So, your business has had social media accounts for a while, but you’re stuck at the same low number of followers, with little engagement on your posts. After the initial spike when first creating a social media page for your business, it can be difficult to keep the momentum going. If you’re not well versed in social media tactics, it can seem impossible to get any real traction on your accounts. Luckily, we can help. We’ve compiled a list of mistakes that many businesses make with their social media that prevents them from gaining traction. 

It’s Too Early

If you just got going on your social media, don’t rush it. It can take a while to build your following and gain traction. If you just created accounts, just started putting real time and effort into them, or just made big changes, give it time. Social media is a gradual process, and it takes time to create an account that people care about. If it’s only been a few weeks and you’re worried about gaining traction, it probably just hasn’t been long enough yet.

You’re Not Using Paid Social

Paid social can be useful across most social media platforms, but it is especially important on Facebook. Since Facebook’s update in May, it is nearly impossible for business to obtain visibility without spending money. In addition to guaranteeing visibility, you can also use Facebook ads to target a specific audience based on location, gender, age, and other factors. Don’t be discouraged by the need to spend money, though. The plus side is that even a small budget, less than ten dollars, can yield results. Although paid social is the best way to achieve visibility and gain traction on your page, you don’t need to spend a ton of money to get results.

You’re Using the Wrong Platforms

Different social media platforms are beneficial for different types of businesses. If you’re only using certain platforms and your social media isn’t gaining traction, you might be using the wrong platforms for your business. Most businesses can benefit from a Facebook account. However, B2B businesses will often find the most success with LinkedIn. If your business caters to an older demographic, you probably won’t have much success with Twitter. If your business doesn’t lend itself to high quality photos, Instagram probably isn’t your best choice. It’s important to use the right platforms for your business, based on the demographics that use each platform.

You’re Not Posting Often Enough

The more you post on social media, the more opportunity you have to engage with your followers. If your social media isn’t gaining traction, there’s a good chance you’re not posting enough. Creating posts is the best way to get attention for your brand. For this reason, you need to create a good amount of posts to encourage maximum engagement. If your posting is inconsistent, that can also sabotage engagement. To create quality social media pages that people want to follow and interact with, it’s important to post consistently.

You’re Posting at the Wrong Times

Facebook and Instagram have algorithms that don’t organize posts in chronological order, making the time of day you post less important. However, on Twitter and LinkedIn, the time of day at which you choose to post can have a huge impact on engagement. If you’re only posting in the middle of the night, while people are at work, or other inconvenient times, you probably won’t see as much engagement as people who time their posts carefully to coincide with the times that people are on social media. If you think you might be posting at the wrong time of day, conduct some testing to see which times of day your posts receive the most engagement and be sure to post at those times.

You’re Not Posting the Right Stuff

If you’re on the right platform, you’re posting frequently enough, and you’re posting at the right time but you’re not seeing engagement, you probably aren’t posting the right stuff. It’s important to post content that your followers care about to encourage engagement. Ask questions, appeal to their emotions, and post information that will encourage conversation. Ensure variety in your posts, covering different topics and including a good mix of educational content along with sales-related content. You should also share content from other sources to provide value for your followers. If you’re not sure what type of content will lead to the most engagement, you should conduct tests to find out. Focus on the types of posts that lead to the most engagement, as engagement will lead to more followers and more buzz around your brand.

ImageWorks, LLC | Social Media Marketing

Implementing a social media strategy is not always a simple task, and can take more time than you have on your hands. When properly executed, a social media campaign can generate website traffic to your website, while bringing in new leads for your business, allowing you to connect with prospective buyers. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions, or would like to begin a social media campaign of your own!

Whether you are just getting started or have an engine in place that needs fine tuning, ImageWorks can help you join the Social Media wave to get yourself recognized and generate more business. Market yourself and your brand to the 100’s of millions of online interactive users.

We understand that social media can be overwhelming, and it's not always easy to change with each update or refresh. If you are looking to boost your social media marketing then you may want to take a step back and reevaluate the online presence you already have.