Growing a Social Brand

[Techius]

G'day chappies

I've been thinking about this idea for a long time. I've created a new social brand I want to grow from 0. I won't say what the topic of the brand is (state secret!).

The thing that has always been a put off to me and the reason why I've never tried to attempt to build a brand is because of the time it takes. It's not a 5 minute endeavor as most people would hope. This is definitely a medium-term project which WILL require work. Fortunately it is in a topic which is highly interesting to me so it doesn't seem like work.

The ultimate goal of doing this is that I hope to become an influencer, promote to own website or even YouTube, basically cash in eventually.

For context I'm an absolute noob at social media. The largest following I've ever had was on Twitter where I'd constantly Tweet about bullshit and that gave me a following of a whopping 350 people -- only took 19,500 irrelevant Tweets nobody reads. So doing this I'm really setting myself up for a large challenge.


In a sense I'm doing this project just as a test run. I'd like to start a YouTube eventually. I'd like to have some confidence in social management first before I ever put my face out there. This will be a good way to do it.

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So far I've bought a domain. $5 USD. Not even worth mentioning expenses as it is so minute.

Today I've made an Instagram, Twitter, Facebook page and lastly Pinterest. In the immediate term I'll be focusing on growing my Twitter and Instagram following by doing the good ol' follow users in a niche, wait a few days, unfollow-aroo.

Tomorrow I'll start following users on Instagram and Twitter. I'm giving it a day because I don't want the account to be blocked within 5 minutes. I've tried doing Instagram stuff before -- phone verification are the make or break of any account.

I'll be additionally researching into Pinterest and how I can harness that platform. So far from what I've read it has a really good engagement rate. I see Pinterest posts referenced on Google all the time. I'd say that it is a plus for my brand building at the end of the day.

I'll be creating some image content as well. I want enough content to last me a few months. I'd hate to come to a day where I'm lost for what to upload. Not having a schedule like this is a real killer. It can make or break your social media engagement.

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So far I'm not yet decided on whether I should buy followers, likes or what have you. I'll be weighing up the advantages over the next few days.

If you blokes have any advice, I'd like to know it. Thanks.

 

[Salamouna]

You found all the social account names available?
good luck

 

[kevin tan]

good luck dude

 

[Techius]

I have a plan outlined for days to come. In a few hours I'll be following some follows. I'll also be creating some content today for the future.

 

[Techius]

Today I:
- 20+ images which will be uploaded to IG and Twitter at a later date
- Followed 58 people on Twitter, gained 1 follower
- Followed 56 people on Instagram, gained 4 followers

It's important to keep in mind that all my accounts are empty. No logos. No bios. No web links. If I actually gain serious followers doing what I'm doing I would be very surprised. I'm just doing it to warm the accounts to more activity.

I've been following manually. The amount of Indians is astounding. No bot could ever avoid them. Doing it manually allows me to vet who to specifically follow.

Tomorrow I'll be:
- Following another 40 or so users and unfollowing around 25
- Create more future content
- I'll be placing an order for the logo on Fiverr unless I make one of my own.
- Figuring out a good bio.

 

[Techius]

Before I commence my work today, I have some overnight updates and thoughts I'd like to share.

My Instagram has 8 people following me out of 56 followed. Those are some extremely good margins, but not ones I think I can maintain going forward. That's before any work in updating bio, providing imagery, etc.

My Twitter has only 3 people following me out of 58. Twitter feels like an inferior platform to me all around. The traffic isn't great. The engagement is statistically trash. It's still too big not to ignore. I have to be on there regardless of if I like it or not.

 

[Techius]

Today is the 29th of May, 2019. I spent last night unfollowing around 25 people and following another 50. Here's some statistics:

- Instagram is at 9 followers and 75 following
- Twitter is at 38 following and 3 followers.

I feel like just focusing my efforts on Instagram alone. I'd like to develop or find some tools to find good people to follow. There's a lot of Indians, women, etc to sift through to follow. I'd love to just make a tool which finds basic things like location, gender, who they follow and so on and put those usernames into a text tile. Not a bad idea, aye?

Today I'll be filling in the bio, uploading a logo, all that kinda jazz. I'll be giving the follows a breather today. By the time I hit a certain number of followers I'm being rate limited. That gives me the shits in terms of security of my account. Getting PVA'd would be a massive pain in the ass. Especially the ones that you enter in and they refuse to work.

Now that's not enough. I don't want to fall out of whack. I'll be finding tools, getting usernames to follow, and so on. I have a decent amount of content which could last me a few weeks if I upload to the schedule I have in mind. That's just for the three basic categories I have planned for images. I have more in mind, but it's a matter of doing the right thing in implementing them.

I do wonder about buying followers, likes and the like. But it's definitely too soon for that. Then again, it's not something I'll rule out doing in like a month perhaps.

 

[JessiPinkme]

Good luck for your journey dude. Long way to go..

 

[Techius]

G'day. I think I'm coming down with a disease today. That's not any excuse to stop. I shall persevere.

Yesterday I focused all my efforts on Instagram. I've basically given up on Twitter for the time being. I feel like I can grow my Instagram, then slowly but surely tell people to follow Twitter and promote a website and the likes. But only when the engagement is good.

