5 Lessons From 10K+ Followers 👀

Going viral or getting a TON of followers is a dream most businesses want to achieve with their marketing, but it’s not as easy as it sounds!

With more and more businesses starting their journey with video and more content is posted online, it’s getting increasingly harder to compete for consumers’ attention. Or, for the content to be good enough for consumers to want to follow them.

Truthfully, getting tons of followers isn’t a game changer. It’s more about who actually follows you and why, plus, what they give in return. Who wants 10Million followers that give absolutely nothing in return, don’t share your content, and enjoy it too?!

In fact, I’d plead with you not to focus on going viral or getting tons of followers and instead aim to reach millions of potential customers with a more warm-lead based approach.

That’s what I’ll be diving into today. So, let’s see those lessons!

Lesson #1: You don’t want to go viral

On the surface, virality actually sounds fantastic. Right?

Views and followers beyond your wildest dreams, and a lot of quick attention onto your business. What’s not to love? Well…Trust me, from going to nearly 10K followers in 3 months there’s more love to be had.

Once your business goes viral, there's often an expectation to keep producing viral content. I mean, that’s great and I love it, I thrive under pressure. However, this pressure can be stressful and could lead to content that doesn't align with your values or long-term goals. This is why I build followers in specific ways on specific networks, because everyone knows REAL people follow real people who aren’t fake. Unless you're trying to be the next Mark Zuckerberg and trying to impress someone? This could cause your business to lose sight of what’s really important. Your core values and branding..plus, obviously the longevity of business and clients is what you need to focus on.

Lesson #2: Think long-term, not short-term

Do you consider going viral as reaching millions of views, or trending as a go-to voice just for the day? I did, I tone my voice on channels such as SnapChat (where I have most my following) for the day-to-day REAL ME. And hey, that’s ok for me. I don’t need thousands of fake people to imitate I’m something I’m not. To be honest, I’ve always let business following be lower than normal, because I focus on having real relationships in business and in my personal aspects of life. Don’t always think high-following is the end-goal because being famous isn’t everything. Just Trust me on that one - no big headediness!

Personally, I’ve always been an advocate for the long-term over the short-term. Think what following can do in certain networks, and why people are actually following you.

This tactic enables consumers to grow with your business and follow along for the journey as being you, or the “corporate you” for example, which builds rapport, tight-knit relationships, and allows consumers to buy into you.

Posting one video that reaches 10K views in 24 hours. I’ll pass! Been there, done that. In fact my video with Jeremy Clarkson I put a £50 budget into advertising on social media, and got 10K views for Clarkson’s Farm. did exactly that, and I put my own money in as a sign of respect for someone I grew up watching and respected. I’d rather build respect by posting 100 videos over 12 months that reach REAL people, for the right reasons. For my clients, or me. Now that’s what real people call prolific!

Lesson #3: Lead with value

If you’re like me, you’ll have sunk hours into content that doesn’t move the marketing needle, yet wonder why your posts underperform. Right? Practise makes perfect and all that jazz?

Often, this is due to your content being you-focused, and not giving enough ‘value’ to your consumers.

Leading with value has been the eye-opening eureka moment in my own content journey. And, certainly so in my personal following or aspects too! As soon as I made the shift to adding value, my content skyrocketed… as it encouraged engagement, shares, comments, and powerful growth. This whole talk about being “real” I speak of, really does its justice!

It’s a firm lesson that even though you think you’re the best thing since sliced bread (which we all do, it’s natural) consumers only care about what value you can add to them. If you can’t, they’ll find somebody that will.

Lesson #4: Views aren’t important

Going viral, and reaching millions of people was always been a goal of mine. Isn’t it for you all?

I thought it meant huge growth, my business scaling to millions of revenue every year, and all the bells and whistles. In fact, the views mean nothing, and reaching big numbers shouldn’t be the aim of the marketing game. Numbers are numbers for a reason… because they aren’t measured in reality.

A business that reaches 100 viewers that all want, need, and desire what you offer will consistently outperform the business reaching 100,000 viewers that don’t. Remember that!

Don’t let your ego about gaining millions of followers stop you from focusing on building a smaller, more targeted pool of consumers.

Lesson #5: Vanity metrics do add social proof, even if you think they don’t

One of the benefits of ‘vanity metrics’ is the power of perception.

Compared to the business that’s only reaching 100 views, the business reaching 1,000,000 looks like they know what they’re doing - even though that’s not always the case. And. The smarter guys out of the bunch, can see your so called 1Million views, with one thousand likes and 20 comments means you’re on that so famous nowadays ROBOT thang! 😂 

At times, consumers can judge a business by their social status. The bigger the numbers, the more credible, reliable, and authoritarian that business is perceived, which adds huge value to building trust and reputation online. It sucks, honestly I really does. It makes the smaller more REAL people like myself and tons of others I know (support) dnd work with, look like peasants! However, trust me…it’s all part of the game and you’ve got to learn how to play it. I tend to not play a game, and (and forgive me here) keep it ALI G by “keeping it real” 😉

It’s tough to stand out, and I emphasise with you if you’re struggling. I really do, but know with being yourself you’ll build an empire you’re actually proud of, not something like that is just money invested.

Hopefully, the lessons I’ve learned over the last ten years of creating professional videos will support your growth, change your mindset, and motivate you to approach your content from a different angle. If not, I hope at least something in this mailer has changed you for the better!

Q&A

• So, are you ready to harness using followers for your business?

• Do you have any pain points I can help you with smoothing out regarding getting tangible followers not just buying some bots?

• What do you think you could utilise for your followers and how would it impact your business?

Whenever you’re ready, here’s how I can help you:

1. Book a {60 MINUTE} Business Power Hour with me, and unlock the secrets to making your social media videos stand out online as I tweak your approach, and analyse how to improve your current videos.

2. Don’t have time to create great videos yourself? Focus on your business, whilst we focus on creating the videos that you’ve always dreamed of. Get in touch to find out more.

Until next Friday, love to you all!

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