Be Patient! Social Media Takes Time

It’s a question we hear all the time.

“When will I start seeing results from my social media marketing?” “Is it working yet?” “How long will it take?” The answer is not so simple.

Every brand is different, and what works for one may not necessarily work for another. As the saying goes, “the more you put into it, the more you get out of it,” and that’s never been more true than when it comes to social media. The real answer to this oh so popular question? It depends. But what does it depend on, you might ask?

It depends on…

Your Strategy

The stronger your strategy, the more likely you are to see results. One of the most important things you need to do is identify your audience, where they hang out, and how you can offer a solution to their problem. If you’re targeting business executives between the ages of 45 and 50, you’re probably going to be better off posting to LinkedIn than Pinterest. Knowing this individual is likely in the office between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm Monday-Friday will give you a framework for when to post. Understanding his or her likes, dislikes, concerns, and frustrations will help you determine what to share. Of course, any effective social strategy must be flexible. Experimenting and tracking results will help you refine your strategy as time goes on. It takes time to determine what is and is not working.

How You Define “Results”

Seeing results from social media marketing needs to involve more than a vague feeling that it’s working. Every brand has different goals they hope to achieve through social media and so what they consider to be a result will vary from business to business. Some brands might say social media is working when they sell X amount of product. Others might be looking to generate leads or increase website traffic. And still, others might want to get over 100 Likes on every post shared. It doesn’t matter what your definition of “results” entails – what does matters is that you clearly define it. If you want to see measurable results, you need results that can be measured. After all, how are you going to know if your efforts are working if you don’t even know what it is you’re working towards?

Your Budget

If you are willing to invest in an advertising budget, you can start seeing results at a faster rate than if you let things run organically. Keep in mind, just because you have a spending budget doesn’t mean you can create sub-par content – you still need to do the work. Think of it like the fast lane on the highway; you still need to drive the car, but you’ll get to your final destination much faster with this route. Although helpful, an advertising budget is not a necessity. You may want to give your strategy a chance to run organically before you start boosting posts and running ads. This will give you a better understanding of your audience and their preferences and enable you to spend more wisely down the road.

And lastly, and perhaps most importantly, your success on social media depends upon your level of commitment. Are you jumping into the social media waters head first or are you just getting your feet wet? The more you can commit to this endeavor, the better your results will be.

For more social media tips, tricks, and best practices, subscribe to our blog or follow us on Facebook!