Should Creators Run Ads on Social Media, Or Stay Focused on Organic Growth?

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Social media is, without a doubt, the #1 place for creators to build an audience, earn money, and grow their brands. 

But there’s always a question: Should creators run paid ads to grow faster, or stick to organic methods to attract followers? 

This decision can feel overwhelming, especially with so many success stories for both approaches. If you’re unsure which path to take, it helps to understand the benefits and downsides of each.

Organic Growth: Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Organic growth means gaining followers and engagement without spending money on ads. It relies on posting consistently, using trending content formats, and building relationships with your audience. Many creators prefer this method because it’s cost-effective and feels more authentic. However, organic growth takes time – lots of it – and there are no guarantees of success.

Pros of Organic Growth:

• Cost-effective: You don’t need to spend any money to gain followers.
• Trust and authenticity: Organic content often builds stronger, more loyal relationships.
• Long-term benefits: When you grow organically, the audience is typically more engaged and invested.
• Valuable feedback: You can learn what content resonates best without worrying about ad performance.

Cons of Organic Growth:

• Takes Time: Building a following this way can be slow.
• Algorithm Changes: Social media platforms often change how they show content, which can affect your reach.

Paid Ads: The Fast-Track Option

Investing in social media ads enables creators to reach a wider audience quickly. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook offer sophisticated targeting tools to target specific demographics – you can choose age, location, interests, and more. If you have a budget and want faster growth, ads can be an effective strategy. But ads don’t guarantee success either. It’s still important to create engaging, high-quality content.

Take StoryBox.io for example – a marketing company that ran targeted ads on Instagram to promote products offered by creators. In just a few weeks, the creators gained thousands of new followers and made sales – but this approach only worked because their content was already high quality, and their ads were carefully planned. Without good content, even the best ads will fall flat.

Pros of Paid Ads:

• Quick Exposure: Ads can get your content in front of many people fast.
• Targeted audience: You can choose who sees your content, ensuring it reaches the right people.
• Boosted brand visibility: Ads can increase awareness of your brand, products, or services.

Cons of Paid Ads:

• Costs Money: You’ll need a budget for ads, which can get expensive.
• No Guaranteed Success: Even with ads, there’s no promise people will engage with your content.

Ad Fatigue: People might ignore ads, especially if they seem too sales-focused.

Which Strategy is Right for You?

Your choice depends on your goals, time, and budget.

• Organic Growth: If you’re aiming to build a loyal and engaged audience over time without spending money, this is a good route.
• Paid Ads: If you have a product or event to promote and want quick results, and you have the budget, ads can be effective.

Many successful creators use a mix of both strategies. For example, they focus on organic content to build trust and sprinkle in targeted ads when they need a quick boost. It’s all about finding the balance that works for you.

Key Considerations Before Running Ads

Before allocating a budget to advertisements, it’s important to get a few things in order. Otherwise, you might spend money without seeing any returns.

1. Is your content high quality? Ads will only work if your content is engaging, clear, and valuable. Poor content won’t convert, no matter how much you spend.
2. Do you know your audience? Understanding who your ideal followers are will help you create ads that resonate with the right people.
3. What’s your budget? Be prepared to experiment with different ads before finding what works. Start small and scale up as you learn.

Running ads isn’t a shortcut for bad content. If your content doesn’t grab attention, no amount of targeting will fix that.

Final Thoughts

Whether you focus on organic growth or paid ads, both approaches have pros and cons. Organic growth is ideal for creators who value authenticity and are willing to play the long game. Running ads, on the other hand, can get results faster but requires careful planning and a budget. For most creators, a combination of both strategies is the sweet spot.

Ask yourself this: Are you ready to put in the time, or do you need a boost to hit your goals? Either way, keep testing, learning, and adapting. Social media success doesn’t happen by accident – it takes consistency, strategy, and a clear understanding of your audience. So pick a path (or mix both), and stick with it.