Social media is a crucial part of any business marketing strategy and with good reason. It’s estimated that the number of social media users in the US will surpass 308 million in 2023, and you should take advantage!
At Say Yes Business Solutions, we’ll help you navigate social media to help you avoid common mistakes as you get started.
Posting Content Inconsistently
Posting social media content inconsistently is a surefire way to get your page booted out of the algorithm. Your post visibility is determined by the platform algorithms, and they typically reward consistent posting.
If you post every single day for a week, then take a month off, people are likely to unfollow your social media pages. Consistency is also important for your audience to keep them engaged. Once followers notice a pattern in your posting, they’re likely to check in instead of waiting to see a post in their feed. We are all guilty of this, yep, even us! When you are overwhelmed running your business. When inconsistency becomes an issue, it might be time to consider bringing on someone to help you manage your social media platforms.
Lacking Strategy for Your Target Audience
Anyone can post something on Instagram, but your business should be targeting YOUR specific audience.
Before posting any social media content, you should have a strategy and target demographic in mind. For example, if you own a small plant business, posting about sports isn’t likely to engage your followers. If your posts aren’t relevant to your target audience, it’s not likely that they’ll engage. If you don’t know who your target audience is, Say Yes can help walk you through a few exercises to dial that in!
Coming off as Inauthentic to Your Brand
As you begin your social media journey, posting inauthentic content is an easy mistake to make. You’ve spent time creating your brand and voice, so it’s important to stay true to that in your social media content. Social media content is all about building the trust of your intended audience, so being authentic is key. And guess what? If you aren’t, your audience can tell!
Not Engaging with Your Audience (Comments)
Another common mistake businesses make when starting out with social media is not engaging with their audience. That means you’re not responding to likes, shares, or comments that your viewers are leaving. Make sure someone on your team is going through posts and answering questions, responding to customer service issues, and connecting. This is going to continue to build loyalty and trust.
Making It All About The Sale
While social media is a tool that will help you sell your product, don’t beat your followers over the head with it. People aren’t going to engage with your content if they are constantly being told to buy your product, sign up for your service, etc. Along with advertising your services, social media accounts should provide value to your audience.
Go with the classic "Give, Give, Give, Take" method, or "Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook" as made famous by Gary V’s in his book. "Give" through educational videos, tips and tricks, personal stories, and other points of interest. Then, "take" back from your audience with a post that asks them to participate, either through engaging on social or selling a product or service. What you post will ultimately depend on your services and your target audience.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is that social media should absolutely be a central part of your business strategy. Simple mistakes can cost you followers and engagement if you’re not fully prepared!
At Say Yes Business Solutions, we know our way around a social media post and can help you avoid these common mistakes. Contact us today, and let’s get started!
