You Can’t Get Good at Social Media if You Don’t Use It

I get questions all the time from artists, radio people, and creators who want to do better at social media. They want to “figure it out.” Here’s the truth. You will not get good at social media if you don’t use it.

You can’t dip your toes in the water and expect to swim like a pro. You have to dive in. You have to understand how the platforms work, what content connects, and how the algorithm learns about you and your audience.

The more you use the platforms, the more they learn about you. The more they learn about you, the better your content performs.

Using the Platforms Teaches You Everything

When you’re a user, things start to click. You start to see what works and what doesn’t. You’ll notice the creators who show up in your feed over and over again. Those aren’t accidents. Those creators have figured out how to grab attention and hold it.

You’ll also notice what doesn’t show up. You won’t see bad videos from small creators who post poor content, because the algorithm has already filtered them out. The system rewards quality.

This is the part that people overlook. Success leaves clues. Every time you see a video with high engagement, ask yourself why it worked. It’s almost never because that account has a lot of followers.

Followers don’t make a video perform. Quality does.

If someone with a million followers posts a boring video, it won’t go anywhere. If someone with 200 followers posts something great, it can explode overnight. The difference is not the follower count. It’s the content.

The Keys to Growing and Understanding Your Audience

If you’re serious about improving, here’s what works.

1. Follow the right people

If you’re in radio, follow other good radio people. Follow local influencers. See what’s working in your space. If you’re an artist or musician, follow similar artists and bands. Watch what’s connecting with audiences right now.

2. Interact with other accounts

Don’t just post and walk away. Interact. Comment. Reply. Engage. The more interaction that happens on your account, the better your account performs. The algorithm pays attention to activity and engagement.

3. Respond to every comment

When people comment on your posts, respond. It’s simple. Conversations build momentum. That momentum tells the platform your account is alive and active.

4. Post. Fail. Learn. Repeat.

You’re going to post bad content sometimes. Everyone does. That’s how you learn. The key is to pay attention to why something didn’t work. Was the hook weak? Did the video take too long to get to the point? Was the lighting bad? There’s always a reason. Learn from it and adjust.

5. Focus on quality

Good lighting, good audio, clear visuals, a strong first three seconds. People decide almost instantly whether to keep watching. You have to grab them early.

6. Be consistent

You can’t treat social media like an afterthought. You have to show up. Regular usage tells the platform you’re serious. It also helps you stay in touch with trends, styles, and what your audience is reacting to.

7. Make it personal

Let people get to know you. You don’t have to overshare, but you do need to be real. Show behind-the-scenes moments, daily life, or what happens off the mic or stage. People follow people, not brands.

Why This Matters

Social media isn’t about chasing numbers. It’s about understanding behavior. These platforms track what people watch, how long they watch, and whether they come back for more.

Your job is to create content that keeps people watching, reacting, and connecting. That’s how you grow. You don’t need a big follower count. You need good content that keeps real people engaged.

If you want to be successful, you can’t be half in. You can’t “kinda post.” You have to use the platforms, learn the platforms, and experiment on the platforms.

A Simple Plan to Get Better

1. Pick two platforms you want to focus on.

2. Spend 15 minutes a day using them like a fan. Scroll, save, and study what catches your attention.

3. Post three times a week. One behind-the-scenes post, one helpful or entertaining post, and one engaging post that asks for interaction.

4. Reply to every comment.

5. Check your stats each week. Which post performed best? Why?

6. Keep testing and improving.

The Bottom Line

If you want to grow, you have to show up. Use the platforms. Be curious. Watch, learn, experiment. Every account is different, and what works for one might not work for another. Find your rhythm, find your style, and build your momentum.

Social media rewards the ones who show up consistently, interact often, and keep getting better.

Call to Action

If this hit home and you want to start taking your social media seriously, begin today. Pick your platform. Spend time on it. Post something. Learn something.

And if you want help building a smarter, more intentional social strategy, reach out. That’s what we do. We help artists, creators, and radio pros stop guessing and start growing.