Common Social Media Mistakes Business Owners Make

We hear about social media all the time. It seems like everyone uses it in some way, shape or form from teenagers, to coffee shops, to big shot companies. It’s a no brainer that any business should utilize social media as a means of advertising, networking and communicating with current and future customers or clients. There are so many social media platforms available to businesses such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and more. Utilizing these platforms effectively and to their fullest potential can improve your business’s online presence and success significantly.

While social media is absolutely an essential part of any 21^st century business, it’s wise to be cautious. The improper implementation of social media can actually do more harm than good according to interviews conducted by The Huffington Post. Here are the top 3 social media mistakes businesses commonly make and how you can avoid them:

1. Poor planning ails many businesses when it comes to social media exposure. Many business owners will join social media platforms instinctively without thinking about their purpose or intention. Just having a Facebook or Twitter account for the sake of having it is unprofessional, and your visitors will be able to tell! You want to make a good impression when it comes to anything with your business’s name on it. Social media should be treated no differently. If you’re going to use social media, it’s best to know what you will use it for and how you will maintain it regularly.

Avoid posting consistently for a few weeks and then falling off the face of the earth. You need to have a constant and regular presence online in order for your efforts to make an impact. If you can’t commit to maintaining these platforms, it’s best to stay away from social media for the time being. If you’re not going to do something correctly, don’t do it at all.

2. Inconsistency between social media platforms hurts many business owners. As with any advertising or networking you do, you want to convey a uniform image or culture that your business will be associated with. It’s important that your social media sites are treated in the same manner. Make sure to use a similar tone, vocabulary and style throughout each of these platforms so you give your business partners and customers a clear and understandable impression of what you have to offer.

3. Many business owners make forget the definition of social. It’s not called “advertising media”—that’s a television commercial. Commercials are one-sided. Instead, a social media platform is meant to be a way for your business to communicate and interact with the public in order to gain loyal customers. The social component of social media cannot be left out. You can absolutely share information about your products and services, but be sure to ask for feedback, share links to interesting and relevant articles and start a conversation between business
   and consumer to optimize the effectiveness of your social media efforts.

If you’ve made any of these mistakes in the past, or fear you might get sucked into these habits, consider working with IT Support Solutions or a company that helps with all of your business’s technology needs efficiently and cost-effectively. Working with any technology professional who knows the ins and outs of social media can remove a lot of the guesswork.

This will help you to develop a positive and effective social media presence for your business that will entice an audience. When in doubt, always

remember to develop a specific and purposeful social media plan, keep all social media platforms consistent and interact with your audience for the best results and an optimal experience.