Be it social media or any other avenue, our gold rush mentality is quite strong. There is always this sense of urgency to be the first, get in early, and stake our claim New Platform. This is particularly true for digital platforms in today’s times, where the general perception is that first movers have an advantage.
This was true at one time, as just showing up early was considered half the battle. However, today, this strategy alone may not be enough.
If you have ever looked wistfully at creators who made it because they jumped on the TikTok bandwagon back in 2018, you are not the only one. It is natural to assume that you missed the boat, and the key to making it big next time is to just show up earlier.
However, you may be surprised to read this, but being early is no longer the advantage it used to be, at least not until you know how to capitalize on that timing, which is something many people do not.
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Timing is not Everything- Execution Is
There is certainly a natural advantage to being first in line! Less competition, more visibility, and a higher chance of being seen just by virtue of being one of the few!
However, being early also means you are working with an unproven system! It means that the algorithms have not stabilized yet. Features are still in beta phase, and monetization may not be available either. There is also a possibility that the platform may not even survive.
Then, what does that leave you with?
A head start on a race with no guaranteed finish line!
Look around you! How many creators have dormant accounts on platforms like Vero or Peach? There was a time when these were considered the next big things, and now they are literally digital ghost towns. You may have gotten in early, but if the party sadly ends early, too, does your being early really matter?
The New Approach- Adopt Smartly Rather Than Quickly
The winners now are not just the quickest- they are the most strategic! They understand their niche, their audience, and their own limits as well. They build smart systems for content, community, and monetization.
In fact, it is sometimes smarter to wait and enter during the early majority phase. This is the time when:
· Algorithms are clearer
· Case studies and success stories exist
· Tools and support systems are in place
· Audiences are primed, and expectations are already set.
You can still grow fast- maybe even faster- if you enter at this stage with a real plan.
Most Early Adopters Burn Out
Until now, how many platforms have you signed up for just due to FOMO?
How many times have you thought that if you get in early, rest will follow?
But what really followed? A few half-hearted posts. No traction. No audience and eventually another dead profile in your name.
This is what many refer to as platform fatigue, and it can be dangerous. You are spreading yourself too thin and also wasting energy that you could have otherwise spent focusing more on proven strategies.
If you are consistently abandoning your presence on new apps, you are not early. You are just dispersed.
Today’s platforms reward depth over breadth. You cannot just be there; you have to matter there, too.
This means making quality content according to the platform’s unique format. It also means active community engagement and consistency with your efforts. In addition, credibility is also highly important, and for that, you often need social proof or external validation.
Social proof- be it in the form of views, followers, or engagement- plays a vital role in how quickly you can grow your presence on the platform. This is also why many creators and brands turn to Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok follower services and similar tools for gaining early traction.
When you have a base of realistic and active followers who can bring you more exposure, this helps you get noticed.
The Real Questions You Should Be Asking
When it comes to joining a platform, do not merely consider if you need to be present here early. Instead, focus on these aspects.
· Do you have the bandwidth to create and engage here consistently?
· Does your audience use this platform or is it expected to use it in the future?
· Is this platform in line with your long-term content goals?
· Will you still be here if you are not earning money from it in another six months or so?
· Is this platform evolving in a direction that matches your brand?
If you cannot answer yes to most of those, it may be a better idea to watch the early adopters test the waters first and learn from their mistakes.
Final Thoughts
Do not be early just for the sake of being early! Focus more on being ready.
Being strategic is the new early. It means waiting until the platform shows signs of longevity and the user base is growing organically and not because of the hype. Also, assess if there is an actual infrastructure for monetization and content discovery.
Also, do not hesitate to hold off or revisit a platform once the noise around it has died down. Some of the biggest social media creators and brands joined popular platforms years after the platforms’ launch. It is not about being first. It is more about being excellent when you arrive.
So the next time an app drops, do not give in to that sense of urgency or make choices in haste! Take your time- watch and learn, and then decide what your next move would be.
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