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Digital media is the new “it” kid on the block. This popular communication medium has seeped into every facet of humanity, connecting executives, freelancers, professionals, bloggers and celebrities in ways never before thought possible. And while some have more experience than others in the ongoing technical revolution, social media gives today’s marketers plenty of opportunities to learn through trial and error. If you want to be ahead of the game, learning through other’s errors is a great jumping off point, and there is no better place to start than by avoiding these three common social media faux pas.
Mistake No. 1: Not Making Content King
Strong content is crucial, no matter what kind of business you are running. Your mission, when creating and promoting content, is to educate and to entertain your readers through engaging content. In other words, don’t skimp on creating stellar content both on your blogs and on your social media broadcasts.
Mistake No. 2: Not Seeing Contacts in the Right Context
Viral marketing campaigns are what every good marketer hopes for, and if you want to count yourself amongst those lucky few, you have to remember that every voice you are connected to is an influencer of sorts. However, you want to pick the “right” influencers. Don’t just add people to your social networks to increase your friend count. You need to focus on adding the right people to your networks. Find people who have far-reaching influence that others listen to, but focus on connections that correspond with your message, not people who merely troll your posts. When it comes to social media, quality is better than quantity.
Mistake No. 3: Not Being Engaged
Whether it’s on your blog or on your Facebook, your promotional efforts will be for naught if you aren’t actively engaged with your audience. Respond and address your commenters by name, and make the people who read your material feel as if they matter to you; make them feel important. And even though social media can feel like a full time job, it is the new word of mouth marketing and the lifeblood of your business. If you are merely posting and walking away, you aren’t getting the job done.
Bottom Line
Social media and content marketing aren’t easy business building solutions, and as we've written before they are not the silver bullet and will not take you from zero to hero overnight. Research and develop the tools you need to boost your online reputation, understanding that social media marketing not a one-size-fits-all solution, and eventually you will find yourself in the ranks of the social media elite.
