To be an entrepreneur isn’t easy. It means undertaking a certain amount of risk. It means challenging yourself to go the long mile, to walk down the path of your dreams. And can it ever come easy? This is a journey all wish to undertake but only a few succeed in. It’s almost like packing your bags for the great marathon run just that the run involves a tough uphill climb. Only the dedicated and focused who are accustomed to facing stern challenges will make it to the end. Entrepreneurs are trailblazers, at the end of the day. This is for the simple reason that they blaze the trail that the others would follow. They’ve got to set an example and be ahead of the game.
But in order to succeed and leave a mark in the conscience of the others, it is important to be careful and tread carefully in the single most important component that defines and determines the success and reach of a business today. To be on Social Media is one thing. But to succeed in this complex ball-game is, quite frankly, another skill altogether. And where it comes to entrepreneurs, they ought to know the rules of the game; the complexities, challenges and at the same time, the whirlwind opportunities that arise in this sphere.
On that note, it is important to ask if you are aware of the 5 things entrepreneurs shouldn’t forget about social media.
In fact, what could be these 5 things entrepreneurs shouldn’t forget about social media, a seemingly endlessly helpful partner in communicating about a business, idea, or service? Social media is that aspect of today’s age that could be likened to a parallel universe we tend to exist in, something that has plagued our imagination. Yet, at the same time, it has opened our horizons to the endless possibilities that lie on the World Wide Web.
Let’s examine the 5 things entrepreneurs shouldn’t forget about social media:
Social Media Is A Long-Term Investment
Perhaps it may not be incorrect to state that among the most undersung aspects or virtues in life is patience. It’s something that’s highly regarded definitely but not always practiced. Among the 5 things entrepreneurs shouldn’t forget about social media is that it requires one to play the patient waiting game.
But this can be slightly catchy. On the one hand, while social media allows nearly allows for instant communication to flourish, giving people the freedom and access to a quick flow of information, it could require quite some time for an idea to turn into success.
Your followers may not immediately take to fancy the product or service you are providing. One of the things that often take the longest to come to fruition is trust. Similarly, the building of this trust between the customers and your product could take a while.
In that regard, it must not be forgotten that you must not get upset or impatient after running a social media campaign for just a month. At times, the right results take months together.
Hold on to some patience and be diligent with your actions.
You’re Not The Only Entrepreneur Who’s Behind This Idea
At times, the beauty of misbelief is such that we feel we are the only driving forces behind a particularly catchy or poignant idea.
Yet, one must allow for some practicality to flow through. Remember, whether it a fancy all-electric car, a one-stop online shop for all things organic or even a one of a kind thermal wear brand that you are marketing on the social media world, yours may not be the only novel or one-of-a-kind idea.
There could be others too who may be in the run with the exact same concept. Many of your competitors may actually be in the same line and therefore, this could mean that your audience may also be interacting with similar products or ideas being offered by your competition.
In such a case, you may well focus your energies on running creative campaigns or finding a way to promote your business differently whilst speaking in the same space.
Therefore, this is among the 5 things entrepreneurs shouldn’t forget about social media.
That Numbers Have It All Is A Myth
Among the trickle-effects of staying invested in social media is this fixation one develops with numbers. Because at the end of every single effort where you’ve invested the daintiest of a penny, the social media campaign unfurls the numbers connected to the reach of your campaign.
In this regard, it’s not entirely unnatural or incorrect to become slightly obsessed with one’s numbers. For instance, the number of followers one has on an Insta or the number of times a promoted Tweet was Retweeted. How can it be easy to ignore the fun that numbers provide for?
But at the same time, it must not be forgotten that remaining fixated about raw numbers isn’t perhaps right.
One must not forget that even in episodes where there’s a slight drop in the number of Twitter or Instagram followers, there’s no need to panic.
In the same way, social media followers and their relative involvement or disassociation with your campaign may not be an exact measure of how truly loyal or active they are with regards to your campaign.
It’s Called Social Media For A Reason After All
Among the 5 things entrepreneurs shouldn’t forget about social media is that at the end of all things- whether number of followers, social media campaigns, interactions, sessions, number of clicks, it’s called social media for a reason.
It mustn’t be forgotten that social media apps are primarily used by individuals for connectivity, for widening their circle of interaction, and for engaging in meaningful communication.
In that regard, if all that you’re doing is simply scheduling social media posts, creating new posts and targeting new users- then maybe you’re missing out on the fine gift that this platform rewards its users: social communication.
One mustn’t neglect the ‘social’ aspect of these apps- Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or even LinkedIn. Thank your users and make time out to extend regard and interact (on a one on one basis) with loyal customers who stay engaged with your posts and page.
It’s not that difficult to identify loyal followers. Build your rapport with them. Treat them as your family or close-knit friends. They are key crusaders who further your cause in a way- don’t they?
For Social Media To Work, It must Complement Other Strategies
Social media, it shouldn’t be forgotten, is just one method or structure of communication. For social media to work and orchestrate success, it must be in harmony with other marketing initiatives.
Wondering how?
Social media posts can popularise and spread a word about your content strategy, by increasing the visibility of your content strategy while your content marketing plan can increase the size of your social media audience.