reels for instagram

You don’t have to dance in front of your phone to attract more customers

There are two types of people in the world. Those who keep recording videos with dance-like movements and “useful business tips”, and those who got tired of them.

From freelancers, through business owners, to influencers, marketers, and bloggers—it seems nearly everyone enjoys moving in front of their phones and decorating their videos with short texts. With the stress on nearly.

If you haven’t seen these types of posts yet, just check any Instagram account with more than 5k followers, and you’ll get the idea. This trend has been around for a long time, and moved even to more professional platforms, such as LinkedIn. While the concept of spicing up your “tips and tricks” posts with some bouncy moves may sound fresh and engaging, it’s not always the best choice for your business.

 

Find out what is right for you

Trends become trends for a reason. And there’s nothing wrong with following a new trend, as long as it fits you.

The problem with the “tips & tricks dancing videos”, or any type of content for that matter, is that many users tend to jump on the bandwagon without asking themselves one very important question: Do I really need it?

How does this type of posts fit my brand? My business, my profile, my style? In some cases, publishing reels or stories with your dance-like moves and colourful texts will be a great way to engage with your followers, or maybe even to attract more clients. But if you’re not careful, you might end up blindly following a (slightly outdated) trend and producing fake copies of other successful accounts. Social media is overfilled with videos showing people who are not comfortable doing what they do… Make sure you’re not one of them.

Instead, post content that fits your personality, your business, or your brand. Do it consistently, add value, and publish only what appeals to your users. You don’t need to follow the crowds to be able to sell your products, promote your services, or engage with your followers.

 

Find out what is right for your customers

But what if the content that would appeal to your users doesn’t match your style? What if that crazy dancing post is not your cup of tea, but you’re sure it would help you engage with your followers? Well, then you’d better make sure you’re ready to leave your comfort zone for a fleeting moment of attention.

For example, before posting any “it’s not my style” content, you can ask experts for advice, analyse successful profiles with similar content, or even enrol to a course to hone your skills. Maybe you don’t want to show your face on videos, because you don’t like how you talk, move, or look. Maybe you abstain from posting tips because you’re convinced you have nothing valuable to share. Maybe it’s a mix of both.

Your content doesn’t need to be perfect to be engaging. But if quality and value are your priorities, you may want to upgrade your skills to gain more confidence. In this way, you’ll kill two birds with one stone: post content that your clients will love and expand your comfort zone.

In any case, before publishing any type of content, or choosing any marketing strategy, first ask yourself one very important question: Do my users really need it? Will it help me show that I value and respect my followers? Will my potential clients trust me?

The key to success is to know your audience very well. Only then you can create, craft, and adapt your marketing strategy, and eventually attract more customers.

Full disclosure

Actually, I lied. There are more than two types of people in the world. Some do enjoy watching short videos with bouncy movements and handy tips. But this group is shrinking every single day, overwhelmed with breathtaking reels, inspiring stories, actionable tips, and pictures with beautiful, talented, successful, and adventurous people. If these users are your target clients or existing customers, feel free to dance in front of your phone and post videos with tips and tricks. In other case, it’s probably wiser to direct your energy elsewhere. Focus on content, strategies, and actions that will be suitable for your followers to be able to engage with them, and maybe even increase your sales.

So, what social media strategy helps you attract more customers?

Dorota helps digital brands infuse their content with a local touch. She is a localization consultant, translator specialized in IT, prompt engineer, and a book author. Dorota teaches online courses on localization, writes for her blog and a Medium publication. She also runs a Small Biz AI, a Substack newsletter for freelancers and small business owners ready to discover handy AI tools.