Entrepreneurship isn’t for everybody. It’s hard work. It’s mentally draining. And it takes a lot of courage to keep going. I know a lot of business owners who feel like giving up when things don’t go as planned, but the passion they have for their idea keeps them going.
That, to me, is one of the biggest mistakes business owners make. Your passion shouldn’t be about the idea—it should be about making the idea successful. That shift in mindset changes everything. It makes you focus on the numbers that actually matter instead of getting distracted by vanity metrics.
Likes don’t pay your bills. Sales do.
A lot of entrepreneurs get caught up in their follower count, engagement rates, and reach, but none of that matters if people aren’t buying. If you have a million followers across social media but struggle to sell your products, you don’t have a business—you have a hobby.
Focusing on vanity metrics has led many business owners astray. Some get stuck chasing likes and never figure out how to convert followers into customers. Others don’t even start their business because they’re intimidated by the competition.
But a true entrepreneur isn’t fazed by the size of the competition. Instead of worrying about who’s already in the market, they focus on doing things better.
That’s exactly what Facebook did.
How Facebook Beat the Competition
Back in the early 2000s, MySpace was the king of social media. It had millions of users, and it looked like no one could compete. Then Facebook came along.
At first, Facebook was small. MySpace had already captured the market, but it had one major flaw—it focused on getting more users rather than keeping them engaged.
Facebook took a different approach:
- Simplicity over clutter – MySpace let users customise their pages with music, flashy graphics, and widgets, which made the platform messy and slow. Facebook kept things clean and easy to navigate.
- Engagement over numbers – MySpace was all about getting as many people on the platform as possible. Facebook focused on keeping users active and making their experience more personal.
- Retention over reach – Instead of trying to get everyone to sign up immediately, Facebook started as an exclusive platform. You had to be invited. This made people want to join even more.
- Monetization over hype – MySpace sold ad space to big companies. Facebook used data to help small businesses run targeted ads, making it the go-to platform for marketing.
By focusing on engagement, retention, and monetisation—the real success metrics—Facebook overtook MySpace and became the dominant platform.
How Small Businesses Can Apply Facebook’s Strategy
If you’re running a business, the same principles apply:
- Engagement matters more than followers. A smaller audience that actually buys from you is better than a huge following that doesn’t convert.
- Retention is key. It’s easier to sell to an existing customer than to find a new one. Focus on keeping your customers happy.
- Use data to drive sales. Track what works. Pay attention to conversion rates, customer lifetime value, and repeat sales—not just likes and shares.
- Don’t be scared of competition. The market isn’t too crowded if you can execute your idea better than the rest.
- Monetize early. Don’t wait until you have a huge following to start selling. Test your offer, refine it, and build a business—not just an audience.
Let’s Focus on What Really Grows Your Business
If you’re serious about turning your followers into paying customers, let’s connect. I share practical strategies on my Facebook page to help small business owners grow and scale profitably.
Don’t waste time chasing likes. Focus on building a business that lasts.
