With more social media competition than ever, it can feel impossible to grow. It feels like everyone is selling something or hoping to become the next Alix Earle, which leads to the question: can you grow your social media organically? Is it time for paid ads? And how on earth do you stand out?

What is Organic Social Media Growth?

Organic social media growth is the process of expanding your brand’s reach, engagement, and following on social channels without resorting to paid advertisements. This means your brand’s growth is driven by the quality of your content and the engagement of your audience, rather than the financial investment in ads.

Embracing an organic marketing plan may seem daunting, but it’s a strategy that can yield significant benefits. By creating standout content, fostering a community around your brand, and identifying your competitive advantage, you can organically grow your social media presence. While it does require effort, the same can be said for ads. 

Paid ads take trial and error, oh, and money! You need to create good content that speaks to your ideal audience and has a competitive advantage. 

So, what is the difference?

Paid Ads

As I mentioned before, paid ads still require excellent content and usually multiple pieces to test A vs. B. If you’re willing to create an ad and have a budget to invest, then ads could be the way to go!

It will initially require extra work, but once you’ve tested the content and figured out what works, you can reach more of your ideal people faster, and who doesn’t want that?

Organic Social Media Growth

If you don’t have a budget to invest in the long game with paid ads, it may take a little longer to reach your growth goals, but it’s not impossible.

You have to sit down and get really clear on your messaging, but you’d have to do that with paid ads. You have to be willing to create quality content, and again, you have to do that with ads. You have to be willing to test content—yes, you guessed it—you have to do that with ads. The difference? You have to repeat that process more times and be willing to create multiple types of quality content that work!

If you did an ad that worked, you could bless and release that content. However, if you find content that works, you need to repeat the content style to continue reaching new audiences and gain the social media growth you desire.

Listen, it will take consistency, but all great things require work. Alix Earle did not become an overnight sensation; it may look that way, but she worked hard for so long before it clicked. Now, she makes millions of dollars a year and works 10x harder. Social media growth is not for everyone, but if you want it, it is possible!

Some Organic Growth Tips:

• Daily engagement means engaging with your ideal audience without selling to them. Follow their content, hype them up, learn what they want, and get your brand out there by commenting on and liking their stuff. 
• Sit down and clarify your messaging. Don’t just post to post. Knowing your message and reasoning will help Instagram push your content to people who are looking for it.
  • Storytime—Once I got engaged, my entire feed became about weddings. I found content creators who only made content about weddings, from planning to photographing to wedding trends. Once I got pregnant, you guessed it, my feed was all about moms, even people who are pregnant in the summer. The Instagram algorithm is brilliant. It knows us in a very creepy way. 
  • If you create consistent content with your brand message, it will continue to push your content out!
• Network- Find other people in your niche and build a community!

At The End of The Day

Organic growth is possible, but if you have the budget and the time, paid ads could work for you! No matter what you choose, you can grow your social media this year. 

Not sure how to brainstorm ideas that have a clear message and purpose? We are offering our Taylor’ed Content this summer. It is a custom content calendar with captions and hashtag tips specific to your brand and business. We deliver a month of ideas to you in advance with social media tips! Reach out to us hello@vividmarketingco.com to learn more; oh, and it’s on sale until 8/23/24 👀

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