Making Social Media Feel Good Again: Shrug Off The Pressure To “Get It Right” And Find Social Media Success Your Own Way

Don’t Let The Pressure Of Getting It Right Suck The Fun Out Of Social Media.

Without a doubt, social media is one of the most important ways to connect your business with clients and customers. In fact, with skyrocketing social media use (thanks, #CovidLife) this has never been more true. But, as you know, it takes time, planning and effort to make the most of your online presence and to see those connections turn into sales. So, of course, you want to do it right and help your business thrive online. But are you putting too much pressure on yourself to get it right on social media?

Too many entrepreneurs fall into the trap of comparing themselves to other, seemingly more successful businesses online. This type of comparison can lead you to set unrealistic expectations for yourself and putting yourself under that kind of pressure really sucks the fun out of being on social media. So, how can you enjoy the benefits that social media can bring to your business without shouldering all that pressure? 

Making Social Media Feel Good Again

If you know me, you know that I LOVE a good social media strategy. Yes! I think there are things that you can do as a business to grow on social media but I also believe that social media should be a source of joy! So, instead of putting pressure on yourself by stressing about what you SHOULD be doing on social media, ask yourself what you WANT to be doing on social media. This shift in perspective will change the way you feel about creating content and showing up online! 

It’s Time To Shrug Off The Pressure To “Get It Right”

All you have to do is run a search for “social media pressure” on any search engine and you will very quickly see that you are not alone in feeling stressed out by social media. Unfortunately, a lot of the stress and pressure you feel comes from comparing yourself to others. This affects entrepreneurs just as much as anyone else — maybe even more so! Talk about pressure. 

Everyone seems to have a solution to the social media success equation. How many times have you seen posts telling you what you should and shouldn’t do? 

• Post “x” times each week and
• Show up in stories every day and
• Create “x” number of reels and
• Follow “x” number of accounts weekly and
• Hop on one leg and cluck like a chicken!

You get the idea. While all of these suggestions can help you connect with more accounts and grow your business, it can feel like a lot. As far as I’m concerned, no one should be losing sleep over getting it right on social — that’s no fun and leaves you at risk for burning out. 

Being present on social media is part of owning a small business these days — there’s no way around it!  Making sure it isn’t something that you hate doing is important for the health of your business and for your own mental health. So, if you are buckling under the pressure to get it right on social, it’s time to try a new approach and make social media feel good again.

Less “I Should” And More “I Want”

When you like what you are doing on social media instead of going through the motions trying to do what you think you should be doing you will see some very real benefits. 

• Showing up and creating great content will come easier
• Being on social media will feel good, fun and satisfying
• You will be motivated to keep showing up (consistency is key!)
• You will be more likely to connect with the right people — the people who are into the authentic you!

Questions To Help You Shrug Off The Pressure Of Getting It Right

In order to make social media feel good again, the first thing you need to do is to worry less about “should” and focus more on what you want! It’s time to put some fun and excitement back into your social media use. To start, give yourself some time to think about the following pressure-relieving questions and watch the way you engage on social change!

1. What Do You Love To Do On Social Media? Everyone has at least one thing they enjoy doing on social media, right? Whether it is writing post content, going live, posting in your stories or creating funny Reels, do what you love! If you’re not sure what your “thing” is, then try something new. You don’t have to jump on every trend but if you see something that feels like it could be a good fit, commit to trying it out a few times and see how you like it. You could stumble across something that just feels right (for me it was Reels!) and that makes posting fun and (BONUS!) connects with your audience in a really strong way. When you are creating content in a way that makes you happy, you can worry less about what you’re posting and enjoy the creative process! 
2. What Skills Can You Tap Into To Make The Work Easier? Everyone comes to the table (or tablet) with different skills and abilities. Creating content that relies on skills you already have is one way to take some of the pressure off. For example, if public speaking isn’t your thing but designing graphics is, then focus on creating posts with a strong visual element instead of worrying about filming videos. Doing what you’re good at is a great confidence boost and gives you a focus for connecting with your audience. 
3. How Much Time Do You Have To Invest In Social Media? As a business owner, time is one of your most valuable assets. There are only 24 hours in a day, right? Time is limited so you have to spend it wisely! Over-committing yourself to an ambitious posting schedule because someone thinks you should is not going to feel good — it will just stress you out! Be realistic and set yourself up for success. If posting 4 times a week is causing you stress and taking you away from other important tasks, then it isn’t working for you. Take the pressure off by either posting less or creating content ahead of time and scheduling it so it posts automatically. Planning ahead and creating content on your own timeline leaves more room for creativity and fun!

Find What Feels Good And You Will Have More Fun And More Success On Social Media

Planning and strategy will always play a role in growing your business on social media. But, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for creativity, fun and being social! If the pressure of “getting it right” on social media is getting to you, it might be time to take a step back and do some thinking. People will always have opinions about what you should be doing to succeed but I’m here to remind you that doing what you want is equally important. When social media feels good, you are already succeeding and your business can’t help but benefit.