When you start a business, it’s natural to look at competitors on social media. Their posts get hundreds of likes. Maybe even thousands, yet yours get eight. One of those is you. One is your grandma. It’s so easy to feel deflated.
Take a closer look at some of the world’s biggest brands. You will realized that even they sometimes have posts with only fifteen likes.
I saw a major billion-dollar company with a video on their main page that had only four likes on Tiktok! That told me everything I needed to know. It gave me the courage to keep going. It made me realize which numbers are worth watching and which ones are just noise.
I decided to try TikTok Live. It was possibly the most stressful, anxiety-inducing activity I have ever willingly put myself through. I made a deal with myself: "Stay on for two hours and just talk, even if nobody watches."
One person would pop in, then leave. Another name would appear, then vanish. Four names would show up at once. How do I get them to stay? I had no idea. I panicked and stumbled over my words. Of course, they left too. Over the course of the session, hundreds of people came in and out in waves. I felt stupid. I felt embarrassed. It wasn't the Bajan heat making me sweat, it was nerves.
Then, something happened that took me by surprise. We made three sales. One specific product.
If you’ve seen the OYG vending machine, you know it holds a variety of products. Our lashes are our bestsellers, followed by the Medicube range. Our bikinis usually sit quietly on the bottom two rows.
During that Live, I showed those bikinis. I showed the vibrancy of the fabric and the fit. I explained the intentional design of the high-waisted bottoms and the fuller-coverage tops.
That day, for the first time, our bikini sets sold. Three of them. The next day, it happened again. I thought nobody was watching. I thought nobody cared. But they were.
This wasn't a fluke either. It kept happening. I would go Live, feel like a fool, and then make a sale on the exact product I was talking about.
Everyone’s business journey looks different. There are brands with hundreds of thousands of followers and "viral" engagement that are drowning in debt or filing for bankruptcy. It’s not to say that social media doesn't help. Likes and followers can absolutely be a powerful tool for success. Instead, it's to say that beyond followers, you want a community. You want people who love what you do, stand for what you stand for, and want to grow with you.
As you perfect your craft, the followers will eventually come. But for now, stop comparing your behind-the-scenes moments to someone else's highlight reel. Stop looking at the social stats and start looking at the numbers that sustain you.
Ask yourself:
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How many people are leaving me positive feedback?
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How many customers are returning?
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Are you building a base of loyal supporters rather than just a crowd of people passing by?
The goal isn't to be popular; it's to be impactful. When you stop chasing the algorithm and start chasing the connection, that’s when the real business begins.
Signed with love - K
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