Before you even get started on content creation and working on your engagement, ask yourself, what do I want to gain from having a platform? Do you want to work with brands for money, do you desire fame and recognition, or are you a product based page trying to boost sales? Understanding your goals is the first step to actually reaching them.
Be Realistic.
I find that the easiest mistake to make when setting your goals is setting them way too high. If you currently have 200 followers, setting 10k as your goal for the end of the month probably isn’t going to happen. This will make you feel discouraged when you don’t meet it and you’ll be less likely to continue with the project that is growing your account.
I’m not saying not to set big goals. Five year plans keep us going, they light a fire under our asses. However, keeping those lofty ideals as your long term goals and also setting some short term goals, for instance gaining 50 new followers by the end of the week, are the attainable goals that keep us motivated in the day to day.
Social Media is a Part Time Job.
You have to be aware that to reach your social media goals, you’re going to have to dedicate actual time to this process. I recently read The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck, and in it he talks about how when he was a kid he really wanted to be a famous musician. Well into his adolescence, it stayed a dream of his. But he wasn’t motivated to learn to play music well, or lug the bulky equipment around small venues so he could eventually play at big venues. He didn’t love the process, and that’s because at the end of the day he didn’t want to be a musician.
As a micro influencer and social media manager myself, I can tell you with confidence that you will not grow if you don't genuinely love something about the process. I spend 20+ hours a week focused on studying trends, creating content, and fine tuning my posting schedule. Simply posting once or twice a week and not glancing at your social apps again is not going to cut it. Make sure you have a set amount of hours a week, however many that might be, to dedicating yourself to the process.
Goal Examples
If you know you want to grow but aren't sure what your goals should be, here are some examples:
- Gain X amount of followers by the end of the month
- Increase content quality
- Create X amount of stories per day
- Increase post engagement
- Increase website taps
- Focus on more video content
- Start partnering with Influencers/Brands