10 Top Tips to Curb Content Comparison and Supercharge your Social Media Sanity!
‘No one’s life is as perfect as their Instagram feed ‘- Unknown.
For companies that need to grow their business, cultivate new connections, and drive sales, social media is a business godsend. But whilst we can now connect and communicate 24/7, we can also get caught up in the not so nice habit of comparing ourselves to others. We’ve all done it. Got sucked into some social media self-comparison. A bit of doom scrolling and before you know it, you’re feeling a bit flat and questioning if your content is really cutting it. Suddenly, not only are you obsessed with being *better* but you’re also feeling a serious need to stay constantly connected. It’s all too easy to get swept up in your socials. Just like anything, too much of a good thing can be bad for you. So how do you stop feeling overwhelmed online? Why not check out our 10 top tips to curb social media comparison and supercharge your sanity!
It’s our social media mental health-check designed to help you get your buzz back.
1. Follow What Makes You Feel Good
You know the saying “You can’t see the wood for the trees” – this is the social media version. If you’re bombarded by content that makes you feel bad – that makes you feel you’re somehow not up to scratch, then ditch it. Cleanse yourself of negative vibes and stop following people that make you feel inadequate or rubbish. Instead, filter and refine your feed so that it makes you feel great. Choose to only follow accounts that inspire and uplift you, the ones that make you laugh and the ones that share your business ethos. We promise you’ll feel better immediately. Bonus tip: To only see the people you are following (and their content in chronological order) hit the Instagram logo on your home screen and select ‘Following’.
2. Get your Gratitude Game-on
When we’re too busy looking at everyone else, it’s easy to forget how fabulous we are! Every day spend some time reminding yourself of your personal journey and what you’ve *already* achieved. Focusing on your strengths (not your weaknesses) supercharges your mindset and boosts your belief of where you’re heading. Rome wasn’t built in a day peeps. Just *look* at how far you’ve come.
3. Limit Social Media Usage
As the constant stream of curated content hits your feed, it’s tempting to think that everyone else is always online. But being online 24/7 is unrealistic and can lead to business burnout. Limiting your time on social media is a healthy habit to adopt. Preventing overexposure is one important way to stop the feeling of comparison creeping in. Our top tip is to schedule specific social media time into your day and stick to it. This means you have a dedicated time to stay on top of your socials but stops the temptation to start endlessly scrolling. There are loads of apps to help you do this too – check out OneSec. Get yourself in to planning and pre-scheduling your content in advance which means you’re so busy doing your own thing you won’t even be tempted to look at anyone else.
4. Cultivate Real Connections
It’s so easy to get swept up in the virtual world. If you’re starting to feel like you’re living your life to please the demands of your online audience, then it’s time to reconnect with reality! Prioritising real-life connections, attending conferences, joining networking groups or meeting up with like-minded business owners are great ways to get your feet back on the ground – as a florist, take a look at your industry body – The British Florist Association. They provide lots of opportunities to forge great connections.
We often forget that social media only shows one side of a story – the best side! IG Stories don’t showcase the struggle behind every success, Facebook doesn’t highlight the 20 outtakes from *that* ‘perfect’ video posted. Connecting with real people is the best reminder that irrespective of someone’s carefully curated content feed, there’s a *real* business owner just like you, working tirelessly behind the scenes.
5. Switch Self Comparison into Self-care
Switching up the way you *think* about yourself or your business as a reaction to what you see others posting online can take time, so be gentle with yourself. If you end up falling into the same negative comparison pattern as before, use it to acknowledge and remind yourself of all the positive changes you are *already* making to alter this. Treat yourself with kindness. After all, change rarely happens overnight, and setbacks are to be expected. Being conscious and aware of slip-up’s are the first steps forward in creating positive long-term change for your social media success and sanity!
6. Ignite Inspiration NOT Insecurity
If you find that you’re constantly comparing yourself to others, instead of feeling insecure, try and use what you see to reframe your focus. Look for sources of inspiration instead. What do you like about what you see specifically? Is it the quality of content or the photography? If so, how could you emulate this? Could you hire a photographer or invest in better design software etc. Instead of using what you see to beat yourself up, use the content to give you some extra motivation. The best bit? You can cherry pick all your favourite bits from the accounts you admire to create something super unique for yourself.
7. Celebrate Your Uniqueness and Individuality
Depressurise your digital world by going back to the basics of what really makes your business so darn special. Connect with your audience through your love of what you do. Bring to life what started you on your business journey in the first place. Don’t sweat the other stuff. Celebrate your unique qualities and forget trying to fit into someone else’s standards. Dahlia Beach is a great example of living and breathing her brand. And…we’ll forever be known as The Bees ;)
Comparison only puts you off your own game – it’s a distraction and stops you from being totally wonderfully, fantastically you! Bring your brand to life and the rest will follow. Pinkie promise.
8. Set Clear Goals for Success
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that social media is only one aspect of your business playbook. Success is so much more than a social media feed. So, what do you want your business to achieve and what personal goals are you setting that will fill your own skills bucket? Spend some time thinking about what will make your heart sing and your business thrive. Planning for success and finding self-fulfilment are fantastic ways to keep social media manageable and mindful.
9. Keep Your Focus in Your Own Lane
Forget what everyone else is doing. Keep your focus on what makes you and your business so different. Comparing yourself to businesses that don’t share the same ethos, goals or values to yours isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison - so don’t do it. The only opinion (other than your own) that *actually* matters is that of your ideal customer, the audience you originally had in mind when you set up your business. Drill down into what makes them tick. What do they want to hear from you? How can you engage them? If you’re feeling a bit shaky on who your ideal customer is, then why not check out our Own Your Marketing course. It’ll give you all the essential tools you need to get you buzzing about your marketing.
10. Get Support for Social Overwhelm
If you’re totally driven by ‘Likes’, dread looking at your feed or feel pressure to ‘always be online’ then maybe it’s time to think about logging-off for a bit. Online overwhelm is serious and there are lots of places that can give you excellent support and guidance. Don’t be afraid to reach out to friends, family or professionals to curb the feeling of constant comparison and to help you get back to being you. A digital detox can do wonders for getting your balance back. Whether you outsource your socials to give you more headspace or need to nail some techniques to manage your mental health, looking after yourself is the only business metric that really matters.
At Queen Bee, we’re all about positivity, having a can-do attitude and helping you to get your business buzz back! If you’re feeling swarmed with social media or need reminding exactly why you’re the bee’s knees, then why not join our hive of activity? Sign up to our newsletter for marketing tips and advice specifically for florists. Follow us on social or check out our courses.