Spoiler alert !!! This is a controversial post… well for me anyway!!! As I press send I’m nervous that I’m going to get slated for being honest. But I have to admit that I'm finding that keeping up with social media trends is exhausting, it's like trying to catch a butterfly with a broken net? There you go, I’ve said it !!
I’ve got a confession to make, the fact is, I'm just not as tech-savvy as those digital gurus who create flashy videos with their eyes closed. Understanding the latest trends takes a bit more time and a lot more patience. And just when I finally wrap my head around it, whoosh! Another trend comes along. Just when I think I've mastered the art of tweeting like a pro, bam! A new platform emerges, and I’m left trying to figure out how to do the TikTok dance (quite literally!).
If you're feeling like me, please tell me that I am not alone. For business owners there is this pressure to constantly create content for socials. When I scroll through facebook or instagram, I'm being bombarded with experts telling me what to do and how to do it, promising that if I follow their programmes, it will transform my business !!! I get that we absolutely need to be present but its the time required to create trendy content that worries me. Adding a photo and a few words doesn't seem to be enough anymore. For my business, I have great ideas for content, I start preparing it but I run out of time, because guess what ???? I have other work to do, I have a business to run !! So then I park it and by the time I get back to posting that content, its old news or I just couldn't be bothered. Does this happen to anyone else?
But wait, hold on a second! Just when we thought we had enough on our plates, the AI (Artificial Intelligence) revolution swoops in like a superhero, here to save the day—or so it seems. It's both amazing and a bit unsettling. Since using AI myself (BTW, thanks AI for the help in wording this
blog), I ask myself: "Is it okay to let AI do all the thinking for me?" “Am I becoming too reliant on it?” We can't deny the power of AI, nor can we stop the unstoppable force that is digital transformation, so, I'm trying my best to embrace it, but at my own pace.
Here is my thought process and the reason for my rant….... we all need to stay at a pace that’s comfortable and manageable for ourselves, stay in our own lane. I see way too many customers getting overwhelmed trying to meet the demands of digital marketing for their business. Is it time we all take a collective breath and slow down a bit? Sure, digital marketing is essential, we need to be present, sure ourselves and showcase our businesses, as people buy from people. So let's not forget the basics—the foundation of marketing that never goes out of style. Remember your customers? Yes, those wonderful people who are the heart and soul of your business. It's easy to get swept away in the digital whirlwind and lose sight of what truly matters.
When I work with clients, I take them on a journey back to basics. We start by figuring out who their customers are and what message they want to convey. We get right back to the roots of marketing—understanding your audience and speaking to them in a way that resonates, which sadly I feel some businesses have lost sight of.
Now, I know some might raise an eyebrow at my seemingly controversial views as a self-proclaimed "marketing expert" but I’m being honest and I know I’m not the only one who feels this way but maybe I’m one of the few marketeers to admit it !!
So lets learn from the new trends if/when applicable but at our own pace, and let's not forget the tried and tested fundamentals of marketing..... your customer and your message.