To be successful today, most businesses need to have some sort of presence on social media. Whether it’s Facebook and Instagram or LinkedIn and Twitter, the fact of the matter is that your clients and potential clients are online and waiting to hear and interact with you. The problem is that many businesses don’t understand that social media marketing is about being social and making mistakes that can cost them clients. Here are the top 5 social media mistakes and what you can do to avoid them.
Not Having A Plan. The idea of posting on social media for the sake of posting and “having a presence” is a one-way ticket to frustration and failure. Just as you would put together a strategy for launching a new product or building your business, you need to have a social media marketing plan. Understanding who your audience is, what platforms they use, and what your overall goals for your social media marketing are will not only save you a lot of time and effort but also ensure that those efforts pay off in the long run.
Always Being in Sales Mode. One big mistake that many businesses make is they use social media to solely promote their products and services. The idea behind social media is to for your audience to get to know, like and trust you so that they will eventually buy from you. If all your posts are salesy in nature, you’ll lose your audience and any potential new business. That doesn’t mean you can’t promote your products and services. Just weave those promotions into the conversation in a non-obtrusive way.
Ignoring or Deleting Negative Comments. No one likes to hear negative feedback. Our first inclination may be to remove it or ignore it. The problem is twofold: (1) people with a bad experience are more likely to tell others about it – especially if they feel ignored; and (2) others are watching how you handle that negative feedback and are forming an opinion of you and your business. So how you deal with those comments is extremely important. Make sure that you acknowledge the feedback and either try to address it then or give the person an opportunity to email or call you to discuss it further.
Not Engaging with Your Audience. Social media is meant to be social. That means interacting with your followers so that you build a rapport and they begin to trust you, your expertise, and by extension, your products and services. Make sure that you are taking the time to respond to comments, ask questions and interact with your audience. Yes, it does take time and effort, but, trust me it will pay off in the long run.
Lack of Brand Consistency. You want your brand to be recognized across all social media channels, which means that the look and feel of all your posts should be consistent – consistent colors, consistent fonts, use of your logo, etc. That doesn’t mean that you have to post the same content over and over again. The goal is for your audience – regardless of platform – to be able to see your posts and identify them with your brand and your personality. Consistent branding goes a long way to establishing authority and trust from your audience because they see the consistency and over time they know what to expect.
Social media marketing doesn’t have to be difficult. As long as you pay attention to what you’re doing and remember that it’s about being social you’re halfway to building a great online presence.
If you are looking for new ways to promote your business, Wearable Imaging is here to help. Give us a call at 949-888-7837 or email us at sales@wearableimaging.com to set up a complimentary strategy session with our President Robin Richter, she is passionate about helping you stand out above the crowd!
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