7 Social Media Mistakes And How To Avoid Them
Posted by Brendan B. on Tue, Nov 29, 2011
Mistakes are a part of every business venture. It doesn't matter if you're a billionaire or a small shop owner - everyone faces mistakes, but not everyone handles them the same.
Some learn and improve, while others flounder. If you're making mistakes, but aren't capitalizing on the learning opportunities they present, then you probably aren't identifying the problems accurately enough. Mistakes regarding the effective use of social media sites are no different.
So let's pinpoint some common misconceptions.
7 common Social Media for Business Mistakes
1) Social media sites are basically just blogs.
At first glance you might think that Facebook is just another static page to post information….like a blog. It isn't. Think of it and other social media sites as LIVE-feed connections to your business.
It's about engaging them, not just informing them.
2) Social media is for advertising.
Many treat social media for business sites as billboards for products or services. But that misconception is a gross misunderstanding of what lies at the heart of social media platforms: new ways to connect and interact with customers.
The days of faceless corporations are over. Give people a peek behind the workings of your business. If you have an event coming up, don't just advertise the date and the product. Post pictures of the event venue as it comes together. Build some hype. Generate some buzz. That's how to truly leverage the power of social media for business.
3) More content is better.
Scattered information is not what Facebook and Twitter users are looking for. They want relevant, time-sensitive information. Filling these pages with useless, unfocused content completely negates their benefit. Remember, you're not trying to fill these pages with information. Your goal is to create a new, deeper connection with potential and actual customers.
Let them in on new aspects of your business, and they will reward you with loyalty.
4.) No call to action.
On Twitter and FB, your page, and therefore your company and brand, get more popular as more people "follow" and "like" you. The more popular you are, the more visible you are. However, most companies make a common sales mistake with this respect. They never 'ask for the sale', or in this case, ask for the "follow" or "like".
One company encourages Facebook visitors to click the "Like" button in order to see extra content. That's one reason why that particular business has over 6 million people who "Like" their Facebook page. Ask for participation. Encourage it. People will respond and you will reap the rewards of increased popularity.
5.) Forget interaction.
The visitors to your Facebook and Twitter pages are YOUR customers, following you on the web. They're interested and want to know what you're up to. They are some of your most loyal customers, and you should treat them that way.
If they have questions, comments or concerns, social media sites are excellent channels to use to engage them. This is precisely what Jet Blue uses Twitter for, and Vera Bradley uses Facebook for. It's a new way to answer questions immediately.
6.) I can do it myself.
Now, if your business is highly automated, then you might have the time required to properly apply these social media for business tactics. But keep in mind the sort of daily activities you will be under-taking: Posting pictures of an event or relevant activity, keeping people up-to-date on promotions, handling customer concerns, providing "sneak peeks" into your business.
If you have enough time, you could manage this aspect of the business by yourself, otherwise it might be necessary to bring on an extra person or two to manage your social media for business presence.
If your budget allows, it could be exactly what you need.
7.) This will pass.
This is an ongoing problem with many small businesses: They start their venture, see it as an end product - and NEVER EVOLVE. If you want to survive - you have to evolve. You have to take social media for business seriously, and build it into your overall web strategy. Social media is an extension of, an improvement upon, the general concept of the Internet: Interconnectivity - first between computers, now between people.
Whether these particular social media for business companies will exist in 10 years is unknown, BUT in some form or another - people are going to connect. They can either connect with your business, or someone else's. Avoid these common mistakes and you will ensure a stable, consistent, and SUCCESSFUL online presence.