Organic Posts vs. Social Media Ads: Which Strategy Boosts Your Business?

Kristina Stubblefield: [00:00:00] Are you thinking that posting a couple times on your social media means you're advertising to your target audience? I have some news for you. It's not. In fact, inconsistent posting can leave you with limited results. But, there is a much more effective way to get the visibility you need. Today, we're going to break down the key differences between posting and running ads on social media.

Whether you're trying to boost brand awareness or drive conversions, this episode will help you decide which strategy is Is right for your business.

 Welcome to Simplified Solutions, your go to resource for small business owners and entrepreneurs seeking practical advice, innovative strategies, and simple solutions for business, marketing, and technology. I'm your [00:01:00] host, Kristina Stubblefield. If you're eager to take your business to greater heights, then you're in the right place.

We're here to help you unleash your business's untapped potential, boost your visibility, and maximize your investments. Let's dive into the world of Simplified Solutions. Stay tuned, and let's simplify success together.

Today, let's start by talking about organic social media posting. This is when you post something on your business's social media page without paying for it.

Basically, what most of us are already doing. You might post a photo of your products, share a customer testimonial, or even just give an update about your business. But here's the thing. Organic posting is mostly for engaging with your existing audience. It [00:02:00] is great for building relationships, letting people in, like on behind the scenes content or sharing stories about your brand.

You're interacting with people who already follow you, but you're also competing with the algorithm. Did you know that in most cases, only around 2- 5% of your followers might actually see your post? That's right. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram prioritize post mainly from friends and family.

So, unless you're posting consistently and getting a lot of engagement, your reach is pretty limited. So, yes, organic posting is important for keeping your current audience engaged. But you're not reaching new people in any significant [00:03:00] way. So let's talk about social media ads. This is where the game changes.

Unlike organic post, Ads are paid promotions. They allow you to target a specific audience, even beyond the people who already follow you.

You can target by age, location, interest, behaviors, and even re target people who've visited your website or engaged with your content before.

The beauty of social media ads is that you get guaranteed visibility. You're no longer relying on the algorithm to decide who sees your content. You're putting it directly in front of your ideal audience that you choose. Whether you're looking to raise awareness, drive traffic, or increase sales, ads are a direct [00:04:00] line to achieving those goals.

And let's not forget about the data. Ads give you measurable results. You can see exactly how many people saw your ad, clicked on it, and in some cases, even made a purchase. It's precise. And you can adjust your strategy based on what's working. I actually highly encourage you to do so. Now, I know a lot of small business owners think that just posting a few times a week on social media is the same as advertising, but I'm here to tell you that's a big misconception.

Trust me, I've worked with businesses for over 20 years and I've seen it time and time again. Here are two of the biggest misunderstandings that I've come across. The first one, people believe that [00:05:00] organic posts reach all of their followers or even new customers. Wrong. Like we talked about earlier, organic reach is limited.

You're only reaching a fraction of your audience unless they're highly engaged with your content. on a consistent basis. The second one, some people think that running ads is just too expensive, but the truth is ads can be scaled to any budget. You can start off small, maybe five dollars a day and still see good results if you target correctly.

It's all about working smarter, not harder, and understanding how to use these platforms to your advantage.

Let me break it down even a little more clearly. The reach. [00:06:00] Organic posts engage your current followers. But ads allow you to expand your audience significantly. 

Cost. Organic is free, but you're getting limited results. Ads require an investment, but you can control your budget and get more immediate results.

Control. Ads give you full control over who sees your content, while organic posts are at the mercy of the algorithm. So, how do you decide when to use each? Use organic posting to nurture your existing audience. Keep your brand top of mind and build relationships. Use ads when you need to promote a product, a service. Run a campaign or [00:07:00] reach new customers quickly and efficiently. A balanced strategy here is key. You want to keep engaging with your followers while also using ads to bring in new leads and drive sales.

So you may be wondering, what can you do today? If you're just relying on organic post and expecting massive results, It's time to rethink your strategy. Start by reviewing your posting schedule. First and foremost, are you being consistent? Then think about your goals. If you need to expand your reach or drive more sales, it's time to dip your toes into the world of social media ads.

You don't need a huge budget to get started, but I highly encourage you to have a strategy. Now, if you want more [00:08:00] help on setting up your social media strategy, whether it's organic or paid ads, I can help you. Just visit my website to schedule a strategy session with me and let's figure out the best approach for your business.

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Kristina Stubblefield: Thank you for joining us today on Simplified Solutions. If you found value in this episode and want to dive deeper into topics like this, here's how you can stay connected. Join our vibrant Facebook group, Simplified Solutions with Kristina Stubblefield to connect with fellow entrepreneurs and continue the conversation.

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Until next time, remember there are always simplified solutions for your business.