How To Overcome Your Social Media Slump

Taking back instagram: Why I’m changing my social media strategy.

I have a love/ hate relationship with social media, in particular instagram.

Obviously, I love it. Social media legit changed my life. I think it’s a SUPER valuable tool for businesses, solopreneurs and every day folk.

Instagram introduced me to my now business partner and countless other INCREDIBLE people. It’s how I network and get freelance jobs. I’m even getting a masters degree in this stuff.

But there also [many] moments when I just plain hate it.

The freaking algorithm. Wondering why some people have SO MANY followers despite posting tepid content. Trying to out outsmart a social networking app and get it to work in my favor. Spending HOURS engaging engaging engaging and seeing little return.

I’m not ashamed to admit I used instagress as a way to automate my growth strategy, which was recently shut down. Without it, though, I’m growing at a snails pace despite engaging with people on my own.

And then there are those dark, dark moments when I let instagram define my worth. I start feeling like a less “worthy” person because of my follower count or engagement rate. Like really, Kayla. You’re gonna let SOCIAL MEDIA define your self worth?!?

Social Media Didn’t Feel Very Social Anymore.

I was using a follow-unfollow strategy. Again, I’m not ashamed to admit I play around with growth techniques. I do draw the line at buying followers. I’m curious as a social media strategist what works and what doesn’t work. Let me tell you, that shit WORKS.

But because of follow-unfollow, my feed was a hot mess. I’ve never had an instagram account for personal stuff. It’s always been a means to promote my blog, but even I started missing the social aspect of the app.

Why bother if it wasn’t even enjoyable anymore?

 

Because then I remember, it’s just social media.

Yes, I’m running a business and make money thanks to my social media influence. But it’s also SO silly that I’m letting an app on my phone dictate my mood.

I knew I had to make a change to my social media approach. Because I was starting to hate this stupid app. I had to take back instagram.

How I’m changing my social media strategy

The most important thing is, I’m bring joy back to social media. As you guys know, I love me some KonMari, and the truth was, social media wasn’t bringing me joy anymore. Just headaches and aggravation.

How I’m bringing joy back to instagram:

▶︎ I cleaned up my account. I unfollowed a butt ton of people (sorry if I included you! I blindly went down the list). Now when I look through my feed and watch instagram stories, I see the people I want to see.

▶︎ I nixed the follow / unfollow strategy. For now at least. Maybe I’ll go back to playing around with it, but for now I’m enjoying having full control of my account.

▶︎ Concentrating on connections, not numbers. I used to define success on instagram by numbers. How many likes a post got. How many followers I gained that day.

I’m trying to redefine success on instagram. Instead I’m looking at connections. Did I connect with someone new? Did I inspire someone? Did I ignite a new conversation?

More important than any amount of likes for me is when someone says Hey, I really related to this post. Thanks for sharing.

▶︎ Focusing on other social media channels. I’ve never been much of a pinterest person, but hot damn there are some fun things on there. I’m currently focusing effort on upping my pinterest game. And by that I mean using pinterest, period.

▶︎ When all else fails, f*ck it. It’s just social media.

 

Maybe this will slow down my social media growth but that’s okay

Or at least I’m going to keep reminding myself that it’s okay. Baby steps, my friends, baby steps.

 

Your turn: Tell me, how has your social media approach changed over the years.

Photo Credit: Alexis Damen