The Biggest Mistake with Social Media Advertising

There is a common biggest mistake I see when it comes to social media advertising. Learn what it is and how you can avoid falling into the same trap.

Consider this your friendly reminder NOT to throw your money out the window…because yes, I’ve seen it happen way too often.

When looking at your Instagram metrics and making decisions about your content, take a big PAUSE before you boost anything. Always consider these two questions when it comes to content you'd like to boost:

✔️ Has the content already popped off organically? You want to be sure it's doing well with your audience before investing any money in showing it to the world. If the content isn't performing well with people who've already chosen to follow you, chances are, it won't do well with anyone else.

✔️ Are you seeing more views, more likes, more comments with this content than with other things you've posted? If so, I consider this a green flag to make an investment in using the content for advertising. 

Here's a key piece of advice: If your audience already loves something you've posted, imagine what a little budget could do!

A few other quick tips I swear by when it comes to social media advertising:

• Watch your ad like a hawk. Monitor performance so you can pivot fast if it doesn't perform how you anticipated. If it's not going well, don't waste money. Go ahead and turn it off.

• Always A/B test different hooks or captions. You’d be shocked at what a small tweak can change. By using A/B testing, you can get a better idea of what resonates with the people looking at your content.

• Keep your visuals scroll-stopping and branded. You want people to know they're looking at your content just by the way it's branded. 

• Give the ad at least 3–5 days to breathe before judging the results. If you're on the fence about how your ad is doing, give it a little more time. Don't go wild with this, but as long as the ad isn't flopping, there's no need to panic.
 

• Boost Instagram posts on desktop to avoid any pesky mobile fees. This tip is seriously worth the extra step!

As you work to boost your social media presence and reach by advertising, remember - spend smarter, not harder. 💰

If you're looking for support, tips and insights as you grow your business' social media, come join the Brandakin Besties Community! This group offers a unique way of connecting with me (Emily! 👋) and with other business owners and content creators. As a Brandakin Bestie, you'll get 1:1 support from me. It's like having a social media expert on speed dial. Become a Bestie and learn genuine, helpful answers to all of your social media questions.