For fast, easy, inexpensive marketing, Facebook can be your business’s best friend, but some common mistakes can turn your network into a marketing nightmare. This article will explain five fatal Facebook mistakes and how to avoid them.
The Internet and social media thrive on new information. One of the advantages of social media marketing is that information spreads quickly. But keep in mind how quickly the last viral sensation disappeared! Since content travels quickly on the Internet, that exciting, interesting content becomes old and irrevelant much faster than traditional advertising. Always give your followers something new to talk about or they’ll start following someone else!
Social media can be a great way to seem approachable to customers, but always remain professional. Unless it’s directly related to your product, keep personal updates personal! Always remember that unprofessional posts–such as remarks made at a competitor’s expense–can easily be shared. Also remember that the Internet never forgets. Even if you delete a post, that poorly phrased comment or embarrassing photo is still out there and, even worse, a minor faux pas can escalate if it gets reposted with the information that you tried to hide it. Avoid trouble by never posting anything you might regret. If you wouldn’t say it to a customer on the sales floor, it shouldn’t be posted online.
Customers want frequent, interesting updates, but they don’t want to be bombarded or feel like they’re being spammed. Regularly provide fresh content, but unless you’re promoting an event or something special that needs regular updates, don’t post more than once a day. Customers should also be able to figure out why you’re posting content. Irrelevant posts can be worse than no posts at all. Social media lets you take a more personal tone and interact directly with customers and clients, but a business page should still be business like!
While it’s a mistake not to remain professional and courteous, it’s also a mistake not to know what your competition is up to. Are your biggest competitors on Twitter? Pinterest? Something you’ve never even heard of? If the competition is posting on a site, you should be too! It’s also important to know what your competitors are posting. Just as you provide something your rivals can’t or don’t in the business world, know what they’re not doing online that you can do. What are you and your employees able to provide online that will keep customers following you and liking you? If you don’t keep these things in mind and develop a strategy, you’ll be missing out on the benefits of social media.
Social media isn’t just about presence; it’s about interaction. When customers post on your timeline or message you, always answer! Even a simple thank you will show customers that you’re connected and interested in them. Ignoring posts and comments will send the message that you’re only interested in marketing, not in social media. The ability to hear from and immediately respond to customers is something that was never possible before. Listen to their concerns, remember what they like, and respond!
Social media can be a great way to promote your brand, but it does take planning and attention. Stay on top of your social media persona, and you’ll stay on top with sales too!
