Our Social Media Campaign for Real Dummies. Part 4. Challenges, Triumphs, and Social Media Growing Pains

Week 4 has come and gone, bringing another mix of challenges, minor victories, frustrating setbacks, and yet, undeniable progress.

The Wins

• Pinterest is up and running smoothly. I’ve established a consistent system of listing 5 pins a day. Consistency is key, and I’m pleased to say that this routine hasn’t disrupted my schedule. I’ve integrated it seamlessly with my product listing process, making it efficient and effective.
• YouTube has become part of my product listing routine as well, and I’m excited to report that in just four weeks, I’ve tripled my view count. Small steps, but they’re paying off.
• Blogging remains a joy. I’ve maintained a pace of two blogs per week without trouble because I genuinely love writing.
• TikTok started strong. I’ve been consistently posting 5 short videos a day, and the view counts have been promising. One video even hit 5,000 views on Sunday, which was a huge morale boost! However, on Monday, three videos received zero views. I suspect a technical glitch or an issue with my smartphone. It’s disheartening when technology lets you down, especially in the middle of a promising start.

TikTok Troubles: Too Old for TikTok?

The setback made me question if TikTok is the right platform for me. The audience skews younger, and while I enjoy creating the content, I wonder if it will translate into business growth. The messages I get are often in youth slang that I barely understand. I might be too old for this platform, but it only takes me about 20 minutes a day—roughly 2 hours a week. If it doesn’t yield results, though, even that small amount of time could be wasted.

Social Media Overload?

Despite the occasional headaches, I’m pleased with the progress. Four weeks in, and I’ve got four platforms—Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok, and two blogs—more or less under control, assuming TikTok’s glitch isn’t a long-term issue. However, I find myself overwhelmed at times. I know that by Christmas, everything should be running smoothly, but that’s also when I’ll need to strategize on growing our following more rapidly. Simply posting content isn’t enough; we need a plan to accelerate growth.

New YouTube Channel

We’ve launched YouTube 2, a new channel focused on more informative, behind-the-scenes content about the business. It’s off to a slow start with just two videos and one view so far, but it’s a start.

The Bottom Line: Is It Worth It?

After four weeks of hard work, there’s no new business directly from social media yet, but we didn’t expect immediate results. I understand this takes time. It’s a bit of a balancing act: investing a lot of time into something that currently generates zero revenue while hoping it pays off down the line. We’ve only made one sale on our website so far, but we’re about to increase our Google Ads spend, which should help drive more traffic.

It’s becoming clear that while social media offers free exposure, it’s not actually “free” in terms of time. If I’m spending 30 hours a week on social media, I need to consider whether this is the best use of my time compared to paid ads that might yield better results. However, I’m enjoying the process of learning and growing these platforms. Experience has taught me that nothing worthwhile comes easily.

Final Thoughts

Our business on Etsy and Vinterior is already thriving, generating steady weekly sales. The goal of our website is to build independence, reduce selling fees, and achieve higher profit margins. But if the time investment for social media outweighs the benefits, we may need to reconsider our approach. Ultimately, while Google Ads costs money, my time isn’t “free,” and we need to weigh the benefits carefully.

This is just the beginning. I’m optimistic about what’s to come, and while it feels overwhelming now, I know that laying this foundation is crucial for our long-term success. By the time the holiday season rolls around, I’m confident we’ll have a clearer strategy and stronger results to show for it.