Is Organic Growth Dead on Social Media?

Remember back in the happy, early salad days of social media when all you needed was a blog or a Twitter account and you had people falling all over themselves to follow you?

Yeah, I miss them too!

Whatever happened to them and is organic growth even still possible on social media?

Let’s talk about that!

The first part of my question is easy to answer.

Social media has become very crowded in terms of channels available, messages contained therein, and sheer numbers of participants.

It’s harder and harder to stand out these days.

Every topic is saturated. 

Add in how the business models of the social media channels have changed over time and changes instituted because of the 2016 US Presidential election and you’re lucky if anyone finds you online these days unless they’re looking for you specifically. 

The social media channels strive now to have their members pay for ads to drive traffic to accounts or pages. 

And, you have to spend a lot to get any attention.

Don’t think just a couple of hundred dollars will bring you any sort of traffic because it won’t.

(Please don’t ask me how I found this out.)

Many have forgotten how easy it was to attract follower back in the day. 

But, it is what it is!

We either play by the channels rules or we don’t play at all.

Which brings me to the second part of my question, is organic growth even still possible on social media. 

While some may disagree with me, I do think organic growth on social media is still possible albeit not as wildly successful as it once was. 

Having good content is not enough.

(I get a kick out of the so called “experts” who still peddle that you need spectacular content on social media to succeed.  Please define “spectacular” for me.)

Yes, good content is needed for when visitors do arrive wherever you’re trying to bring them too, but you have to get them there in the first place.

To achieve organic growth in today’s saturated social media channels without having to not send your kids to college to pay for ads, you have to work on your engagement.

What is engagement?

Following others, sharing and commenting on their content, and promptly replying back when others do the same with you.

Oh, and you have to be doing this continually.

The best way that I’ve found to do this is establish a schedule, stick to it, and measure your results.

Over time, you will see your online community grow, it’ll take time but it’ll grow.

You’ll also find that, in addition to saving money on ads thereby sending your kids to college, these connections you make will be more valuable to you in the future.

Give it a try and let me how it works for you! 

That’s it for now!

Please check out my 8 step approach for developing a social media program for more ideas on how to use social media.

Also, never forget to reach out to either ask questions or to ask for help from someone like myself!

In the meantime, thank you for following and reading my blog.

I look forward to any and all comments that you may have. I will reply to any comments made to this blog post as promptly as I can.

And, remember!

I do this for a living and if I can be of any assistance to either you or your organization, please feel free to call on me. Our initial discussion will be of no charge to you.

I can also be reached at conpsweeney@someddi.com