Social media isn’t free

Social media can be a great tool to help your business, but only if you go at it the right way for your intended audience. A common mistake is to use social media simply because it’s “free”, but it’s really not.

In his book, “ The 1-Page Marketing Plan “, author Allan Dib explains it very simply:

Some people have the perception that social media marketing is “free.” It’s only truly free if your time is worth nothing.

Your time is worth something. You might charge an hourly rate of $150/hr, or have a shop rate of $100/hr, or an effective rate of $50/hr. You might even just make minimum wage, but the idea is the same — your time isn’t free.

Figuring out the math is pretty easy; track your time on social media, multiply by your hourly rate, and see if it’s still worthwhile. There is a good chance that it’s a smart investment, and most businesses should probably spend some time on social networks that are appropriate for their company, but don’t do it simply “because it’s free”.

Originally published at https://www.mickmel.com on February 16, 2024.