Social media has never had as great of an impact on us as it has today. Most people get their daily news through the feed on their social network, and many find their next impulse purchase through the ads that pop up.
And this is exactly why every business should be visible in social media, and take advantage of the opportunities that these platforms offer. Here, you’ll find unique ways to market and create awareness about a product, company, or service.
Nevertheless, there are countless mistakes you can make as a company in social media despite being very active, and in this article, we’ll talk about the five top mistakes companies do.
1. Get to know your audience
Many companies run a marketing campaign that looks good, but they forget who they want to reach. Make sure that the content speaks to the right audience and that it’s published on the appropriate platform.
Is your target audience women between 20-35 years? Is it men between 40-55 years? Do you want to reach people in a specific geographical area? Who are the potential customers you want to reach? Which social media sites are they on?
Could it be beneficial to use Instagram over Facebook? Or maybe your campaign or ad should appear on both platforms?
Everything you do for your business in social media should be planned to the smallest detail, and you should avoid basing anything on luck.
2. Reply to negative comments
Many companies fear negative comments and responses as this can harm their reputation. But instead of ignoring, deleting, or apologizing, you and your company should look at this as an opportunity to improve. Accept what is constructive criticism, and thank the customer for their comment. If something seems unreasonable, you should respond to it objectively and avoid the temptation of attacking the user if what he/she writes may be offensive.
Ask the customer to send you an email or call to resolve any conflict and always keep a positive tone.
3. Don’t be too much of a salesperson
A profile that only focuses on selling something can repel followers. Most people want a good and mixed social profile where they can find great deals as well as something they can be engaged in, such as learning about something new.
Start sharing engaging posts that provide likes and comments. However, the posts should fit the company’s brand and the content should be relevant.
4. Too social for social media?
If you have a small business, you don’t need to front your business on every social platform. Choose a fitted platform and use it actively. An active account looks way better than a company account that hasn’t posted anything since 2014. Focusing on or two accounts also makes it easier to keep a continuous flow of posts.
If you have a larger company, however, and want to reach out on multiple platforms, a good idea might be to hire or recruiting someone who’s responsible for your social media. This way, one person can focus solely on fronting the company outwards, while you and other employees can focus on the company’s main tasks.
5. Marketing strategy
Many companies don’t succeed in social media due to a lack of marketing strategy.
To get good results, you need to figure out what you want to achieve through social media. Do you want to get a lot of followers?
The next question should be: Why do you want to do it? Is it to increase sales or to increase the authority of the company? Or maybe you want both? Remember: Without setting any goals you won’t achieve anything.
That’s why you need a battle plan. You need a marketing strategy:
- How much time do you want to spend building and maintaining your profile?
- Who do you want to reach?
- What is the goal?
- Who should be in charge?
