Welcome back to the business ignite podcast, where we light the fire for business growth and marketing success. Your hosts, Ethan Walker, Samantha Reed, bring you the latest trends, expert insights, and actionable strategies to fuel your business journey. Let's ignite your potential.

Ever find yourself scrolling through that feed and thinking, how in the world, like how did they get so many followers? It's like everyone else has the secret code to social media and we're just kind of stuck guessing. Totally. Well, today's deep dive, we're all about cracking that code. Love it. Or at least, at least getting a lot closer. Yeah. You guys shared an article from 95 Visual. It's called How Social Media Can Benefit or Hinder Your Success. Okay. And let me tell you, it is packed with insights. Yeah. So we're going to explore the pros, the cons, and most importantly, how you can make social media work for your goals.

And what I appreciate about 95 Visual, you know, they come at this whole thing from this visual marketing web solutions angle. They live and breathe this stuff. So their insights are super practical.

Absolutely. And that's what we want for you guys.

Exactly.

So let's dive into, like, the good stuff first, right?

Okay. Yeah. Absolutely.

The potential benefits that might make you want to double down on your whole social media strategy. I do. So 95 visual kicks things off with this whole idea of like humanizing your brand. Right. Which honestly sometimes online feels anything but human. Right. You know.

Yeah.

So how do we fix that?

Well, I think it boils down to trust. Right. Right. In a world of like faceless corporations and all that, you know, people crave connection. And I think when you can show the people behind. The logo, you know, share your story, maybe even, you know, laugh at yourself a little bit. Sure. That resonates. Yeah. Like, think about those behind the scenes glimpses you see, like on Instagram, you know, a local coffee roaster showing their beans being roasted, or, uh, you know, a potter's hands, like molding the clay.

Right.

It's that realness, you know.

It's true. It

cuts through all the noise.

It's like you're not just buying a product, you're, you're becoming a part of something.

Exactly.

Okay, so. We've established genuine connection is key, but then 95 visual also highlights this whole interactivity thing as a major benefit Yeah, what's the real power of two way communication when we're talking about social media?

I think it goes back to that to that feeling heard, you know

Okay,

like imagine you walk into a store the owners right there.

Yeah

ready to answer your questions they want your feedback like that's powerful and Social media gives you that direct line

It does. To

your audience.

It really does.

You need feedback on a new product. Ask.

Yeah.

You want to understand a customer pain point.

Uh huh.

Start a conversation.

Yeah. It's so much more valuable than just like shouting into the void. Totally. And hoping someone's listening. You know? Right. It's like having a real time focus group.

Exactly.

And speaking of valuable intel, 95 visual is so valuable. Spot on about the market research potential

of social

media. Yeah.

It really is. Like, you've got this treasure trove of data there. It's

true.

Just waiting to be analyzed, right? Yeah. Like, every comment, every share, it's giving you insights into what your audience is interested in, their behaviors.

Yeah, what they respond to.

You can track trends, you can see what's resonating, you can even, like, almost anticipate what your audience needs. Wow. Before they even, like, articulate it, you know?

That's amazing.

That's powerful.

Okay, so you've got me hooked on this whole, like, understanding my audience thing. Right. But let's be real. Sure. For a lot of us, budget is a huge factor. Oh, yeah. And thankfully, 95 Visual doesn't sugarcoat that. Right. They bring up the budget. Cost effectiveness as a major benefit. Yeah. What are your thoughts on that, especially for businesses with, you know, maybe limited resources?

I mean, this is where, this is where social media can be a game changer.

Okay.

Because think about traditional advertising costs.

Right.

I mean, you're talking like print ads, billboards. Yeah. Radio spots.

Good money.

Huge. Now compare that to The hyper targeted approach you can get online.

Okay.

I mean, for a fraction of the cost.

Really?

You can reach a very specific demographic.

Wow. You're

making sure your message is seen by the right people.

So instead of just like, putting it out to everybody.

Exactly.

You can actually say, okay, this is who I want to reach. And like, really hone in.

You got it.

That's incredible. And

that level of precision, I mean. Yeah. You can't, you can't touch that with traditional marketing.

Right.

You know, it's not even a

whole different ball game,

totally different. You're not wasting resources, you know, on these broad strokes. You're putting your message right in front of the people that are, that are going to be into it.

Okay. That is all incredibly compelling, but you know, 95 visual doesn't let us get too comfy with all the good vibes.

Of course not.

They remind us there's some downsides, some potential roadblocks to consider. And the first one. Honestly, makes me want to take a nap. Okay. Time commitment.

Yeah.

They even call social media audiences fickle?

Yeah, they are.

What does that even mean for someone who's like, already swamped?

Right.

Just running their business?

Well, It means you can't just like, dig your toes in the water and expect to, to make some waves. Consistency is key. Think about it. Like, you walk past the same shop every day, right? But their lights are only on like half the time. You'd probably be like, are they even open?

Are they in business? Yeah. Exactly. That's a good point.

It's the same online. If you're posting sporadically, disappearing for weeks. It erodes trust.

Makes sense.

Makes it hard to build that momentum.

Not even just posting. It's, it's engaging.

Oh yeah.

You know, it's, it's responding. It's staying on top of trends.

It's a lot. It

can feel like a full time job. Yeah. On top of your actual full time job.

It's true.

So how do you find that balance, especially when you're like juggling a million things? It's

where, yeah, that's where having a clear strategy is so essential.

Okay.

You know, it's, it's working smarter, not harder.

I like that.

So, you know, start by defining your goals.

Okay. What

are you trying to achieve?

Yeah. What are we doing here?

Right. Is it brand awareness? Is it customer engagement? Is it sales? Like, once you know where you're going,

Right.

You can kind of, you can map out the most efficient route.

