Why Social Media won't get you clients

I had been a freelancer for 5 years when I thought social media was the answer to growing my business. I kept seeing all these younger and less experience "photographers" getting the jobs that I wanted and I thought, I gotta learn the rules, and play  the game.

 

So I did that. For about a year I I worked on growing my audience. I did it all: I posted every day, at specific times, engage with the comments, even go onto other peoples Ig's and engage with their posts. I entered some Pods, even hired a VA for community management, and lastly, when I realized my audience preferred photos of me than of my work, I started changing my content.

 

Before I knew it, I reached 10k, and my account was pretty much about my travels and lifestyle, not so much about my work. Whenever I posted my work people didn't engage (which is quite normal, if this is happening to you, don't be disappointed)

 

Here is the worst part about this whole thing: I started attracting the wrong clients. Brands started treating me like an influencer, expecting cheap photos, wanting to pay me to post rather than hiring me to take professional photos, and worst of it all expecting me to work for trade. I'll never forget the brand that responded "but why would we pay you? you have less followers than we do".

 

Thats when I realized I had spent my entire adult life building a successful business without instagram, and I could continue doing so.

 

So guys, I need you to stop obsessing over your instagram feed, likes, and comments.

This will not get you clients, and if it attracts potential clients, I am telling you, they might be the wrong ones.

 

Social media wont get you clients, but it will give you credibility, showcase at a glance your work, and let your clients know they can trust you. So use it wisely, as another portfolio piece, and a place to connect further with already existing potential clients.

 

It is important to mention, social media can be a great marketing tool. A way to connect with potential clients as long as you know your niche, where to find them, and you approach them yourself.

 

If you want to learn more about marketing, check out this blogpost on the 10 marketing lessons I learned fro10 years in business.