The 5 Most Common Social Media Marketing Mistakes

Social media has exploded at a lightening speed during recent times and any business house that neglects SMM (Social Media Marketing) will be doing so at its own peril. People are no longer viewing press/TV/radio advertisements to know about your brand, products/services. They learn more about your business only by actively participating in social media platforms.

Business enterprises, regardless of their nature and size, are today integrating SMM campaigns into their marketing plans.  But handing SMM, calls for a fair degree of expertise and it is best to leave social media campaigns to professional SMM agencies.

People that are not conversant with SMM techniques conduct flawed campaigns and here are five most common SMM mistakes people commit.

1. People do not have the patience to read and exactly know what others including your probable prospects are saying about your products and/or services. Please know social media is all about interaction and online conversation is a two-way traffic. Learn to listen and then guardedly reply to all views expressed by others about your business/industry.
2. Do not expect instant results without properly using SMM techniques and then get unduly frustrated and discontinue social media participation. If you are posting something on social media at infrequent intervals and expect people to engage with you, then rest assured you will be disappointed and feel desolate.
3. Never misuse social media platforms to blatantly advertise and/or promote your products and services. If you try to be overly self-centered, people will abandon your postings and not involve in any discussions with you. People are looking for lively and interesting content and the onus is on you to deliver thought-provoking content consistently. You should talk about your business very unobtrusively and subtly introduce details about your products/services.
4. Please know the fundamental objective of social media participation is making a connection and not straightaway selling your products/services. Do not try to look for some type of quick ROI (Return on Investment) out of their social marketing efforts as social media is just one more channel for marketing and not a magical wand to boost your sales overnight. Sales through SMM has to be obtained rather passively and not through aggressive tactics.
5. One common mistake most people make on social media is trying not to be transparent. Please know people want to know about businesses through social media and expect honest details and not glib talk. If you are disinclined to responding in a straightforward manner, then your business will never benefit from social media. If, for some reason, you are uncomfortable being transparent, then you should first put your house in order before thinking of SMM strategies.

Your Turn:

What is your social media marketing strategy ? We’d love to hear your thoughts.