Why Do We Care So Much About Followers and Likes?
(Spoiler: It Doesn’t Matter)
Alright, fellow small business owners, let’s be honest for a moment. You’ve just posted a perfectly polished, carefully captioned photo of your product, your logo, or perhaps even your dog sporting a miniature jumper with your business name on it (because, honestly, who doesn’t love a dog in a jumper?). And now, you wait. Refresh. Check again. And again.
Before you know it, you’re more preoccupied with counting those tiny blue thumbs, hearts, and the ever-alluring “follow” button than you are with actual sales or customer satisfaction. But let’s take a step back and ask ourselves—why do we care so much about likes and followers? It’s like being back in school, worrying about whether you’re sitting at the “cool” lunch table all over again.
Spoiler: It doesn’t actually reflect your success or your worth. Here’s why.
Followers Don’t Pay the Mortgage
Sure, having 10,000 followers might make you feel like a minor celebrity for the day, but unless those followers are turning into customers, they’re not exactly putting food on the table. There are businesses out there with only a few hundred followers who are absolutely smashing it because they focus on quality relationships and customer care, rather than getting caught up in vanity metrics. After all, your local bank manager isn’t going to be impressed by your follower count when your loan repayment is due, are they?
Likes Aren’t Loyalty
Let’s be clear, the “like” button is about as meaningful as a polite smile at a stranger in a queue. Just because someone double-taps your post doesn’t mean they’re going to splash their cash with you. In fact, people often like things because they feel it’s the polite thing to do—like your well-meaning Aunt Margaret who leaves a heart on every single one of your posts because she thinks it’s her family duty.
But here’s the thing—those likes aren’t necessarily converting into real engagement or brand loyalty. Do you know what’s far more valuable than a random like? A customer who’s committed and keeps coming back and brings their friends with them. That’s where the magic happens.
Algorithms: A Law Unto Themselves
Instagram, Facebook, TikTok—they’re all in control, not us. You could be posting content worthy of a grand prize, but if the algorithm’s having an off day, it’ll hide your post like it’s a state secret. That’s not a reflection of your business’s brilliance—it’s just the way these platforms work.
One minute your post is flying high, being seen by thousands, and the next, you’re screaming at your phone, wondering if you’ve accidentally been exiled to some shadowy corner of the internet. Don’t let a whimsical algorithm dent your confidence or your business acumen!
You’re Not Competing for Head Prefect
Remember school, when popularity seemed like the ultimate goal, and winning Head Boy or Girl was the pinnacle of success? Well, that’s what followers are like. But newsflash: running a small business isn’t about a popularity contest. It’s about real results—satisfied customers, steady sales, and making a genuine impact in your field. A follower count is just a number.
You wouldn’t judge the quality of a fine wine by how many people have taken a picture with the bottle, would you?
True success lies in the value you provide, the relationships you build, and the difference you make—not whether your Instagram following could fill a football stadium.
Your Product is the Hero – Not Your Perfectly Curated Feed
Remember the purpose behind creating your product or service and stay focused on your target audience. Getting too caught up in creating the perfect post or feed can make you lose sight of what really matters.
A flawlessly curated Instagram page won’t matter a jot if your product doesn’t live up to expectations, or if your customer service is less than stellar.
Focus on your craft, your service, and the brilliant value you’re offering. Because let’s face it—no one’s going to care that you used the perfect filter if your product doesn’t deliver the goods. Your worth is defined by the quality of what you do, not how many people are following your social media accounts.
The Bottom Line: Social Media is a Tool, Not the Final Goal
Don’t get me wrong—social media is a fantastic tool for promoting your business and reaching new customers and it is important to keep your social media up-to-date and relevant. But those likes and followers are just one small part of the picture. They’re not a measure of your success and they certainly don’t define your worth.
So, let’s all take a deep breath, stop checking the ‘likes’ every 30 seconds, and focus on what really matters: creating brilliant products or services, nurturing real relationships with our customers, and building businesses we are proud of.
Because at the end of the day, while likes might give us a little rush of dopamine, loyal customers and steady business growth are what we are really after.
That is what truly makes a difference.
