Social media is not free marketing

<h2>Social media is not free marketing. In fact, it may be costing you more than you can afford.</h2> <p>Nothing good is ever free. And social media is not free marketing despite what you may have heard others say. In fact, relying on social media to grow your business is one of the top mistakes I see entrepreneurs make online. Instead, grow your business without social media, grow your business your way, the way that feels good and is aligned with your values. You don't have to do what the experts say to do.</p> <h3>What are the costs of social media?</h3> <p>Many entrepreneurs fall into the trap of believing that social media is free marketing and therefore the end all be all of growing a business.</p> <p>Here's what you need to know instead.</p> <p>Social media platforms are owned by businessmen who want to make big money and they do so through paid ads. They are not interested in your business or your success. Algorithms have been created not for you to beat, but for them to drive traffic to the businesses paying the most in ad spend. Because of this, only 2% of the people who follow you on social media will ever see your content. Even fewer will engage with it. Unless, of course, you are <a href= "https://therobyngraham.com/facebook-and-instagram-ads/">paying for ads</a>. And even then, you are at risk of who the ads are bringing into your community. Are they soulmate clients or people looking for something free?</p> <p>If you put all of your efforts into growing your business on social media, you are missing out on lucrative opportunities for long-term growth and a consistent stream of clients.</p> <h3>Build the foundation first if you want long-term success</h3> <p>First and foremost, the <a href= "https://therobyngraham.com/solid-foundation/">foundation of your business</a> includes your <a href= "https://therobyngraham.com/effective-marketing-strategy/">unique personal brand</a>, a website with <a href= "https://therobyngraham.com/write-content-for-seo/">search-engine-optimized copy and blog content</a>,