3 Things Impacting Your Social Media Success (Beyond Strategy)

This is not another strategy post...

Look, you know I’m all about strategy – I could talk about it all day. But if hearing the word "strategy" makes your shoulders tense up, I get it. This isn’t one of those posts.

Instead, I want to highlight three things that could be holding back your success on social media that have absolutely nothing to do with your strategy. These are often overlooked, but they matter just as much as your content calendar. Let’s get into it.

1. The literal quality of your content

Before you panic, I don’t mean cinematic-level editing or investing thousands in gear. I'm talking about the basics:

• Is your camera lens clean?

• Can we hear you clearly?

• Are your videos blurry, pixelated, or full of wind noise?

  
  

You don’t need a production team, but if people can’t see or hear you properly, they’re gone before your value even gets a chance to land. Yes, content needs to be strategic, but super low-quality content will distract from any value you're sharing. Treat quality as step one. It’s your baseline.

Quick wins:

• Natural light is your friend

• Avoid filming outside on windy days

• Invest in a basic mic (they’re not all expensive)

And please, wipe your camera lens. Please.

2. Are you actually being social?

Engagement isn’t a hack.

Replying to comments, answering DMs, sending a voice note back instead of a heart emoji – this isn’t strategy. It’s basic human interaction. And it's something I see so many people avoid or forget.

You don’t need to bare your soul on stories if that’s not your thing. But you do need to connect. If your audience feels ignored, they won’t stick around.

This doesn’t have to mean more time either. Tools like ManyChat can automate replies and create that two-way interaction without you needing to hover over your phone 24/7. You can still keep things personal without making it all about you.

Also, being "social" isn’t about being loud. You can be soft-spoken, introverted, low-key and still build powerful connections. Just show people there’s a human behind the brand.

3. Confidence matters more than you think

This is the one I think most people underestimate.

You don’t need to become an influencer. You don’t have to film chatty reels every day. But you do need to believe in what you offer.

Because if you think your business is just a "little side thing" or you’re scared of annoying people when you post, that energy shows. And it’s holding you back.

So here’s a weird but helpful trick: imagine someone (like your auntie at Christmas) just asked what you do, and kind of made a face. That knee-jerk, fire-in-your-belly reaction where you want to defend your work? That voice. That’s the one we need online.

Confidence doesn’t mean being the loudest. It means:

• Talking about your offers like they matter (because they do)

• Trusting that people want to hear what you have to say

• Reminding yourself why you started in the first place

Even if that confident part of you is tiny right now, she exists. Let her take the mic.

Let’s wrap it up

Strategy has its place – but sometimes, it’s the non-strategy stuff that holds you back the most.

So check in:

• Is the quality of your content letting you down?

• Are you making time to actually be social?

• Are you showing up with confidence (or at least giving that version of you a chance to speak)?

You’re probably closer than you think.

Enjoyed this post? Come say hey over on Instagram @socialbynao.