Starting from Scratch: Building Social Media Following and Monetizing Online Presence

So you've decided to take your first steps into the world of social media as an aspiring influencer, business, or brand. If you're about to start from absolute zero, this guide will help you get up and running. We'll focus on the best tips and tricks for gaining traction on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

Setting the Foundations

The very first thing you need to do — even before you begin thinking about content strategies and posting schedules — is to create a Gmail account. The Gmail account acts as the backbone for all your social media efforts as it is used to register and manage accounts across multiple platforms. It's best to create a unique and consistent username that defines your brand or persona.

Strategy is Everything

Once you’ve set up your accounts, it's time to get down to the nitty-gritty: the content strategy. Beyond knowing what to post and how often, I'll also share with you some of the mistakes I've made throughout my journey so you know what to avoid from the get-go.

Establishing more than one account per platform is common practice for those serious about making money online. This allows for testing different strategies, training, and refining your brand messaging.

"Remember, all videos should ultimately lead to one and the same page (whether its your website, blog, or affiliate marketing page); even if you're running multiple accounts promoting the same thing, the purpose remains the same - driving traffic to your main interest point."

Common Mistakes

One of the most frequent mistakes people make early in their social media journey is buying followers to quickly boost their profile. However, this strategy backfires when the algorithm detects your account is being followed by less than engaged followers. The result can damage your engagement rates and ranking, which is why I recommend growing your account organically.

Growing Your Social Media Presence

Maintaining a low follower-to-engagement ratio is key, and why I emphasize the importance of only having genuine followers. Nurturing real connections by following back and engaging through messages will boost your chances of having your content shown to them more frequently.

So how else can you grow your following? Providing valuable content that elicits reactions is a proven strategy.

"Focus on entertainment before education. Your goal for the first few months should be to entertain your audience. This builds up engagement and lays the foundation for when you start introducing your business or services properly."

Maximize the 'Viral' Factor

To gain traction quickly, you need to piggyback on what’s already working on the platform. Adopt content strategies from top influencers in your niche. Develop your unique spin or viewpoint on their content and replicate their successes.

Daily Actions for Increasing Engagement

While regularly posting quality content is essential, it is not the only thing that matters. Engage with influencers and other users in your niche daily by following and commenting on their posts. This introduces you to their followers and increases the likelihood of them checking out your profile.

Scaling Your Social Media Efforts

Paid promotions are a legitimate way to scale up your social media growth without resorting to buying fake followers. TikTok allows you to promote posts which are then shown to thousands of people. The cost can be as low as $7 for 4000 impressions.

Leverage the Power of YouTube

Finally, consider expanding your reach beyond your primary platforms. If you are creating quality short-form content for TikTok or Instagram, consider migrating those videos onto YouTube Shorts. Here, your content can be monetized once the channel itself is monetized.

Conclusion

In conclusion, growing a successful social media presence from scratch requires a blend of strategic content creation, consistent engagement, and smart scaling through promotional methods. With these strategies, you'll be well on your way to building a lucrative online presence in no time. Awesome, let's go make social media history together!

Happy posting!