Fear of Social Media & How to Overcome It
Also, dates for your diary
I've been reflecting on the fear surrounding social media, which is a genuine concern I've seen among many participants in Startup School for Seniors.
Common worries include:
Feeling they have nothing meaningful to say
Fear of receiving negative feedback
Concerns about the time commitment, which they feel they can't afford
Doubts about generating sales through their efforts
Here’s the reality: if you don’t know which social media platforms your customers use, then engaging in social media is essentially a waste of time. You'd have better luck shouting about your business in the middle of the Moroccan desert—chances are, that would attract just as much attention.
Also, social media is playing the long game because you are going to need to build trust and your reputation and that takes time. If you want to sell quickly, you’re best off going to your existing network, whom know and like you, and discovering a problem you can help them to solve.
It’s also crucial to enjoy what you do. Personally, I love writing and have come to appreciate creating short-form videos, even though it felt daunting at first. Some of our participants enjoy Instagram for its ability to express their artistic side.
I’m currently loving Substack, for its ability to help me connect with other writers sharing similar interests and generate an income at the same time.
My passion for my topics makes content creation easier. Having a distinct point of view is vital. I can't stress this enough: being bland or sounding like a cliché is unappealing, and it’s all too easy for tools like ChatGPT to generate predictable, uninspired posts that only clutter the internet.
Yes, expressing original thoughts can be intimidating at first. But remember, you can always hit the DELETE button. From my experience, it takes practice to become comfortable with the discomfort of sharing your own ideas. Start with one or two posts a week. Engage by liking, commenting, and sharing content from those you appreciate, and you'll begin to see results. It’s not so much about frequency at the beginning, but rather about consistency.
If one social media channel, like Facebook, isn’t yielding results, don’t hesitate to explore others. Discover where your ideal customers are most active.
The rewards—likes, comments, and reposts of your own content—make the effort worthwhile. Establishing yourself as a thought leader is a powerful way to stand out in a crowded market. Embrace the journey, and remember that your unique perspective is what will resonate with others.
If you’d like to discuss how to improve your social media presence, book a 15 minute Office Hours session with me or Mark. We’ll help you to uncover how to ramp up your influence and inspire others with your voice.
Office Hours are for paid subscribers only. Until the end of January, an annual membership to the GWDC has been reduced to £49.99/year instead of £99.99. SUBSCRIBE NOW AND BENEFIT.
Dates for your Diary:
I have now added a new tab on website with all the dates for the Power Hour and the Moving Forward Group as a reminder.
February 2025
1st Power Hour
15th Moving Forward Group
They are all bookable via Eventbrite and you can book for the months ahead, which means you’ll receive reminders as and when they occur.
There are numerous workshops on Getting Started on Linkedin, Selling Online, your One Page Business Plan, that GWDC members can access for free. You will find the calendar of those upcoming events here.
Go Viral with Notes on Substack
I’ve been spending more time getting to know Substack, the newsletter platform that enables you to monetise your subscribers. Get Work Done Club is hosted there and I’m enjoying being part of the community.
In April 2023, the platform introduced Notes, which is similar to a running feed that you would find on Facebook or LinkedIn. It’s a great way to engage with others using the platform, create bite-sized content when you have a thought you want to share and build up your followers.
As part of a group I belong to that is about growing followers on Substack, a member has created a cool tool to create notes based on preset templates. I’ve tried it out and the engagement rate on my note has been higher than average. You can try it out here - it’s called Viral Notes.
See you on Saturday for the next Power Hour. Don’t forget to book your ticket,
Suzanne