5 Social Media Myths Your Business May Be Falling For!
The digital landscape is disruptive and constantly evolving. New platforms are entering the market and making waves, while others are adapting to cater to new audiences. There seem to be some unofficial (and excessively blogged about) rules concerning the correct ways to achieve growth on social media platforms.
We have noticed that when we take on new clients, businesses have often taken on these various ideas of what social media marketing should look like. Though some of these techniques may have worked in the past, many of these beliefs are Myth’s that businesses need to change in order to excel at managing social media…
MYTH: “The more followers we have, the more successful we are”
Truth: The more engagement you have, the more successful you will be.
Strong organic engagement such as comments, likes and page visits are much more beneficial than having thousands of extra followers that never see your profile. Yes, it’s important to maintain and build a following, but this MUST match your engagement, as this is the true measure of success on social media!
MYTH: “I can achieve big results quickly”
Truth: You can achieve big results with a consistent strategy, over time.
As a business you need to have a plan in place to post consistent and high-quality content. This strategy can include tactics such as influencer engagement and promotional campaigns to push for quicker results. However, it is unrealistic for any business to expect quick results on any social media platform.
MYTH: “Social Media is a free marketing tool”
Truth: Social Media costs an investment of time and sometimes, money.
Signing up for a social media account is just the first step. Businesses need to curate excellent content which will target the correct audience at the right time. This process is time-consuming and often requires an investment of capital. From sponsoring a post to hiring an employee/agency, if you want to increase your Social Media influence, we strongly advise investing in this form of marketing.
MYTH: “I must be on every social media platform”
Truth: You must be where my audience is.
Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Youtube, LinkedIn, TikTok, Google+ – the list goes on… do you need to operate on every platform? The answer is no! Find out where your audience is and put your time and effort into that or those platforms.
MYTH: “Social Media will generate more customers”
Truth: Social Media will connect you with your existing customers
Social Media is a tool to build relationship with your existing market. Most people that follow and engage with you will have previously used/brought your product or service, therefore, the aim must be to connect with them. Building a strong online relationship with existing customers will inevitably attract new customers due to user-generated content – the social media version of word-of-mouth.
If you feel like you want to gain the upper hand on your social media marketing, why not collaborate with a social media agency? They can support you with anything social media, from content to community management, or just manage it for you completely!