Social media can be so, so good. Unfortunately, it can also be so, so bad…when done wrong.
There are some common mistakes I see businesses making on social media each and every day. These mistakes are undoubtedly costing them traffic, leads and sales, not to mention the potential damage to their reputation.
This article will outline 15 of these common mistakes. Give them a read so you can avoid making the same ones!
- You’re constantly promoting your stuff: While you can certainly promote your products or services some of the time, doing it too often will only annoy and alienate your fans and followers. Focus on spending MOST of your time sharing amazing content, and keep the promotions to a minimum.[clickToTweet tweet=”Focus on spending MOST of your time sharing amazing content, and keep the promotions to a minimum.” quote=”Focus on spending MOST of your time sharing amazing content, and keep the promotions to a minimum.”]
- You don’t have a plan: While you might be able to receive some benefits without one, having a plan will boost your results significantly. Your social media plan doesn’t need to be anything elaborate; even writing down what you hope to achieve, how you plan to get there, and how you’ll know when you’ve “arrived” may be enough!
- You’re not using video: Video continues to be HUGE on social media. And according to Social Media Examiner, 73% of marketers are increasing their use of video this year. If you’re not using them, realize that your competition probably is![clickToTweet tweet=”According to @SMExaminer, 73% of marketers are increasing their use of video this year! WOWSERS!” quote=”According to @SMExaminer, 73% of marketers are increasing their use of video this year! WOWSERS!”]
- You’re not using live video: If you follow me on social media, you know how I LOVE live video! Whether it’s Periscope, YouTube or Facebook Live, broadcasting live can be an incredibly effective way to connect with your prospects in a more real, more relatable way.
- You try to be like someone else, rather than just being yourself: Brands and individuals who are highly successful on social media often have one thing in common: they let their personality and uniqueness shine through. Don’t waste your energy trying to be someone else. Your audience wants to hear from YOU![clickToTweet tweet=”Don’t waste your energy trying to be someone else. Your audience wants to hear from YOU!” quote=”Don’t waste your energy trying to be someone else. Your audience wants to hear from YOU!”]
- You don’t interact: Social media is all about being SOCIAL. This means responding to comments, answering questions, and even just having FUN with your audience. If you’re not engaging with your fans and followers, I can guarantee you’re not seeing the value in your social media efforts!
- You’re not using social ads: I’m a big believer that most of your efforts should be focused on organic (FREE) promotion of your posts and tweets. That said, there’s definitely a time and place for paying for some extra visibility. Check out my Facebook Ads Success Blueprint for the exact strategy I use J
- You only post when you want something: Do you post regularly, or do you only post when you have a product or service you want to promote? If you answered the latter, you might as well not be posting at all. Not only will those posts be unlikely to get traction, they could actually damage your credibility in the long run!
- You post too often (or not enough): According to Buffer, the optimal frequency for posting on each social network is as follows:
Pinterest: 5x a day
Twitter: 3x a day
Google+: 3x a day
Facebook: 2x a day
Of course, these numbers can vary considerably depending on your niche or audience. Social media is NOT a one size fits all. We all have to find our own sweet spot. For instance, through my own testing, I’ve discovered that the optimal frequency for my audience is much more often than the numbers above. Be sure to test out various frequencies to see what works best for you and your community.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Social media is NOT a one size fits all. We all have to find our own sweet spot. ” quote=”Social media is NOT a one size fits all. We all have to find our own sweet spot. “]- You don’t use social media to get leads: You know I love social media. However, it should never be the “final destination” for your fans and followers. Make sure you’re regularly sending people to your blog and opt-in pages so you can communicate with them outside of social media.
- You expect too much in the short-term: Social media is a long-term endeavor. In some cases, it can take months or even years to build real connections with your fans and followers. Don’t expect to jump on a new platform, and begin seeing leads and sales immediately. But commit to the long-term, and all your hard work WILL be worthwhile!
- You’re posting the same stuff on every social network: Different social networking sites are used very differently. For instance, most Facebook users know that when they post something, their friends might not see the post for several hours or even several days. Twitter, on the other hand, is all about real-time sharing. This is why it’s so important to customize your sharing for each platform. Please don’t cut and paste posts between platforms! Consider how your audience uses each site, and then customize your posts to fit.
- You talk too much from a business perspective, rather than from an audience perspective: I hate to break it to you, but your audience only cares about your business as it relates directly to them! When posting, put yourself in the shoes of your audience: What do they care about? What are they struggling with? What questions do they need answered? Think primarily about what THEY need from you, not what YOU need from them.[clickToTweet tweet=”Your audience only cares about your business as it relates directly to them! ” quote=”Your audience only cares about your business as it relates directly to them! “]
- You’re hung up on increasing your follower count: Particularly on Facebook, having a ton of fans doesn’t mean as much as it used to. Engagement is SO much more important than having a ton of fans or followers. Instead of obsessing over your numbers, focus your energy on meeting the needs of the followers you do have…even if your numbers are more modest than you’d like.
- You’re broadcasting rather than talking: Some businesses think of social media primarily as an excellent tool for making announcements. They think of it as a megaphone they can use to talk AT their audience. Hopefully after reading the 14 mistakes above, you’ve realized this is a bad, bad move!
What mistakes would you add to this list? Share below!
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3 thoughts on “15 Social Media Mistakes Your Business Can’t Afford To Make”
This is very informative, thanks, Kim!
This is totally dependent on your community, Jeannine. I post 1-2 day myself. I know others who post more frequently and some who rarely post. If it’s the later, personally, I believe that, as business owners, if we aren’t putting out good content consistently, that our community will find someone who will meet those needs. Personally, I recommend at least once a day.
Another great article, Kim! I think many of us make these mistakes, and we make them often… 🙂