6 Mistakes You’re Making on Social Media

Whether you have a personal or business account, social media is a great way to connect and promote your brand. Make sure you’re communicating the right message by avoiding these six common mistakes.

1. Only Posting About Yourself or Your Business

Relationships are about give-and-take and this is no different for social media relationships. If the viewer feels like they’re constantly being sold to, they may see your content as more of an ad than something fun or beneficial to them. Show the human side of your business and the people behind it. Give someone a pat on the back or a shout out. Ask questions and seek engagement.

2. Hiring a Social Media Manager

Paying someone who is not experienced in marketing to post on your social media account could be a huge mistake. They may be very familiar with the platform but do they understand your audience and your business objectives? Are they speaking in a tone consistent with your brand with relevant content? Are they posting on the appropriate channel for the audience you’re trying to reach? If you're going to hire someone, hire a professional.

3. Ignoring Comments or Messages

Again- be responsive and social. Even if comments or reviews are negative, keep it professional and stay calm. Deleting or ignoring negative comments could make the situation worse. Admitting fault and reassuring customers you’re working to make it right is not a terrible thing. Also telling your side of the story without making it personal or getting emotional is an appropriate response. How you choose to respond will make a bigger impact than the original comment.

4. Posting Questionable Content

Even if it is posted for a short time and you decide to delete it, a screenshot is forever and controversial posts and images spread like wildfire. Your idea of what is inappropriate may differ from your viewer's. Save yourself an awkward conversation later and if you have to think twice about it- don’t post it.

“But I have separate personal and business accounts.” That’s great. No one said you can’t have your own personal social life and have fun with it- but just remember you are still tied to your business.

5. Misusing Hashtags

Hashtags are a great way to promote your post, but if you include 20 hashtags, it starts to look insincere or desperate. Be selective and use hashtags to add value to the post. You can check to see which hashtags are trending for an added boost in engagement. #relevance

6. Not Checking Spelling and Grammar

This is so basic but we see it over and over. You know how to spell (or have the resources to) but are in a hurry or didn’t read it once it was typed. Then it’s live and your bad spelling is distracting from your message and discrediting you as being on top of things or caring about details. We use a browser extension called Grammarly and it has saved my butt more times than I can count.

Going forth, be intentional with your posts and contact us if you have questions about social media!