Since the dot com boom happened in the 90s, we have been overrun with social media, apps, and digital marketing for our businesses. Entrepreneurship is on the rise, and social media is the advertising medium of choice. It seems there is always a new way to connect!
But we humans like shiny things.
We get distracted by new toys. Then the overwhelm sets in. Keeping up with industry trends and staying competitive is very important. It is also important to know if you should be hopping on a trend. This is especially true when social media creates FOMO or the fear of missing out, on what others are doing, new platforms, new technologies, and everything in between.
Do you really need to be on another social media platform?
Globally 3.8 billion people are using social media platforms. It would seem that the best bet to get our business out in front of our ideal clients would be to be active on all the platforms.
Yes, leveraging social media to reach massive amounts of people is an important part of marketing strategy. But unless you have a massive marketing budget and team, this task is virtually unrealistic (pun intended). As small business owners, we often just don’t have the bandwidth.
There are seven major platforms used around the world right now and each one unique in purpose, demographic, and culture. For more on social media marketing and leveraging these platforms, check out Social Media Marketing: The Ultimate Guide. While having a presence on several platforms is a good idea, a strategy is needed to determine which platforms your company will dive into deeper.
As a social media manager and consultant, I get asked all the time, “Should I be on x platform now?” The answer is not as simple as yes or no.
It is important to realize that the next big thing may not be a good fit for your company right away, if at all. So really, the question should be: how will another platform benefit your company mission and goals?
Fear of Missing Out and Comparing
It is absolutely human nature to compare. We compare what we have, what we do, and who we are to others. The dawn of social media has sent comparison into hyperdrive. We often only see the highlights of people's lives, and this causes some to have unrealistic expectations for their own lives and businesses. The idea that somehow people have made their success without long hours, failures, and years of work creeps in. And it is assumed that their lives are happy or fulfilled based on a cleverly lit photo.
This constant comparison feeds into the fear of missing out or FOMO. This phenomenon is described as the perception that your peers are having more fun, living better lives, or experiencing better things than you are. This deep sense of envy affects self-esteem and is often magnified by social media. This is something we all can experience and to different degrees.
It’s imperative to be aware of these feelings and know how to manage them when it comes to our businesses and what will want to offer or include in our marketing efforts.
How to Beat FOMO
There are ways to silence the feelings of FOMO and know the difference between just wanting to be a part of something and needing to add a trend or service to your business as an asset.
Change your focus. Focus on what you are doing well for your clients right now instead of what you see other people doing for theirs. Everyone’s business is different.
Remind yourself of your mission, your goals, and your strategy. Do quarterly SWOT analyses to reevaluate and see if you can add something new.
Know your ideal clients and the content they prefer to consume
Do research on each platform to understand what content works and who is on that platform
Taking the time to do some research, take polls from your audience, and analyze some data will guide you through the copious amounts of possible content to create, marketing strategies to use, and platforms to be active on. If you continue to struggle with social media platforms or lifestyle FOMO, check in with your trusted community for support and practical marketing advice. If you haven’t found your people, you are in the right place!
Join AMSE today and get all the tools, resources, and community you need to succeed as a milspouse entrepreneur! We also have a Slack channel for members to ask for advice and support, or utilize our member directory in the newest edition of the Military Spouse Entrepreneurship Guide!
Christinna Kitchaiya is the founder of Bad Ass Military Moms. Having been a military wife for 18 years, and a mother for 14 years, she has been through the ups and downs and has found her passion in creating a community for others to share their stories.
