How Many Followers Til I’m …...??

By Sami James

Hi, my name is Sami J, and I’m a raging hairaholic - My last cut was an hour ago, a very solid statement lob.

So … How many followers til I’m … successful enough? Til I’m good enough? Til I’m an influencer? Til I’m a rockstar? Til I’m a global sensation? 20k 50k 100k 250k ?!?!

I could go on! You get my point. This is a topic I’m focusing on in salon, and in education. Followers don’t mean anything unless they are buying from you, or adding to your life.

What do I mean by that? Are they engaging and caring about what you’re sharing, are they booking in to your chair, business, education??

If they were… there would be nearly as many comments as your followers, and you’d be making money out of the time you’re spending on your socials.

Don’t get me wrong, socials have done incredible things for lots of people in our industry. It works, it builds brands, it makes money, all of those things, but my point is, it’s not about the number of followers you have.

The people that are benefiting from their socials, NOT THEIR FOLLOWERS, spend time, money, and effort to do so. We’ve seen great results with consistent new clients in the salon thanks to our social campaigns, and the right type of client walking in our doors, which prolongs the success, when we do all the special things behind the chair and they keep coming back!

But…. Do we have 100k followers? Definitely not! Are we reaching the right demographic, by working with a great marketing company that’s supporting us in our social goals? Absolutely! So, do our followers really matter? I don’t think so. Are they growing? Yeah slowly.

Do my personal followers matter? Same thing, I don’t have an enormous following, but I know the ones I do have, are engaging and celebrating what I’m sharing.

Organic growth is key! To keep up the engagement levels, which will then circle back and lead to more growth.

Sometimes It’s a vicious cycle…

• “Instagram wants me to scroll, comment, engage

• I don’t do well after hours of scrolling and comparing myself, and my work to so many others

• So, I don’t scroll, Instagram punishes me

• I post, no one sees it, it has way less likes, engagement,

• I think I’m not good enough and don’t want to touch Insta for a week!”

ANYONE RELATE?! This is soooo common, something I hear regularly from our industry.

I have always said, if something doesn’t make you feel good, don’t do it!

I’ve been there too, my advice…. Find purpose in your scrolling, Choose what you’re scrolling!

How? - I Hide what makes me feel not great, I follow and engage with things that make me laugh, want to try at home, or in salon. Sometimes, a little perspective can go a long way!

Measure the success of your socials, from the success of your business - which is where it counts!

Make sure you know your Return On Investment here, and the best way to do that is ask those new people sitting in your chairs, where did you find out about us?

Sometimes it’s that easy!

Sami Xoxo

@samij_hair