Why your social media isn’t working (and what to do instead)

You’re posting. You’ve got the Canva graphics. Maybe even a reel or two. So why do your likes, followers, and leads still feel… underwhelming?

If you’ve ever felt like yelling “IS ANYONE OUT THERE?!” into the social media void, you’re not alone.

Let’s break down why your social media isn’t working—and what to do differently starting today.

🚩 The Common Mistakes (Don’t worry—you’re not the only one)

1. You're focusing on the wrong metrics.
Chasing likes and follows feels good, but they don’t pay the bills. If your posts aren’t driving action—clicks, enquiries, bookings—then it’s noise, not impact.

2. You're posting for you, not your audience.
That “team lunch” photo or product close-up might be meaningful to you, but if your audience doesn’t care, it’s a scroll-past. Every post should answer: Why should they care?

3. You’re inconsistent.
Posting daily for a week, then vanishing for a month? Algorithms hate it. People do too. Social media needs rhythm to work.

4. You’re not telling a story.
Scattered content = confused followers. A clear brand voice and message builds trust and recognition over time.

5. You’re not making it easy to take the next step.
No link in bio? No CTA? People need hand-holding. Seriously.

✅ So… What Should You Do Instead?

1. Start with strategy.
What do you want from social media—brand awareness, leads, website visits? Without a goal, you’re just posting into the wind.

2. Think of it as a conversation, not a billboard.
Ask questions. Share value. Spark interaction. Social media is a two-way street.

3. Show up consistently—without burning out.
You don’t need to post daily. You do need a sustainable plan. (3 posts a week > 12 in one week, then nothing for a month.)

4. Use content pillars.
Think of 3–5 themes you want to be known for. Then rotate content around them. E.g. tips, behind-the-scenes, testimonials, FAQs, offers.

5. Prioritise engagement over perfection.
That slightly messy, in-the-moment post that gets real comments? Worth way more than a polished graphic that gets ignored.

⚡ Quick Wins You Can Do This Week

  • Add a call-to-action in every post (even a simple “tag a friend”).

  • Recycle your best-performing content.

  • Use Stories to show your face, your process, or a day in your life.

  • Ditch the “like and share” giveaways (they rarely build loyal fans).

  • Make it easy to contact you—bio links, pinned posts, Story highlights.

💡 Final Thought

Social media can work—but not as an afterthought.
When it aligns with your brand, your goals, and your audience’s needs, it becomes a powerful part of your marketing engine.

Not sure where to start? Or stuck in the “post and hope” cycle?
Let’s fix that with a simple social media strategy that actually moves the needle.

Not sure why your website, socials, or ads aren’t working? With a Digital Marketing Audit, I’ll dig into the data and give you a no-fluff, practical action plan to fix it.

Cristy Houghton

Cristy's unique career has taken her from country NSW to the city lights of Clarendon Street South Melbourne and back again. With an early career in radio as a copywriter and creative strategist, she is now a Jill of all trades as a graphic designer, website builder, blog writer, video editor, social media manager, marketing strategist and more. 

In fact, give her any task and this chick will figure out how to do it! Go on, we dare you!

No, really, we DARE you!!

Cristy has won two Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs) for Best Ad and Best Sales Promotion, and even has an 'Employee of the Year' certificate with her name on it.

Cristy and her husband James have traveled extensively through Russia, China and South East Asia, and have two fur-babies, Sooty (cat) and Panda (puppy). Cristy loves drinking coffee, meeting people to drink coffee, coffee tasting and coffee flavoured cocktails. She also enjoys road trips, TED Talks and watching cat videos on youtube.

http://www.embarketing.com.au
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