Every so often, there are things business owners say to us as a social media marketer, that make us think “I’d actually rather spend a night in the jungle with Matt Hancock” than do this.
Here is a list of things that businesses have actually said to us more than once over the past 13 years
I’m a social media marketer … get me out of here!!!
CAN YOU GROW OUR AUDIENCE TO 3000 FOLLOWERS IN 3 MONTHS?
You need to be realistic.
You have come to us with a limited budget for content and advertising and the time we spend.
Thousands of followers, in a short period of time, is neither realistic or the goal.
If I told you that I have clients with 700 followers who are winning thousands of £££s worth of business on a monthly basis, you’d understand that is a lot more attractive than thousands of followers and no sales.
Social Media is about driving business results rather than vanity metrics and increased budgets can help you get those business results quicker, but I understand you’re dipping your toes into the water at the moment.
WE’VE USED 4 SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING COMPANIES BEFORE AND THEY’VE BEEN A WASTE OF MONEY
Sure, there are some social media companies that are a cr*ck of sh*t.
But honestly, you’ve used 4 different companies and every single one has been terrible and not driven results.
I don’t believe that at all.
It’s an immediate red flag where I suspect the problem is the actual business rather than the social media company.
A social media marketing company can only deliver 100% when the business partners with them 100% in terms of providing content, information and support requested.
Don’t ever expect results if you’re going to ignore the advice and requests of the social media marketer.
CAN WE DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS MASSIVE BRAND ARE DOING?
Sure.
I’m connected with the social media marketer for that business on LinkedIn.
They have full time photographer, graphic designer, copywriter videographer, organic social expert, customer service social expert, paid social expert, external PR company, web company, ad agency … and a social media manager
So, if you have a budget for 10 full time members of staff as well as external agencies to support, I’m sure we can do exactly that.
But whilst I’m your only marketing resource, it might be helpful if we stick to the basics and provide the content I asked for 2 months ago.
CAN WE JUST TRY SOCIAL MEDIA FOR A MONTH TO SEE IF IT WORKS?
Social Media is a long-term marketing plan
I know you realise other areas of your life take hard work and dedication, so why do you think social media is any different than life itself?
After 3 months you will get an indication that it’s working and start to see those foundations being built on.
As you’re not using social media we’re literally starting from a standing start.
Treat it as a marathon plan from the perspective of never being a runner before.
You need to lose weight and get in shape before you even attempt couch 2 5k. And then there’s 10k’s and half marathons before you even become a marathon runner.
At the moment your business is the out of shape flabby business that needs customers – it’s going to take time to turn that around.
CAN WE JUST DO 1 POST A WEEK TO KEEP A PRESENCE?
I wouldn’t want to take the money off you knowing that it’s not delivering any results.
In the time that it’s taken me to type this sentence 1000’s of social media posts have been posted.
In a world where visibility matters then 1 post a week isn’t even keeping a presence.
We’re not in the business of telling businesses they have to posts several times a day to be noticed, but there’s a difference between hardly posting at all.
Every platform has algorithms as well which means there is no guarantee of customers seeing your once-a-week post.
So if you just want once post a week just save the money and do it yourselves.
WE HAVE NO BUDGET FOR PHOTOS … AND OUR STAFF CAN’T TAKE ANY
So, let’s just rewind a little.
You want to market your business without any content.
And you expect to get results from this approach.
To quote the words of Lee and Herring you “Want the moon on a stick”
And for that reason, I’m out.
You wouldn’t expect any other department to deliver results without resources.
MY BUSINESS COACH SAYS SOCIAL MEDIA DOESN’T WORK … SO I’M PUTTING IT ON PAUSE
OK
So you’ve known me for 3 years; you’ve heard me speak several times; you know the clients we work with are driving results every week.
And the business coach you met last week has just told you that social media doesn’t work.
If we walked 5 minutes North South East And West, I could show you dozens of examples where social media is working.
And a lot of those businesses are not dissimilar to your type of business.
When your business coach says social media doesn’t work what they really mean is Social Media doesn’t work for them and they don’t understand it.
A YOUNG LAD / LASS KNOCKED ON OUR DOOR AND SAID THEY’LL DO EVERTHING FOR A THIRD OF THE PRICE YOU DO
Go with them if you’re so price sensitive you’d be happy with the public face of your business being done on the cheap.
Ask yourself what someone looks like in your industry that charges a third of what you do.
What are they cutting costs on?
What isn’t being done that we would do?
Do they have experience?
We’ve actually got a blog on Content Creator VS Social Media Managers and if you read that you’ll understand they are entirely different roles.
WE’RE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OUR COMPUTERS / WEBSITE / PRINTER ETC – CAN YOU HELP US OUT
I’m a marketer, which means I do spend virtually every waking hour on a laptop or a phone, but IT expert I am not.
A chef spends a lot of time using a hob and an oven, but if the oven broke down, they aree not going to be the person fixing it.
A swimming instructor spends a lot of time in the water, but that does not mean they’re building the Ark.
A social media marketing expert is not an expert in IT, Website Design, SEO, Fixing Printers, designing apps, working your Nest out or setting your smartphone up.
AND NOW FOR THOSE WHO HAVE READ THIS FAR
If you’re
- Hard working
- Dedicated
- Passionate
- Realistic
- Open to new ideas
You’re our kind of business.
We love working with you.
Come and join us in the social media jungle!!!
NEED HELP WITH SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Chat to us about Social Media Marketing for YOUR organisation , so we can better understand YOU and what will grow your organisation
We can chat about whether online or Face 2 Face is better for you
We can only find out what is unique to your business by chatting with you
Look at our Social Media Training and Social Media Management services
We offer Social Media Training on
* LinkedIn
* Instagram
* Facebook
* TikTok / Instagram Reels
* Twitter
* Blogging
We can do this
* 121
* Corporate Workshops
* Group Workshops
* Face to Face or Via Zoom / Skype
Please call Alex on 07806774279 or email alex@altrinchamhq.co.uk
