To feel like giving up trying over this

[Defeated28]

Today I took to social media to promote a kids app I created. It took a long time, was fully illustrated, animated and programmed by me and the post got so little interaction in comparison to when I post a picture of myself or a stupid tweet about some anecdote..

It's impossible to not question myself over that. I feel as if I've just had a giant wake up call that I would be stupid to ignore.

Feel like one of those awful singers that have been encouraged by loved ones to go onto a tv competition only to get humiliated, so I need some strangers input...If my (pretty unimpressive) face can get 200+ likes and my app gets 10 then is it time for a career rethink?

It's only 4.50 though. Don't most people look at social media in the evening? With any new product it will take time to get word out. I know nothing about the app world though, maybe it's more instantaneous?

Anyway, don't be disheartened. Pick yourself up and keep thinking about where you can market your product. My dcs don't touch Facebook, it's snap chat and Instagram only for them and their friends.

I wouldn't overthink it. A picture is much easier to quickly react to than an app that you have to download and try out first. Can you see if ppl have bookmarked the post?
Also, ime I don't much like being marketed to on FB, so might scroll past something that looks like an ad.

Don't get disheartened. People always like any old photo. It recently astounded me that I posted a photo of my kid at the zoo and got a ton of likes and comments. I also posted a status update about my dn charity run and a link to his page. Wasn't requesting money, just awareness. Got a handful of likes. I was a bit annoyed actually as I thought either my friends haven't read this or they actually really don't care. After a few more posts and shares they started liking it, do just keep sharing it basically, every few days.

On FB I've found it is worth spending a small amount to promote posts if you really want people to see them. We spend $15 and usually get at least 1000 views. You can promote to a customized audience.

Early on when you're trying to get your app in front of as many people as possible you should consider some paid for advertising like this.

I think you’re conflating two different things here. Your social media has, up until now, been your personal stuff and shared with your friends.

You’re now posting something commercial in that space and expecting the same results.

If this app is a big deal for you and you think it’s worth pushing then you will need to create a marketing plan and execute it.

Who is your target audience? Where do they find information about apps to download? If it’s an kids’ app then can you post about it in local parenting groups. Can you start a trial programme where you invite people to trial it and share their feedback with you (as it isn’t likely to be perfect yet). You can then ask the people who give you the best feedback to recommend it to their friends.

Can you engage with some of you’re loval schools or preschools if it has any educational benefits. My kid’s a heel recently recommended a phonics app and I downloaded it immediately. Getting experts to feedback and recommend your work is very valuable.

Can you send trials to some parent bloggers?

You have worked really hard to get it to this stage and that is amazing, but it won’t just take off by itself. You’ll need to give it a good strong push in the right direction for a sustained period of time.

Good luck!

What Dorris said. Also, what social media platforms have you shown it on? For the best results, you should put it on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, to target a larger audience.

I'd also not put it on my personal accounts, but make accounts specifically for the app.

And give it time. Nothing's going to happen instantly!

People think social media is easy to turn into a business...it’s not. There’s so much more to having influence on social media. I think you underestimated how much effort it takes to make something ‘catch on’ commercially on social media.

Firstly your target ‘audience’ shouldn’t necessarily be your current social media followers. Even mumsnet would be a better audience. Your colleagues, old friends, general peers etc unfortunately might not be interested in your app idea. That’s okay because there’s hundreds of people that will be - you just need to find out how to connect with them. So don’t be disheartened by initial the lack of engagement.

I’m not sure personal social media is the best way to solely promote an app. The app needs its own social media page that you post photos, videos, updates, memes etc on. It’s part of your branding. It’s unprofessional to have an app being associated with what you had for dinner last night, cringy tweets from 5 years ago etc. Agree with sharing your app with bloggers, this will give some much needed exposure

Unfortunately unless you’re very popular on social media (ie 100k+ insta followers), something you post and share might not necessarily instantly catch on. It would help if your followers were already interested in your business - EG my social media could be full of night out pics and outfits, then I may start a clothing blog. That’s related content. Your current followers didn’t follow you for the app, hence why your selfies get more engagement. I think you need to decide if you want your app just be for fun or as a business venture as you’d handle social media differently

You are fundamentally not understanding FB. It's a business and if you are pushing something commercial organically it won't get seen.

So I could as a business page have 50k followers and only a tiny minority of them will ever see my hypothetical posts unless I bow to the commercial FB gods and put paid spend behind it.

Instagram is heading in the same direction.

You need a proper marketing plan and a thicker skin.

Go to a local business networking event and get talking and some advice.