Most people will forget about your social post in literally three minutes. And honestly, that’s probably a good thing!
I see way too many business owners losing their minds trying to make every single post absolutely perfect, but one social post is never going to make or break your business (as long as it’s on brand and not some wild card content).
So let’s talk about how to reframe the way you think about content so you can stop stressing about perfection and start using your posts for what they’re actually meant to do: build trust and build your brand.
🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Why We Get Caught Up in Post-Perfection Hell
There are three very real reasons why we turn into content perfectionists:
Fear of judgment. We’re terrified someone’s going to think we look silly, that we don’t know our shit, or that we’re not as professional as our competitors. It’s human nature to want to avoid being judged.
The dopamine hit. When a post performs well, our brains release that sweet, sweet validation juice. We want more likes, more follows, more of that “hell yeah, I’m the cool girl” feeling.
The viral myth. You’ve been fed this lie that one post might change everything. And yes, occasionally someone’s post goes viral and their business explodes, but those people are usually selling low-ticket, impulse-buy products.
Sure, people might buy a $15 hair mask or a $30 ring light on a whim after seeing one viral post, but will they book your $2,500 a month retainer just as fast?
But if you’re a service provider charging thousands of dollars, nobody is dropping that kind of money based on a single social media post. Your audience needs to know, like, and trust you first.
They need to see your expertise consistently over time.
The Spotlight Effect Is Messing With Your Head
We all think people are noticing and caring way more than they actually do. There’s literally a psychological phenomenon called “the spotlight effect” that explains this.
For example, you spot a typo after you’ve already posted, and you’re convinced everyone’s going to notice and judge your professionalism, when, in reality, most people are scrolling so fast they wouldn’t catch a typo if it slapped them in the face.
You’re watching your content 500 times before you post it, so you’re seeing every tiny imperfection. But your audience is seeing it once, for maybe three seconds, while they’re probably multitasking and half-distracted anyway.
I barely remember what I posted a week ago. Do you really think your audience is going to remember what you posted an hour ago?
Your Content Is a Collection, Not a Solo Act
Your content is a collection of assets working together to build your brand reputation. One post isn’t going to make you famous or destroy your credibility. It’s the entire body of work that makes you known for something.
Think of your content like bricks. One brick isn’t a house, but when you lay them consistently, you build something solid. Obsessing over whether each individual brick is absolutely perfect is pointless. You want it to be a decent brick (not a crappy lump of shit), but once it’s brick-quality, focus on building the damn house.
Studies show people need to hear the same message about seven times before it sticks (and it’s probably way more than that now with all the content competing for attention).
There’s also something called the mere exposure effect: the more we see or hear something, the more we start to trust and like it.
Ever had a song you initially hated become your favorite after hearing it everywhere? That’s the mere exposure effect in action. The same thing happens with your content. The more consistently someone sees your message, the more they’ll start to know, trust, and eventually want to work with you.
Repetition Is Your Secret Weapon
If you feel like you’re repeating yourself, congratulations! That’s exactly how brand recognition is built.
You don’t have to create a brand-new, groundbreaking piece of content every single time you post. That’s exhausting, and frankly, who has time for that? We’re business owners, not full-time content creators.
Use the same B-roll clips. Share the same core messages from different angles. Recycle your best-performing content. If you listen to my podcast, you’ll notice I talk about the same foundational topics repeatedly because that’s the core of my brand philosophy.
Your audience needs to hear your message multiple times, in multiple ways, before it really sinks in. So stop feeling guilty about “repeating yourself” and start embracing it as a strategic brand-building move.
What Actually Matters in Your Content
Instead of obsessing over whether your latest post is absolutely perfect, focus on these things:
Stay true to your brand voice and values. Your content should sound like you and reflect what you stand for. Consistency in tone and message builds trust over time.
Stick to your core content pillars. Don’t chase every trend or pivot your message based on what’s popular this week. Know what you want to be known for and keep reinforcing those themes.
Focus on the bigger picture. Each post is one small piece of your overall brand story. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece, just aligned with who you are and what you offer.
Look, the algorithm is a tricky little bitch. Sometimes you’ll spend hours crafting what you think is your best post ever, only to get four views and feel like you wasted your entire afternoon.
Other times, you’ll throw together something quick and casual, and it’ll be your best-performing content of the month.
That’s exactly why obsessing over individual post perfection is such a waste of energy. You can’t predict what the algorithm will favor, but you can control showing up consistently with content that reflects your brand.
So here’s your challenge: go post something imperfect today. Focus on your message, stay true to your brand, and trust that the collection of content you’re building will do its job over time.
Because remember, no one’s going to remember the tiny imperfections you’re stressed about. But they will remember how you made them feel and whether you consistently showed up as the expert they can trust.
🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
