So you’ve set up some accounts for your business on social media, well done! But if you’re reading this, it’s fair to assume your channels aren’t performing as well as you’d like. Mainly, you aren’t getting many followers.

This could be for a number of reasons. But don’t worry – I’m here to help. Below, you’ll find the top 5 reasons why people aren’t following your business on social media, and what you can do about it.

Posting too little or too much

One of the worst mistakes you can make with your account is not posting frequently enough. With the way social media algorithms are set up, if you aren’t posting enough you’ll simply disappear into the dark corners of the internet. Irregular posts will lower your relevance, so you will appear in people’s feeds less.

And believe it or not, posting too much will harm your follower count in a similar fashion. If you’re spamming followers with poor quality content, they’ll become tired of you and therefore stop following your accounts.

The solution? Have a content plan. You should be hitting the sweet spot of 3-5, top quality-crafted posts per week. If Use a scheduler such as Buffer to manage your posts in a better way.

Out of sight, out of mind

Many businesses make the mistake of not telling their customers or clients they are on social media. It’s unlikely that people will find your social media accounts on their own. So spread the word! Start with posters in your store or office. If you have business cards, put your handles on them. Include buttons/links on your website and in your email signature. These are small steps you can take that will make a difference.

If you’re looking to really push your numbers, why not run a promotion or giveaway competition? This will drive up your followers. Announce a worthwhile prize – more on running giveaways here.

You aren’t engaging back

You’re much more likely to retain followers if you’re engaging back. The main reason people and businesses use social media is to connect. If you aren’t participating in the conversation, people won’t continue to follow you.

When people comment on your posts, reply. If you get a direct message, write back. This builds trust with your current audience and shows people who don’t follow you that you care about your audience.

Relying on organic traffic

Unless you have the brand reputation of Nike or Apple, people won’t be going out of their way to follow your accounts. So on top of regular posting, what can you do?

Take advantage of boosted/promoted posts, particularly on Facebook and Instagram. This is a cost-effective tool you can use to boost your followers. For just £5 you can reach up to 1000, targeted people. Set yourself a budget of £30 for the month and try boosting some of your existing posts. If it works well you may wish to increase the budget.

You aren’t adding value

If you are simply promoting your products or services, people won’t follow you. Your accounts need to be more than just promotional pages.

Look at your content and think about how you can give more value to your customers. Your content should be a mix of being engaging, inspiring, humorous and useful. If you’re a hairdresser, why not share hair styling trends? Or if you’re a business coach, you could offer advice on different topics of business?

If people feel like they get value from your page, they’ll follow you.