Your socials are not “stale”. They’re just missing you
If you’re a service-based business and you’re feeling like your socials are a bit… flat, this one’s for you.
I learned this the hard way.
I (Sherise) pulled my personal brand right back to “focus on the business”, and it didn’t just change my content.
It quietly hurt the business.
The mistake I made
I tried to make Soda Creatives look more professional by removing the “human” layer.
But what I actually did was:
Take the people out of the business
Strip out the personality
Turn the account into a portfolio dump
And when your content starts feeling like a brochure, people stop talking back.
What happened next (and why it matters)
1) The content stopped being relatable
Without a face, a voice, and a little bit of real-life context, posts become stale fast.
People don’t connect with “a business”.
They connect with people who get them.
2) I lost the community piece
The best part of socials is the two-way conversation.
When I stopped showing up as a person, the replies slowed.
The DMs stopped.
The sense of community disappeared.
And honestly. It got lonely.
3) Consistency became harder, not easier
But wait theres more…
When I took myself out of posting, I fell out of the habit.
I took about a year off.
When I came back, being on camera and being “me” online felt stiff and awkward.
Not because I’d changed.
Because I’d stopped practising.
It took a couple of months to find the rhythm again.
But we got there.
So… should you have a personal brand alongside your business?
If you’re a small business owner, especially if you don’t have a shopfront, a personal brand can be the thing that keeps your marketing moving.
Here’s why.
It helps you stay consistent
It’s easier to show up as yourself than to try and “sound like a business” every time you post.
It keeps you connected to your people
A personal brand invites conversation.
It gives people a reason to DM you.
It makes it easier for someone to say, “Same. That’s me too.”
It gives you community when business feels isolating
If you do not have a bricks-and-mortar location, you can go a whole week without proper customer chat.
Socials can become that connection point.
Not in a fake way.
In a “we’re humans, doing life and work” way.
A simple way to start (without making it weird)
If the idea of a personal brand makes you cringe, start small:
Share one behind-the-scenes moment each week
Talk about a decision you made in the business and why
Explain one thing you wish clients understood
Post one “lesson learned” (even a tiny one)
Keep it practical.
Keep it honest.
Keep it Soda-style: straight talking, helpful, and a little cheeky.
One clear next step
Pick one story you’ve been sitting on.
Write it like you’re telling a mate.
Post it.
Then go reply to every comment like a real conversation.
That’s the bit that brings the community back.
Want more actionable tips like these to grow your business through social media? Join our newsletter for weekly insights, exclusive strategies, and creative inspiration delivered straight to your inbox.
Or if you want support, check out our services:
We help with Social Media Content Creation, Social Media Training, and we host Workshops.
