7 Biggest Social Media Mistakes Businesses Make
1)Spamming/ Excessive Advertising Spamming has become a popular method of advertising for companies in recent years.
Unfortunately it no longer works as internet users have learned to ignore spam messages and filter them out without reading them.
Companies should beware when hiring internet marketing agencies, as some self proclaimed experts simply launch spamming campaigns which are un-ethical and do not work.
Make sure to obtain a marketing outline from the agency as to how they intend on marketing your company, brand or product on the internet before you sign a contract with them.
2)Lack of Planning Many companies fail in their social media campaigns due to a lack of planning and preparation.
Launching a profile, blog, or social media presence is not a campaign.
Proper planning and follow up is essential for success in any social media plan.
3)Attempting to Measure Social Media Businesses need to understand there is no easy way to measure social media as it pertains to return on investment.
While companies can come up with measurable goals, it is important to realize that one cannot attach a monetary value to user engagement or customer relationship.
Social media also helps increase customer retention, which is another hard-to-measure aspect of business.
4)Failing to Test Failing to test each social network prior to launching a presence may result in wasted time and/or money.
Not all social media platforms will work efficiently for all businesses, therefore a market test is always recommended.
Keep in mind that testing 500 people is considered to be a market test, while 1000 people is a scientific test.
5)Using a Stock Avatar Using the website's stock avatar or profile picture makes customers suspicious, and creates doubt in their mind about the credibility of the company.
It is also an indication that the company lacks experience and knowledge as it pertains to social media.
6)Failure to Engage As a general rule, every comment a blogger receives should be recognized with a reply.
Profiles should also engage with friends/members/followers through comment replies on photographs, status updates, etc.
To ignore the opportunity to engage and interact is one of the worst mistakes a social media expert can make.
7)Infrequent Updates Not updating a social profile, Fan Page, group, blog, etc.
will result in little or no followers and discouraged and dissatisfied potential customers.
It is critical to the campaign that all social platforms are updated frequently with new pictures, status updates, interactive ideas (events, contests, etc) and information to keeps users constantly visiting the profile or website.
Unfortunately it no longer works as internet users have learned to ignore spam messages and filter them out without reading them.
Companies should beware when hiring internet marketing agencies, as some self proclaimed experts simply launch spamming campaigns which are un-ethical and do not work.
Make sure to obtain a marketing outline from the agency as to how they intend on marketing your company, brand or product on the internet before you sign a contract with them.
2)Lack of Planning Many companies fail in their social media campaigns due to a lack of planning and preparation.
Launching a profile, blog, or social media presence is not a campaign.
Proper planning and follow up is essential for success in any social media plan.
3)Attempting to Measure Social Media Businesses need to understand there is no easy way to measure social media as it pertains to return on investment.
While companies can come up with measurable goals, it is important to realize that one cannot attach a monetary value to user engagement or customer relationship.
Social media also helps increase customer retention, which is another hard-to-measure aspect of business.
4)Failing to Test Failing to test each social network prior to launching a presence may result in wasted time and/or money.
Not all social media platforms will work efficiently for all businesses, therefore a market test is always recommended.
Keep in mind that testing 500 people is considered to be a market test, while 1000 people is a scientific test.
5)Using a Stock Avatar Using the website's stock avatar or profile picture makes customers suspicious, and creates doubt in their mind about the credibility of the company.
It is also an indication that the company lacks experience and knowledge as it pertains to social media.
6)Failure to Engage As a general rule, every comment a blogger receives should be recognized with a reply.
Profiles should also engage with friends/members/followers through comment replies on photographs, status updates, etc.
To ignore the opportunity to engage and interact is one of the worst mistakes a social media expert can make.
7)Infrequent Updates Not updating a social profile, Fan Page, group, blog, etc.
will result in little or no followers and discouraged and dissatisfied potential customers.
It is critical to the campaign that all social platforms are updated frequently with new pictures, status updates, interactive ideas (events, contests, etc) and information to keeps users constantly visiting the profile or website.
