More and more businesses are taking advantage of the ever growing social media space to reach their customers. They hire social media managers and are using the platforms to communicate more rather than having the customers get in touch with them via phones or emails. The best way to use social media comes about by having a social media strategy. It is important for the company to have a plan on how to go about things online. They should know tips, tricks, hacks, trends, and other topics that anyone on social media is aware of. But what about the things they shouldn’t do? Many common tactics are ineffective at best, and can be damaging to a brand.
When it comes to social media blunders, everyday brings something new to the table. One example is the case of the guy behind KTN tweeting personal feelings on their company account. Here are some of the more common ones.
- Like-Baiting
Like-baiting is the practice of using provocative or controversial headlines to stir up social attention for likes and clicks. We all know those accounts that make you feel like the information they share is exciting or scandalous but you are disappointed when you read it in their entirety. This move will definitely get you a few likes, shares and retweets but you shouldn’t do it. It ruins the image of the company and the business objectives are lost. It is borderline spam and most people see right through it so the likes you are aiming for will not happen.
Buying Likes And Followers
We all want to have as many likes on Facebook and Twitter followers as possible. We aim to do it to show how influential and popular you are to justify your being online. Many have resorted to buying likes and followers, a mistake you should never make. Buying likes and followers is a waste of time as they don’t care about you or your business. Once you buy likes your audience quality goes down, you will get trolls and you social media impact also lowers. It is better to let your work speak for itself and get genuine likes and followers.
Posting Too Much
Many people assume that the more popular they get, the more they should post. People will follow you because they like you and what you do. They will however get post fatigue if you flood their timelines too much. There is temptation to post every minute to keep them interested. Do not go down this road. Balance out your posting such that they do not get bored and even look forward to the next post.
Only Using Social Media To Advertise
Social media is without a doubt one of the best advertising avenues. This does not mean that you should have an account solely for this purpose. Avoid being that business that only communicates when they have a new product or service in the market. You should mention anything new, but also remember to engage you customers. Interact with then and respond to their queries. If all you do is advertise, no one will pay attention to you.
Along the same vein as posting too much is using your social networks only to advertise your products and services. It’s a practice that can quickly dull engagement and customer trust. Having a big sale? Launching a new product? Go ahead and mention it. But avoid reminding your followers over and over again. Trust us, they know. More than promoting, social is a channel for engagement. That means sharing great content, interacting with followers, and simply helping your business or brand stay at the front of the consumers mind.
Deleting Negative Comments
One of the biggest mistakes those new to social media make is deleting negative comments. It makes you look like you have something to hide when you do so. Leave the comment and take advantage of the opportunity it offers you. It’s a chance to clear misconceptions in public and also to make a customer happy in a public place. You cannot make all your customers happy, but social media can make you look good at handling customer complaints if done nicely. Respond in a polite way and avoid trying to hide or ignore the negative comment. The only comments you should delete are the ones that make threats and are hateful.
Not Having A Social Media Strategy At All
Social media is no longer optional. It’s the first—and in many cases, only—point of contact for consumers. Treat as an integral part of PR for your company. Don’t go in blind when you try out social media use for your company. Do not assume you can do so without a social media strategy. Plan out how your communication will go. It will aid you in monitoring your actions and analyzing if it successful or not. If you never know what you are doing and what its effect is, you are failing in your PR avenue.
These are just but a few yet crucial mistakes companies make on social media. Once you rectify them it should be smooth sailing all the way. They will help you keep things smooth and reach an even wider audience