Have you ever been on a blind date? If you haven’t, I’m sure you can imagine how awkward one could be, especially if you’re being set up by a friend… or worse: your mom.
Marketing is similar to dating in a lot of ways. You meet a stranger, you get to know him, and if all goes well, he’s buying a product and you’re planning a future together. Of course there are a lot of steps along the way (like getting to know each other!), but fortunately for you, I’ve come up with a list that will help you bring your A game. Nothing can spoil a relationship quite like a pet-peeve you don’t know about. Keep reading to find out what five things you should avoid when winning over customers through social media.
1. A social media handle that doesn’t match your business name
Hide-and-seek may have been fun as a kid, but your customers will find it frustrating when they search for you on social and you’re not there... only to realize later that your company page exists under an alternate name. Be consistent and make sure the names of all your social media networks match as closely as possible.
2. Forgetting to respond to your followers’ activity
In case you’ve forgotten, the main purpose of social media is to be social. If your followers have taken the time to find your page, read a post, and leave a comment, you need to acknowledge them (even if it’s just clicking Like). Not only is it courteous, it shows your audience that you are responsive, which in turn strengthens the trust between them and your brand.
3. Posting second-by-second updates
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: It’s important to be active on social and keep your pages current, BUT it’s just as important to find balance when doing so. Your followers follow you because 1) they like you and 2) they want to read what you have to say. However, they don’t want to be buried in content when they’re trying to connect with family, friends, and other companies they like. I recommend posting a maximum of 2-3 social media updates per day. On Twitter, you can get away with 3-5 because it has it’s own cycle of expected activity. This way, you can feed your followers a stream of good information without leaving them bloated and agitated.
4. Using “popular” but irrelevant hashtags
What’s trending on social media doesn’t necessarily mean it’s trending for your company. For example, when you’re tweeting about a home renovation update or an interesting blog article you’ve written about open heart surgery, there’s no need to end it with #cincodemayo or #sharknado or #TaylorSwift despite how popular these hashtags might be. You’ll only confuse your followers.
5. A page that is strictly profit-driven
While the ultimate goal of social media marketing is to drive people to your website and convert them into leads, your strategy should not be obvious to every stranger who scrolls down your page. Sharing content that is valuable, such as a cool infographic or helpful blog post, is just as important (if not more) as sharing a link to your newest Premium Content Offer (PCO), like an eBook, webinar, or interactive self-assessment. Read more about the benefits of form-free content.
Want to learn more about how you can use social media better? This blog post will help you understand Facebook analytics by teaching you the difference between social reach and social engagement so you can use social media better to interact with your followers and promote your business.
