Help! My Business’s Social Media Posts Get No Engagement

If you’re a Maine small business owner thinking:

“My posts get no likes.”
“No one comments.”
“Is this even doing anything?”

You are not alone.

This is one of the most common frustrations I hear when talking to local business owners about social media marketing.

But here’s the truth:

Low visible engagement does not automatically mean your social media is failing.

And it definitely does not mean you should stop showing up.

Engagement Is More Than Likes and Comments

When people say their social media “isn’t working,” they usually mean:

• No likes

• No comments

• No shares

But those are only the visible signals.

Behind the scenes, platforms track much more meaningful data:

• Impressions

• Reach

• Profile visits

• Website clicks

• Saves

• Direct messages

• Follower growth

Just because someone didn’t tap the heart button doesn’t mean they didn’t see you.

There are a lot of lurkers online.

Think about the last post you looked at from a business. Did you interact?

Or did you scroll, form an opinion, and move on?

You don’t have to engage publicly to build an impression of a business.

And those impressions matter.

Social Media for Local Businesses Is About Trust

For local businesses in Maine, social media plays a very specific role:

Credibility.

Imagine you’re about to hire someone to tar your driveway.

Before calling, you look them up.

You check:

• Their Facebook page

• Photos of past work

• Customer reviews

• Whether they’ve posted recently

• If they respond to comments

You are not analyzing how many likes they get.

You are asking:

• Are they active?

• Do they show real work?

• Do they seem professional?

• Will they be around if something goes wrong?

That is what your social media presence does.

It reassures potential customers that you are real, consistent, and dependable.

Even if no one comments.

Even if it feels quiet.

Consistency builds digital trust.

The Real Issue Often Isn’t Effort. It’s Direction.

Many small businesses post reactively.

When they remember.
When business feels slow.
When they have time.

Without a clear strategy, it is hard to know:

• What to post

• How often to post

• What the goal of each post is

• What metrics actually matter

When there’s no structure, every post feels like a test.

And when engagement is low, it feels discouraging.

But often, the problem isn’t effort.

It’s clarity.

Not Sure What’s Actually Working?

I can create a free custom Growth Blueprint for your business - outlining:

• Your website performance

• Your social media presence

• Your SEO + Google visibility

• Your biggest missed opportunities

Being Responsive Is More Important Than Going Viral

Engagement is not just about getting comments. It’s about what you do when they happen.

When someone comments and you respond quickly, it signals:

• Dependability

• Professionalism

• Attentiveness

For local businesses, responsiveness builds trust faster than a high like count ever will.

If someone sees unanswered comments sitting on your page, that creates doubt.

If they see thoughtful replies, that builds confidence.

Confidence leads to inquiries.

Why Social Media Momentum Takes Time

Marketing for Maine small businesses is rarely instant.

You are not trying to go viral.

You are building familiarity.

Most customers will see your business multiple times before reaching out. They may never interact publicly - but they are paying attention.

Social media supports your:

• Google Business Profile

• Website

• Reviews

• Overall online presence

It works as part of a larger marketing system.

And systems take time to build.

What You Should Actually Be Measuring

Instead of focusing on likes, ask:

• Are impressions increasing over time?

• Are more people visiting your profile?

• Are website clicks improving?

• Are inquiries slowly rising?

• Are customers mentioning they “saw you online”?

Those are stronger indicators of growth.

Because the goal is not popularity.

The goal is credibility.

Final Thoughts

If your social media feels quiet, that does not mean it is pointless.

People are watching.
They are forming impressions.
They are deciding whether to trust you.

And when the time comes that they need what you offer, they will remember who showed up consistently.

You do not need viral posts.

You need direction, structure, and consistency.

Tired of worrying about your business's social media?
I've got you covered.

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