Do Followers Matter?
Picture this: you own a store mostly packed with customers who aren’t buying a single thing. Some of them are there to window shop, while others are telling you to visit their store or sell you their product or service. Finally, a customer comes up to make a purchase—someone you actually want to have around!
Sound familiar? The performance of your business’ social media accounts just might be what resonates with the above scenario. The customers are there… mixed in somewhere with a swathe of bot accounts and passive engagement.
Whether or not you should have lots of followers on social media depends on your personal goals and objectives. Here are some considerations to have when building your online presence:
Purpose
Why are you using social media? If it’s for personal reasons, having lots of followers might not be necessary. However, if you’re using it for professional reasons like marketing, networking, or building a personal brand, then having a substantial following can be beneficial—if your followers are actively engaged.
Engagement
Having a large following doesn’t mean much if your followers aren’t engaged. It’s better to have a smaller, highly involved audience than a large, inactive one. Focus on building meaningful connections and interactions with your followers.
Target Audience
Consider who you want to reach with your social media presence. It’s better to have followers who are genuinely interested in your content or products/services rather than simply having a high number of followers who aren’t your target audience. Quality over quantity!
Authenticity
Building a genuine connection with your followers is crucial. Authenticity breeds trust and loyalty. Focus on creating content that vibes with your audience and is authentic to you and your brand values.
Impact
Evaluate the impact you want to make with your social media presence. Sometimes, having a smaller but highly engaged following can lead to more meaningful connections and opportunities for collaboration or influence.
Consistency
Whether you have a large or small following, consistency is key. Regularly posting valuable content and engaging with your audience helps maintain and grow your presence on social media.
Beware Fake Followers
The appeal of a large follower count is undeniable, yet it often comes with risks for those seeking inflated numbers. Obtained through bot purchases or fake accounts, these followers lack engagement, which can harm credibility and visibility on social media. Genuine engagement is crucial for building trust with your audience, and investing in fake followers wastes resources that could be used to foster authentic connections. Additionally, platforms penalize accounts with fake followers, complicating accurate measurement of social media effectiveness.
In today’s social media landscape, it’s easy to get caught up in the allure of having a huge following. Instead of focusing solely on numbers, businesses should prioritize authenticity to make genuine connections. After all, success on social media is about more than just how many followers you have—it’s about engaging with real people in a meaningful way!
Still not sure where to start with social media? Contact us today and we can help manage it for you, while you manage your business.
