Is it time to end your relationship with Social Media?

Have you ever said these words?
 
“It’s not you, it’s me!”

These words are usually said at the end of a relationship. You know, that moment when you realize that there’s nothing more you can say to convince this person that things just aren't working? When you know it’s not your fault and you’re convinced that this person is truly a narcissistic moron? (I actually read that in the comments section of a relationship blog, my bad.)

So you take the fall, even if you don’t believe a word you’re saying, you say it anyway, you take the blame, you throw yourself under the bus, just to save yourself.
 
There are many times where I’m sure you've felt the same about your Social Media Marketing efforts. You feel like it’s not working and you are ready to throw in the towel!

You are doing everything you should, you’re listening to influencers, following the steps and ticking off all the boxes. Downloading cheat sheets and attending webinars, yet you are not getting the promised or desired results.

In many cases you wonder, “Is it really me? This stuff appears to be working for everyone else, or so they claim, so what could I be doing wrong?” 
 
How many e-books have you downloaded that promised to help you, grow your email list, increase traffic to your blog or increase sales, only to be left disappointed, with no real takeaways, no real actionable steps. Just fluff!
 
Have you gone to a webinar that promised to share proven results, only to hear the presenter ramble on about what they were able to accomplish in 30 days and never give you even one solid takeaway? Have you signed up for programs but at the end you were no better off than when you began? Or have you signed up for really great programs but never found the time to really implement the strategies shared?
 
Let me give you a moment to say Amen. I know; I've been there but in too many cases Social Media is sometimes touted as the “be all” and “end all” of your marketing, the bigger picture is often neglected and the focus becomes, the platforms, the blog headings, the tools, the posting schedules and as you struggle to fit all these diverse pieces together, you find yourself coming up empty!
 
You’re overwhelmed and so your frustration grows! 
 
So maybe you need to step back for a bit, you know, take some space, “see other people.” Understand that in spite of what you are being told/sold, you have an equally important role to play. Just like a love relationship, you need to do your part to make it work.
 
So what do you do? Be aware that When it comes to marketing your business online, Social Media is only one tool in your arsenal. See it for what it is and start to put more of your energy into understanding your business goals.

Having a clear growth strategy and business focus is more important than how many times you post on Facebook. Treating your customers with respect and care goes a long way towards getting you repeat business and referrals. Only then will adding a solid social media strategy bring you the kind of results you crave.
 
Forget the hype that says that a Twitter or Facebook account is all you need, or start a blog and suddenly everyone will find you and come running. The build it and they will come model of some social media messages is. . .okay, I’ll say it, hype.

Posting on Facebook alone will not get people running to your store or clamoring for your services. Writing a great blog post on its own is not going to get you seen on Google’s front page and simply getting someone on your list is not going to get them to buy. So what does work?

Time and concerted effort! There are very few overnight successes. Ask Gary Vaynerchuk, Businessman. CEO of Vayner Media. In his You Tube video” Overnight Success he says:

“When people tell me I’m “lucky”, that I've had so much “luck”, I get so frustrated. Luck has nothing to do with it. I worked weekends and holidays every day starting at fourteen years old to make this happen. I think back to all the time I put in of real, hard work before I saw any of the benefits.”

So pace yourself, do what you can, when you can. If you already have your accounts set up, keep posting don’t leave your pages stagnant, but do not be consumed by them. Get help if you can and refocus your efforts.

I would suggest that instead of spending countless hours worrying about your social media marketing efforts, firstly spend some time focusing on the value you can bring to the market. What problem are your solving, how does your product or service help to ease someone’s pain point. Learn what motivates people to take action. Focus on refining that message, then use social media to get the word out!

Find out what moves your customer or potential customers and what keeps them interested.

Remember, you are selling to a real person, a person with wants, needs and emotions. A Blog, a Facebook page or Instagram account that does not recognize this, is sure to fail.

So in closing, remember to reach out to people in a way that solves their problems, not yours. I've seen too many business owners plan their business around themselves and not their customers, their hours and not the hours that their customers require their service.This strategy is sure to fail. Listen to what your customers are saying, what are they asking for? Be genuine and work on building relationships first.
 
Collaborate with others and offer your support. This is what will get you and in the end, your business noticed.

Do your groundwork and see the bigger picture, only then can you offer real value. Forget the noise, let go of the overwhelm and take this one step at a time.

So is it time to end your relationship with social media? The answer is no, just work at having a better one, one that understands what works and what doesn't, you’ll definitely be happier for it.

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