content . I will say that the best way to get over this is to stop getting in your own way . Just start . Introduce yourself , let people get to know you , show them your personality , and highlight all of your talents .
Although it ’ s an invaluable tool to promote yourself ( for free ), I do see social media getting in the way of people ’ s growth in real life . Some seem to be more concerned with their social media presence than what they ’ re actually doing hands-on . I can ’ t tell you how many times I ’ ve seen a new client who came in to see me after seeing another provider solely based on Instagram numbers , and they were totally let down by their experience . I always say , “ I want to be better in person than what I ’ m perceived to be online ” because social media can truly be smoke and mirrors . I see accounts with tens and even hundreds of thousands of followers who don ’ t have the actual skill set or experience to match . Remember , Instagram numbers do not always translate to being skilled or knowledgeable , so focus on your craft first and use Instagram as a tool to showcase what you do to attract your desired clientele .
I know a lot of people get discouraged by the numbers , and I get it – we want the numbers to become more visible in hopes it translates to more dollars . Trust me when I tell you , there are people out there who have a big following but aren ’ t actually making a living or having success in real life . A number count doesn ’ t always equal success . As a reminder , I always ask myself this question : Would I rather have $ 100K in savings or 100K followers ?
In the age of social media , I feel as though I ’ m watching some sort of competition ; so many people are desperately trying to get recognition of being the first or the best or the most popular or most liked . In my opinion , the best way to stand out is by being authentically you . Refer back to your brand : Who are you ? Who is your desired client ? What is your WHY ? It ’ s okay not to post what ’ s trendy and “ likable .” If I ’ m being honest , I stopped scrolling my Instagram feed because it made me feel completely uninspired ; every post I was seeing was a version of the last . I know we all want the likes , but staying authentic to yourself and to your brand will always age better than pushing out forced content to remain liked . This is why when you click on my profile you won ’ t see a beautifully curated feed , or videos of me dancing , or using the trendy phrase of the moment in my captions . I ’ d rather be unpopular on Instagram than let my brand become like everyone else ’ s .
The people you win as clients will be your biggest advocates and free promoters .