Are you in control of your scroll?
As a small or solo business owner, it’s natural toseek advice and tips from various sources, including social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Take control of your scroll!
With the abundance of content available, it’s easy to find ourselves scrolling and consuming information endlessly. But the real question is, how much action are we taking as a result of these videos and posts?
Small business owners you know all those posts
“Here’s what you are gonna need to do in your small business”
“ How I took my business from 1 order a week to 600 orders”
“You are gonna wanna mix up your posts”
“You are going to search for trending audio”
“You are going to look at hashtags”
“Here’s what you are gonna want to do for the next two weeks”
“Stop doing this on social media”
We’ve all seen posts like “How I took my business from 1 order a week to 600 orders” or “Here’s the exact formula I used to grow my Instagram followers 10,000.” The success stories and frameworks look enticing. But the reality is that every business is different, even within the same niche or industry.
Ditch the Scroll Temptation.
It’s easy to get caught up in the endless scrolling on Instagram and TikTok, consuming one business tip after another. Many small businesses are scrolling on social media in their downtime, but the earnest voices who made a million dollars from doing this or that -is enticing.
We have however seen many small businesses so desperate and impatient that they try and implement all the things that appeal to them in their social media scrolling. This “try everything” approach generally doesn’t work well.
Instead, it’s essential to approach these posts and videos with a discerning mindset. Take the time to evaluate whether the advice aligns with your brand’s values, target audience, and long-term objectives. Consider your unique selling proposition, your brand’s voice, and your customers’ preferences.
When you come across small business advice, don’t treat it as a one-size-fits-all solution. Use it as a source of inspiration, sparking ideas that you can interpret and adapt to your own business needs. Take what resonates with you, but always keep the bigger picture in mind.
Limitations of Social Media Advice.
Not all advice on social medial is equal. Some people are there to sell things, some people are genuinely sharing their advice.
The influx of social media influencers has meant that small business owners can learn a thing or two from InstagramInstagram and TikTok. However, it is essential to understand the limitations of taking advice from these sources. Each business is unique and will have its own set of experiences and circumstances, so it is crucial to consider this when taking advice from social media.
Social media can be a place for business owners looking to gain some insight and tips for their own businesses. However, it is important to remember that social media platforms are designed to be engaging and entertaining, so users must take what they see with a grain of salt.
Additionally, these platforms often promote a sense of perfectionism and unrealistic expectations, which can be soul destroying to small business owners who are already facing challenges.
Here are some key points to bear in mind about social media advice.
- Understand the intention of social media.
Social media platforms prioritise engagement and growth. Content that garners attention and sparks discussion will be promoted the algorithm. This means that some content may be exaggerated or sensationalised to catch attention, and may not reflect the full story or be applicable to you.
- Validate from multiple sources.
It is important to validate any advice you receive from social media from multiple sources. Do some extra research. This will help you gain a more well-rounded understanding of the topic and ensure that you are making the best decisions for your business.
- Use caution with the ” overnight success ” stories.
These stories often do not highlight the hard work and dedication that went into achieving success. Furthermore often these stories don’t disclose the many factors that led to their success (e.g. timing, privilege, funding) and may set unrealistic expectations for your own business and its progress. Many do include this info but not all may be truthful.
Acknowledge the Individuality of Your Business.
While scrolling through these platforms, don’t just consume – analyse. Instead of blindly applying advice, ask yourself if it can be applied in your business and if so how it can be tailored to your business needs.
What worked for one small cookie business in Adelaide may not translate directly to your cookie business in Echuca. Similarly a toy store that had overnight success with a particular strategy doesn’t mean that will happen for your candle making business. Local markets, product/ service offerings, target audiences and more vary significantly between individual businesses.
Before following someone else’s advice you need to understand your own unique strengths, challenges and goals.
Audit your business.
Rather than endless scrolling, consider auditing your own business first. Take stock of who your ideal customers are, what problems you solve for them, and the best ways to engage that specific audience. Look at your past analytics to see which posts and approaches have resonated most with your people. Let your business be your guide for the social strategies that make sense.
- Experiment and Adapt.
Rather than directly adopting what you see on social media, use it as inspiration to experiment and find what works best for your business. Test different posting strategies, hashtags, and content formats to understand what resonates with your audience. Your own experiences and customer feedback will provide valuable insights tailored to your specific business needs. - Balance Information and Action.
While it’s important to stay informed and learn from others’ experiences, don’t let it hinder your progress. Strive for a healthy balance between consuming information and taking action. Set specific goals and prioritise implementing strategies that align with your business objectives.
By all means, take inspiration and ideas from others in your industry. But don’t feel like you need to replicate exactly what someone else did with their business to see results. Remember that these posts aren’t YOUR business. Everyone’s business journey is unique.
Social posts can add value pointing out new strategies or techniques you hadn’t considered before but they are not a rule book any means, and don’t get distracted. Get clear on what uniquely works for you, then test tweaks and adjustments based on your own data. Don’t get lost in an endless sea of one-size-fits-all social media tips. What ultimately determines your success is how well you know your business, your customer and how effectively you’re able to weave these insights into a strategy that’s unique – just like your business. Let the solid foundations of your business guide you. You are in control.
DISCLAIMER: If you aren’t in control talk to us and we will put you in back in control.
