5 Ways Social Media Can Hurt Your Business

5 Ways Social Media can Hurt Your Business | The Social Walker Agency

We all know social media can be beneficial to growing our businesses, although figuring out how can be the hard part sometimes. (Read more here). Today, though, I want to talk about the negative side of social media, because there is one and we need to deal with it sooner rather than later.

I absolutely love social media. I’ve met many new friends, connected with dreamy clients, and now am speaking at amazing workshops due to social media. But I’ve also realized that there are times when social media isn’t working for me. Here are five ways social media hurts my business, and yours.

Inconsistency

Most platforms favor those who post at least once a day. If that seems like a lot for you (hello, Instagram and Youtube), then start with 3 times a week. But you’ve got to stick to those 3 days. If someone were to find your social media accounts for the first time, would it show them that you’re active or inactive? The worst is coming across an article I love and then realizing they haven’t posted for 6 months. Well, there goes that follow/share.

If you’re concerned about finding content for Pinterest and Facebook, use your network to find great articles to share with your audience. I’ll admit, Facebook and Pinterest are my least used platforms, and even with the Facebook changes, I want to get back to consistent posting on my Facebook page. Make sure any content you share isn’t just white noise, but is helpful to your audience. There’s already a lot of people out there, so be different, be helpful. Sell later.

  • Create your content calendar for all platforms.
  • Plan time to curate and create content
  • Grab your 3 month challenge worksheet below.

Comparison

Anyone else feel less than sometimes due to social media? Or just me? I see what everyone else is doing and feel as though I’m not on their level. Then I go silent for a couple of days while trying to figure out how best to “come back” and be seen. Regulating my time on social media (morning coffee, lunch break, work-end) definitely helps limiting my intake of who I’m comparing myself to. It truly has helped me stay in my lane, focus on my people (that’s you), and get my own work done.

  • Unfollow accounts that make you feel insecure (right now, I can’t afford to decorate my place like Magnolia Market, so I only follow Joanna Gaines, and not the brand)
  • Limit your time on social media
  • Stick with YOUR people (engage and comment, build genuine relationships)
We all know social media can be beneficial to growing our businesses, although figuring out how can be the hard part sometimes. (Read more here). Today, though, I want to talk about the negative side of social media, because there is one and we need…

Time Warp

When I polled 50 entrepreneurs last summer, one of the biggest issues was finding time to get the work done (and even Megan Martin found a similar result with her Facebook group). I should have polled them or had them all do a “phone use challenge” like my girl, Amanda, did. Why? To see how much time they were actually spending on their phones. By limiting how many times you check social media (morning coffee, lunch break, work-end), you’ll realize how much time your phone takes from you. When I’m working on something (like this blog post), I try my hardest to put my phone on silent and face down beside me. I’ve also turned off notifications for certain accounts to limit distractions.

  • Again, limit your time on social media
  • Turn off notifications
  • Take a phone challenge and BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF

Content

I mentioned this earlier, but make sure you’re giving VALUABLE content. If someone is just posting pretty picture after pretty picture and a somewhat shallow caption, I’ll most likely either unfollow or just not double tap. If I’m going to be spending a lot of time on social media, which I do, I want it to be useful for me, and the people who are following me. Instagram makes it easy to see what your followers want with their “poll” feature for Stories. You can actually ask them what they want. My plan is to use Facebook to share client blogs and their successes as well and possibly more Live videos (don’t let the new policies scare you - stay consistent and do the work).

  • Share industry tips
  • Promote biz BBFs’ work
  • Give, give, give, get

Boss Status

This is something that I’ve talked about before. But if you find that other people aren’t taking your business seriously, it might because they don’t see YOU taking your business seriously. I so love the freedom that working from home brings me - traveling, lunch out with friends, extra time with family; but, if you’re constantly posting margarita pictures and spa days, will your potential clients think you’re actually working? Your current clients will know that you are based on the work you’re doing, but still, they’ll want to know you’re getting work done. I’ve learned that Instagram and Facebook daily stories are great for behind the scenes and more personal posts (like projects your working on or balancing mom life with business life) but make sure in your content, you’re showing off your hard work. Did your business allow you to take a vacation last year? By all means, share that, but every day is not a vacation.

  • Share projects you’re working on
  • Put on real clothes and make-up occasionally, you’re still running a business
  • Celebrate what your business means to you
  • Take your business seriously

You’re putting so much effort into your business and your social media should be a place to celebrate that. Don’t spend time posting things that will bring your brand and business down. Take the social media challenge and record how things grow in your business!

Social MediaAllieDanae WalkerMarketing, StrategiesComment