grow an online community if I don’t know who the heck I’m talking to. Nor can I successfully sell my services. Because whilst the aim is to grow a community I can connect with, I do also need to make a living from this too!
How will I fix this?
I’ve kind of already started to fix this through creating my marketing strategy. I’m thinking long and hard about who I really want to work with, and getting SO specific about this. The more specific the better. And then, I’ll be making sure I speak to this person within my content!