Yeah. It's like instead of just driving around aimlessly, you're using a GPS.

Exactly.

To actually get where you need to go. A

hundred percent.

Okay, so we're being mindful of our time, we're being strategic.

Right.

But then there's this other point that 95 Visual raises, and it's a little bit of a reality check.

Okay.

This whole idea of an unbalanced following.

Right.

What does that even mean?

So it means that having a large following doesn't automatically mean business success.

Okay.

You could have thousands of followers.

Okay.

From all over the world.

Right.

But if they're not your target demographic.

Right.

If they're not actually interested in buying what you're selling. Right. It's a hollow victory.

It's like that saying, you can lead a horse to water.

Exactly.

You can have all the eyes on your content, but if they're not the right eyes, it's not translating to, like, actual, you know,

Results. It's all about, you know, it goes back to knowing your audience, like really knowing who they are.

So how do you do that? Like, how do you ensure that you are reaching those potential customers?

You gotta figure out, like, where do they hang out online? What are they interested in? What are their pain points?

Right. Exactly.

And once you have this clear picture of who you're trying to reach, you can tailor everything.

Okay, so it's not just about quantity, it's about quality.

A hundred percent.

Finding your tribe, so to speak.

Find your people.

Which brings us to a point that, frankly, gives a lot of people anxiety.

Okay.

The R word.

Oh boy.

Risk.

Yeah.

What are some of the biggest risks that businesses face on social media?

Oh, man. And

how can they, like, how can they mitigate them? What can we do?

Well, I think you gotta remember the internet has a long memory.

That's true.

Okay, so. What you

put out there is out there.

Yeah. A negative review, like, a poorly handled customer service interaction, I mean. Right, yeah. Even an innocent mistake.

Yeah. Can

spiral into a PR crisis.

Wow.

If you're not careful.

Yeah, it's true.

So it's crucial to have a plan in place.

Okay. For

handling negative feedback.

Okay.

Addressing misinformation.

Mm

hmm. Safeguarding your accounts. Yeah. Hacking attempts. All of that.

So it's not just about putting out fires. It's like having, you know. Right. The right fire extinguishers in place.

You got it.

Before things even get out of hand.

Be prepared.

Okay, that makes a lot of sense. Last but not least, 95 visual brings up a challenge that's becoming increasingly common.

Yeah.

Difficulty targeting. Oh

yeah, it's hard.

With so much noise. So. Online. Yeah. How can businesses break through? Right. Reach new audiences, especially when brand loyalty is like at an all time high. Yeah. It's almost like everyone's already found their favorite coffee shop. And you're trying to be the new one on the block and lure them away. It's a tough crowd.

It is, it is. But not impossible. I mean, think about what makes you try a new product or service. Is it a recommendation from a friend? An ad that just like, really catches your eye?

A

discount code you just can't resist? The same principles apply online.

Okay. I

know.

So it's about finding those creative ways to, like, to pique people's interest. Totally. Give them a reason to, like, look twice.

Absolutely.

Okay, we've covered a lot of ground here.

We have.

Both the, like, exciting opportunities and the very real challenges of using social media to, you know, find success. Right. But I always find that the most valuable part of any deep dive is that so what moment, right? So what does all of this actually mean for you, the listener?

Yeah, that's the question. And

your unique goals.

Well, I think 95 visual. They nail it in their conclusion. They say social media should be a piece of your strategy.

Okay.

Not the whole pie. It's about balance.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Exactly.

Yeah.

And they emphasize skilled management, which

Yeah.

Circles back to what we were talking about before. Right. The time commitment.

Being smart about it.

Mitigating the risks.

Yeah.

It's not enough to just show up. You know?

Yeah.

You gotta show up consistently.

Right.

Authentically.

E real.

And strategically.

Have a plan.

Have a plan.

It's like the difference between, you know, dabbling in a hobby and running a marathon. You've gotta have a game plan.

You gotta train for it.

Yeah. You gotta train. Yeah. You need endurance.

Yeah.

And you've also gotta be able to adapt along the way.

Right. Because things change.

Yeah. Yeah. And what I really appreciate is how 95 Visual, You know, they really encourage businesses to think about their specific context. Yeah. What works for a global tech giant. It isn't going to translate to, you know, a local bakery or, you know, a freelance consultant.

Yeah. And here's something else to keep in mind, right?

Okay.

Social media, it's constantly evolving.

Always.

New platforms are popping up, like, overnight.

Yeah, it's crazy.

Algorithms change. User behavior shifts.

It's true.

What works today might be old news tomorrow.

It's like trying to hit a moving target while riding a roller coaster. Yeah. Yeah.

That's a good one, yeah.

So how do you stay ahead of the curve without getting, like, completely overwhelmed?

I think it's all about staying curious.

Okay.

Experiment. Don't be afraid to try new things. Analyze the results.

Okay.

Adjust your approach.

Don't be afraid to, you know, just try something.

Exactly. And that's the beauty of the digital world. Okay. It's so dynamic.

Yeah.

And that presents both challenges and amazing opportunities. It

really does.

For growth.

That's such a great point to end on, you know? Just embracing the ever changing nature of the beast.

That's it.

And you know what? We want to hear from you.

Yes.

What are your biggest social media wins? Right,

let us know.

What challenges are you facing?

We want to hear it.

Head over to our website to share your thoughts.

Yeah, and And

explore some of the, the awesome resources we put together.

Check those out.

Until next time, happy connecting.

Thanks for tuning into the Business Ignite podcast, where we fuel your business growth and marketing success. If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to rate and review us. It does help others find the show. Don't forget to follow us on social media at Business Ignite podcast and share this episode with a friend. Keep the fire burning and remember, your success is just one strategy away. Until next time, stay ignited.