7 Social Media Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make
Social media marketing is more than just alluring photos. A successful social media platform requires strategy and precision. The following common mistakes prevent you from growing your audience and overall business.
You don’t remain consistent across all of your social media platforms.
If you have three different social media profiles and each appears as though they were created by three different people you are not setting yourself up to get the most out of your platforms. This lack of consistency can prevent you from growing your audience and maintaining loyal followers. Whether it be Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn your audience should be able to recognize your brand. Be consistent by creating an overall tone and aesthetic, then apply it to your social media pages.
2. You underestimate the effectiveness of your Instagram and Facebook Bio.
Although the bio section contains so little room, it can be the one flaw that affects your audience growth. The bio is the very first thing users will notice and if it doesn’t immediately pull them in you run the risk of losing a targeted prospect. This one small section of your profile should give the audience an idea of what your brand is and be creative in a way that sets you apart from other competitors. Increase user engagement by including descriptive words, line breaks, Call-To-Action (CTA) links, and even some emojis if you’d like! Make it simple yet effective in a way that represents the feel of your brand.
3. You forget the Power of LinkedIn.
What sets LinkedIn apart from other social media platforms is that it is strictly professional. One of the most powerful skills of this platform is that you can build connections with other experts. In addition, you have the opportunity to showcase your skills and qualifications. LinkedIn provides tools to offer as much information on your business as you can in the most effective way. Unlike Facebook and Instagram, this social media platform is specifically designed to favor professional networking.
4. You overlook the usefulness of hashtags.
Hashtags are more than just a way to gain followers, they allow you to target your specific audience through keywords. Using even just one hashtag gives you 12.6% more engagement on average. Hashtags are designed to categorize posts which means they make it easier for people to find posts or accounts that they are specifically looking for. Based on the topic of your post, hashtags allow you to reach potential followers. Whether it’s a community hashtag for a certain subject or a branded hashtag unique to your company, this is a resourceful and easy way to drive engagement.
5. You don’t have a clear strategy for your content.
How are your posts resonating with your target audience? Don’t make the mistake of speaking but not actually saying anything. Know what your objective is and then design your content to attract that specific audience. This not only includes the content itself, but also the times at which you post and which platforms you are using. Do your research. Know the general time and platform popularity of your targeted audience. Remember that your platforms should be more about advertising your business. You also want to give your audience what they want. Inform, them, connect with them, and inspire them!
6. You are forgetting about Instagram and Facebook stories.
Get this! Businesses make up a third of the most viewed Instagram stories. Stories are designed to be quick and simple. You have the power to offer useful information in such a short amount of time. More than that, you can also create a better chance of engagement than regular posts through polls, Q&As, quizzes, and even countdowns. These engagement activities are simpler than commenting on a post because you can make them as easy as one click answers! Stories are meant to be more informal than your regular posts which means you have a little more room for fun and creativity.
7. You are not effectively using your social media to showcase your brand.
Who are you? What is it that you do? Why does it matter? If your social media pages don’t answer these questions, you are not utilizing these platforms to create brand awareness. Showcasing your brand is about more than just the logo. When a prospective target comes across your page, they should know exactly how you would benefit them.
Keep these mistakes in mind when building your social media platforms. Utilize your resources in a way that will benefit your business! If you notice you are not achieving the outcome you hoped for from your pages, take a step back and reevaluate your strategies.
