You’re probably thinking, “Tasha what the heck is ghosting.?” Well, ghosting is a popular term used in the dating world for when you’re dating or talking to someone, and they just disappear. They stop responding to messages and more, they have ghosted you. In the last year, I have been noticed on social media, websites and even newsletters of businesses I support ghosting me. They have completely disappeared with no updates and left me wondering what the heck has happened to them. Today, I want to break down how this can happen and what you can do to fix it.
Social Media
Okay, I will be the first to tell you that social media can be very trisome. We all were using it for our personal lives and enjoying it. Then the storm of you need to be on all of the social media channels for the business came along, creating a frenzy of what do I post, how does it look, I am reaching my target audience and much more. So, you just threw in the towel and gave up altogether. I want you to take a step back for a moment to answer these questions.
- Why do you like social media?
- What do you hate about social media?
- What if you could simplify how you utilize the platform, would that make it better for you?
- Can you invest $10-$50 a month in an automation tool?
- Would you be interested in a virtual assistant to handle this for you?
Make sure you answer these questions honestly that is the only way to find the solution to ghosting on social media. One of the solutions I offer clients is cutting back on the platforms they use because they feel forced too. There was a time I felt “I had to be on snapchat” or I would lose potential clients or customers. That’s a lie that we place in our heads based on what society tells us. Honestly, find the platform you love using for your business, even if that is only one platform. Take the time to craft a plan for what you want to achieve.
- What do you want to achieve on this platform?
- Can you take the time to curate original content?
- What are the different ROI are you looking for?
- How often can you engage with your audience on the platform?
- Do you need to invest in automation or virtual assistant to help you?
Website
There are several small businesses I have been supporting since their launch, but their websites are the desert with no new products or services. I have said this time and time again once a customer purchase all the goods they want from you; they no longer have a reason to visit a website. When working with my monthly clients, I suggest them create product lines that can produce new products every month or various options to the products they have. When you think of Dr. Bonner’s products there are maybe eight variations of the products based on scent then you can get those variations in toothpaste, body wash, bar soap or lotion formation. Too many times I see people launching businesses they do not love then the ghosting happens because they are no longer in love. This is why it’s important not to jump on trends but be invested into what you to build.
- Can you put your business on pause so you can create a plan of attack?
- Take the time to look over the business finances for the period you were in business.
- Do you need to sit down with a consultant to bring clarity?
- Do you need to revamp your website, marketing, branding and social media to be more cohesive to your brand’s story?
- Is this the business you want to build or do you need to start completely fresh?
- Is there room in your budget to add more product consistently?
Everyday “bots” search the internet to index your website and others, this is why SEO is a very important aspect of your website. If you’re not updating your website at least weekly, you’re not being ranked on search engines hurting your chances of people finding you. Answering all these questions can help you move forward with your business. Sometimes it’s time for us to pivot in our business versus staying where we are. I loved running my online clothing store, but it was time for me to pivot into consulting.
Blogging or Email Marketing
One of my biggest pet peeves is to sign up for a newsletter or subscribe to blog than not hear from them at all or they pop up out of the blue. Them popping up out the blue happens more than not hearing from them at all. Honest truth, not every business needs a blog. There was a time I felt everyone needed to blog to make an impact on their business, I was caught up in the lies others told me, and I express them to others. Truthfully, I feel if you’re a physical product based company you should focus on email marketing. If you’re a service-based business, you can benefit from showing off your expertise through blogging and email marketing. There was a time I wrote five blog post a week, which wore me out. My next step was cutting down to three days, and now I am at one day. However, the content I put out once a week is powerful. I use my email marketing campaigns for real life explanations and going deeper with my audience.
Trust me, when I say running business is a plethora of work no one tells you about. In the beginning or until you make serious profit to bring on people who can help you, you will be doing your companies books, taking the photos, doing the copy for the website, social media manager and much more. The load can be really heavy at times, that’s why its important to sit down with someone to help bring you clarity and give you a plan to follow.
