Social Media Mistakes that Waste Time and Money
Posted by Beth Hrusch on Tue, Jan 05, 2010
Harnessing the power of social media websites is often easier said than done. There are several social media mistakes that even savvy web gurus make, and any one of them can severely hurt the overall campaign. Below are four of the most common social media mistakes that people frequently make - which ones are you guilty of?
1.) Spamming. You should never take advantage of your network of social networking friends by sending them tons of emails, no matter how valuable you think the information is. If you start annoying people, they'll either block, ignore or "unfriend" you, lowering your overall exposure. Don't send out more than one email or announcement every week or so, and try to make sure what you're sending out is going to be considered valuable to your potential clients. Consider including coupons, fun facts or tips.
2.) Be nice. This may sound elementary, but it's one of the most common social media mistakes to make. It can be easy to get into a "flame war" with others online and say something that is less than professional. If somebody leaves a negative comment on your page, delete it and remove the person from your contacts, but don't get nasty. Others will inevitably see it, and it may leave a bad impression.
3.) Don't sabotage others - not even your competitors! When it comes to Internet karma, you really do reap what you sow. Continue to follow the golden rule of treating others the way you want to be treated, and you'll get the same amount of respect in return.
4.) Play by the rules! Don't try to get around the rules that social networking pages have set up. Eventually, a moderator will figure out that you're trying to get around the rules, and your page will be deleted. The short-term gain isn't worth the long-term headache.