Some statistics for the day:

- Instagram is at 11 followers, and 75 following. I posted a blank story with nothing -- nada -- which got 4 views.
- Twitter is at 38 following, 3 followers.

Yesterday I added a bio, logo and found usernames to follow. I didn't fiddle with any following yesterday so I could give it a break. Again, my fear is getting PVA'd and not being able to get back into my account.

Today is going to be a cool and snazzy day with a lot going on in this context. I'm doing a bit of everything. I'll be:

- Posting 1 image
- Following the 51 names I amassed last night
- Creating story images to pin

 

[John4life2017]

All the best dude!

 

[Premo85]

Good luck for your journey mate.

I would highly recommend to add Pinterest in your strategy as well. By adding Pinterest to your social media strategy, it will not only drive additional traffic to your site, but will also improve upon your brand image as well as reputation. Using Pinterest, you will be able to build a solid online presence and win the hearts of your targetted audience.

Since millions of users online uses Pinterest, by adding this social media network to your strategy, will greatly boost your online connections.

Best of luck once again Great work.

 

[Techius]

G'day. Yesterday was an interesting day. I bought some throaties and I'm feeling significantly better today than I was yesterday. I still got a lot done but I was honestly feeling drowsy which isn't the way to go.

I uploaded a post. It got 6 likes in 24 hours. According to Insights that's all through hashtags. It resulted in 4 profile visits and had a 7 reach. That could be attributed to the hashtags I'm using. I've only used 4. I feel like using too many looks shitty and spammy. I'd like to stay with a minimalistic theme which isn't spammed with hashtags like my competition. I think it looks gay.

In regards to the followers, following thing. I have 14 followers. I'm following 122 people.

I'm going to change up my posting schedule a bit which means getting into some child categories. I thought about doing a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule. I was doing some research and it turns out the best thing you can do is post everyday. This means I have to create some more content. I can begin to follow the schedule properly as well. Keep in mind this all done manually.

I wasn't able to do the story thing that I wanted to do. All because of a blooming bug in which where you upload a photo it turns black. There's nothing you can do about it outside of trying the basic uninstall/reinstall shit.

I'll be creating content, following people, continuing my research. I need to further expand my schedule as well.

 

[Rachanaa]

All the best mate.

 

[Techius]

Hello. Yesterday I tried a somewhat different tactic with the hashtags. Instead of including them in the post, I included them in the first comment made. According to insights I had 5 likes. 15 impressions, 10 which came from 'home', 2 from 'profile' and '1' from hashtag. The first post got 8 from 'home', 6 from 'profile' and 2 from 'hashtags'.

EDIT: I forgot to mention where the profile itself is at. I'm at 18 followers and 148 following.

Today I'll be doing another post. I need to make some more content. I'll follow some people. I'd rather do the list first then follow by searching. That seems easier and better on the equilibrium than having to sift through a googol amount of Nigerians and Indians. Terrible, low-quality traffic with a low CPC rate.

I'm trying to do a giveaway. Of course it's bullshit. But I want to do it to boost the engagement with my posts.

 

[aristocratic]

Don't you think you are going slow by manually following?
Maybe you should try any automation tool.
Good luck

 

[Techius]

I could but then the risk is having the account blocked. Also by manually doing it I can sift through and identify the traffic I want. Basically white dudes. A bot wouldn't be able to differentiate and it'd get my account sacked.

 

[aristocratic]

I could but then the risk is having the account blocked. Also by manually doing it I can sift through and identify the traffic I want. Basically white dudes. A bot wouldn't be able to differentiate and it'd get my account sacked.

It will take you a looong time !!!!

 

[Techius]

It will take you a looong time !!!!

I guess so but it's going to take me the same time anyway. I'd rather focus on quality. I guess that's a cliche. But the posts I'm getting recommended and looking through likes are full of people from low CPC countries. It's a difficult task trying to find Americans and Brits.

 

[aristocratic]

I guess so but it's going to take me the same time anyway. I'd rather focus on quality. I guess that's a cliche. But the posts I'm getting recommended and looking through likes are full of people from low CPC countries. It's a difficult task trying to find Americans and Brits.

Well... All i can wish u, is GL with your journey,
Im following this to see your progress!

 

[Techius]

Yesterday was an interesting day. I made two posts. One with a giveaway, the other completely normal. The normal post got 13 likes, 21 impressions. The giveaway has received 19 impressions and got 8 likes with 0 comments. No engagement or following the giveaway instructions. What a shame.

I am at 210 following. Considering I followed 100 people, only 70 registered. That's not ideal. I'm at 21 followers. I've sunken in many hours now, only for meager amount of followers. You could say it sucks balls -- and it does.

I've found a way to find the target demographic I wanted. The answer was in front of me the entire time. I'm now getting the straight, white, evil, patriarchal, cisgender male accounts to follow. Goodbye Indians! Adios Lagos!

What I'll be doing today is more research in getting engagement and followers first and foremost. I'll be posting something obviously. I'm putting in many hours into this IG account. Things could be a lot better. They're not easy.