The 5 Biggest Mistakes People are Making on Social Media

Have you ever heard the phrase it takes years to build a reputation and only minutes to destroy it? Well this so utterly pertinent when using social media to grow your brand.

With the correct approach, social media marketing is one of the best ways to grow your business. On the contrary, mistakes can be detrimental to your brand.

So, we’re here to show you how to prosper on social media by avoiding those common mistakes that can cost your company dearly.

1.Failing to Measure

Your business can only make progress on social media by detecting what works and what doesn’t. Your team should be measuring everything you do on social media and constantly monitoring results through the latest analytics. Using the information discovered, your team can delve into your future endeavours, ensuring your effectiveness on social media is being maximised.

 

2. No Calls to Action

All too often, potential customers will view your social media posts and leave it at that. Ensure before you post your next update you create a lead generation. Drive traffic to your website and opt-in pages. If you post a photo of your services or products, make sure to include a link that directs clients to a site where they can learn more and make a purchase.

3. Engagement Ghost Town

So, your Instagram bio is filled out, you’ve got a sweet profile picture and you’ve made a few posts.

Your social media tasks are completed now, right?

INCORRECT

Social networking is all about interaction. Two-way communication is vital on social media for your business. Constantly monitor and engage with consumers. When a comment is made on your posts make an effort to always respond, even if you just respond with a simple ‘thank you’. Follow similar companies in your industry, share posts that are relevant, like and comment on your users posts daily and update your page regularly.

4. Inconsistent Branding

Many businesses make the mistake of creating an Instagram page with a certain colour scheme or logo and their Facebook and Twitter pages with another. Have you ever come across this?

Brands, please knock this off.

Choose one colour scheme and logo and embrace it across all platforms. Ensure your brand is consistent and recognisable throughout all socials.

5. It’s not all about you

We all have that annoying friend on Facebook who just brags about themselves all the time, the one whose’ posts you skip past or eventually unfriend.

You don’t want to be that brand.

When it comes to social sharing you want to find that sweet spot between selling your brand and content that is interesting and fun. This is where the 80/20 rule comes into play. But what is the 80/20 rule?

You should be actively working to grow your follower base through making 20% of your content interesting and 80% focused on getting the word out about your brand.

So, think of it this way. For every 10 posts:

  • 2 should be personal, fun content that humanises your brand
  • 8 should be educational posts that inform the audience of your company

It’s all about finding a balance in the content you share. Focus on content that is valuable, interesting, relevant and fun to get your audience interacting with you.

Social media has a huge presence in today’s society and is forever growing. It’s important to know how to use it effectively to connect with consumers. Learning to avoid these common mistakes will give your business a competitive advantage so that you grow your follower base and win loyal customers.