Three Social Media Mistakes Brands Make and How To Fix Them
By: Brooke Hazel, Marketing & Communications Intern
Social media is a constantly evolving platform. With new algorithms every other day, hot trends continuously taking off, and a tough balance between personal and professional, it’s not an easy medium to perfect. Here are three social media mistakes made, even by experts, and how to avoid them.
You’re not posting consistently
Some of the best social media advice I’ve ever received was, “it’s better to post good content constantly than great content occasionally.” This, of course, does not mean just throw up anything without a care in the world onto your platforms. It just means that if you’re so focused on perfection that you can’t post on a regular basis, you’re probably missing out on your platform’s potential. For most social media users, authentic, well-intentioned posts are more than enough. This Forbes article goes into more detail about how a consistent posting schedule can increase a brand’s value.
You’re doing too much at once
The days of one social media platform being enough are gone. In today’s fast-paced and technology-driven world, most brands need to be on multiple platforms at once in order to reach the most people. This, however, does not mean you need an account on every new platform, as this can get overwhelming. Personally, I believe just about every brand should have a Facebook and Instagram account. Facebook has over 2.7 billion active monthly users, meaning no matter what demographic you need to reach, they are there. Instagram is right behind Facebook (and owned by it!) and is also great for nearly every type of brand.
Others may need a bit more thought. While TikTok is trendy right now, if you’re trying to reach those over 30 years old, you may not need it. Similarly, while Twitter is popular, it is recommended to post an average of 15 times per day… and this doesn’t include retweets and replying to your following. There is nothing wrong with these platforms, but unless you have a team that can truly dedicate themselves to running a million social media accounts, it is probably best to stick to only a few platforms.
All of your platforms look identical
While you want to have a consistent voice and message across all platforms, being identical on them won’t get you far. Not only will the algorithms of platforms knock you down for copying and pasting content, but you will miss out on focusing on certain users. The fun company selfie you post on Instagram, probably won’t do as well on LinkedIn. Know who your followers are and what the platform is built for to guide what you post on each platform.
If you’re posting on a personal account and just for fun, these things don’t really matter in the long run. Social media can be a fun way to connect with others. But, if you’re a brand, or looking to build up a following, remember to post consistently, focus on what you know and can handle, and speak to the audience you’re posting to.