Many solopreneurs make major social media blunders and are completely unaware of it. Because I was one of them, I know what I'm talking about.
Don't get me wrong: making errors is OK; in fact, it's beneficial since we learn from them. However, if we do not learn from our mistakes and correct them, our business and personal branding will suffer.
Yes, if you keep making these social media blunders again and over, it can get pretty awful. You're surely aware of how quickly a poor reputation can develop and how difficult it is to establish a positive one. This is due to the fact that excellent things take time.
SOCIAL MEDIA’S BIGGEST MISTAKES
1. Begin without a defined plan and objectives:
It will cost you a lot of money if you don't have a decent, clear approach and goals. That was a mistake I made in my first and second years of starting my marketing business. Let me tell you a little bit about it.
The first year of marketing (2016) was a total failure. I didn't have a strategy; all I had were a set of unachievable ambitions. I figured I'd make $1,000 in the first month with no prior experience. And by the end of the year, I expected to be a billionaire. I can hear you laughing, and I'm laughing as well.
The next year, 2017, was no different. I assumed that if I didn't have a strategy, I'd be able to make money. My ambitions shrank, and I barely made $125 over the course of a year.
How? To be honest, I'm not sure how I achieved it.
Don't make the same mistake I did. First, study an effective strategy from someone who has previously achieved success. Then, on a piece of paper, put out your plan and goals, and make sure you take MASSIVE ACTION every single day!
2. Concentrating your social media presence on a single platform:
You're in danger if you just use one social networking platform. I'm going to tell you about something that happened to one of my Facebook pals. Sarah made a humorous meme, and as a result, she was sentenced to 30 days in Facebook jail!
She was unable to publish, remark, or answer via messenger. But, thanks to her massive email list, she was unconcerned. What do you think could happen? Other marketers have reported losing their whole social media account.
Yes, any social networking platform has the ability to remove your account at any time. What will you do in that case? Your income will decrease, or you may have no income at all. That's why it's critical to incorporate additional channels, such as email marketing and blogging.
You have total control over your blog and email list. You can customize the design as you like, but you can't do it on Facebook. If we could, my Facebook page would most likely be nautical and fun… everywhere. What would you pick?
3. Failure to update on a regular basis (every day):
You're not alone if you're having trouble with this. Coming up with so many ideas and themes might be difficult. That's one of the most common social media blunders we've all made or continue to make. Have you ever said, "Ahhh, I'm not going to post anything today because I don't know what to write.”
I've been there so many times! It's also not acceptable to simply quit up. Your audience must see you on a daily basis in order to learn to know, like, and trust you. Let's face it, no one like working with folks who are inconsistent. It's simply unprofessional.
But don't worry; I've got you covered. My blog postings might provide you with several business-related ideas.
4. Posting stuff that your audience doesn't understand:
This is something that a lot of solopreneurs do. Have you ever come across someone who shared weather reports every day for a week? That was done by a Facebook buddy of mine.
He was an online marketer (in the weight reduction industry), but I only saw weather reports for a week. What does this have to do with fitness and health? Isn't that it?
I'll use the person who was providing weather forecasts as an example.
He might genuinely say something like, "Hey, it's going to rain here for the next week." Do you go for a run even if it's raining outside, or do you stay inside and work?" – See how simple it is to incorporate your company and your target audience.
What about your lifestyle shots and selfies? That's something you should include since your audience needs to get to know you. If you enjoy crafts, tell people about it, but not every day.
5. Only sharing and uploading quotations from other people:
It's fine to publish an inspiring or motivating phrase every now and then. However, don't do it every day. This is why:
· Because social media is full with quotations, you don't help your audience much if you don't give them anything about yourself.
· If you're going to share a quotation, be sure to provide your thoughts on it. As a result, your audience will have a better understanding of how you think and feel.
· They will be able to communicate with you more effectively.
Another topic I'd want to discuss is other people's shared posts. It's OK to share a really intriguing piece from a leader or influencer, but you must still explain why you're doing it. You are only allowed to share one post per month.
6. The 80-20 rule is reversed:
You've undoubtedly heard of the 80-20 rule, but just to be sure, I'll describe it in a few words. Your lifestyle, value, stories, quotations, and everything else you want to share with your audience should account for 80% of your posts and videos. Only 20% of the time should be spent on your company.
But, most of the time, what do you see on social media? Isn't it true that there's business here and business there? Some marketers and solopreneurs are inverting this rule or even creating a new one: the 100 percent rule, which states that all of their postings must be about business.
Do you allow friend requests from those who exclusively publish business-related content? If not, your social media will resemble a large advertisement space. Isn't that tedious and infuriating? So follow the 80-20 guideline and you will undoubtedly notice tremendous results.
7. One of the most common Social Media blunders is ignoring your audience:
Another major blunder you should avoid at all costs. Rather of disregarding them, use them into your blog articles and videos. But how do you do it? Here are a few excellent examples:
· Enquire about issues that interest them and get their input
· Share your experience and ask if anybody else has faced similar challenges (many will).
· Tell them to share a favorite quotation or some fun/interesting/weird facts about yourself.
· Share some of your objectives and ask them what their top three goals are.
8. Complete lack of social interaction:
Hello!? It's known as SOCIAL media. So you're wasting your time if you're not going to be social. And, because we all know how important time is, you probably don't want to do that, do you?
How can you become more social? We discussed how to engage your audience by asking them questions and encouraging them to connect with you. Apart from that, you should tell your tale.
Yes, being vulnerable is terrifying, but it's the finest technique for turning your audience into enthusiastic fans and eager purchasers. If you act as if you're flawless, your life is wonderful, and you don't have any challenges, they won't believe you.
It truly has an FAKE vibe about it! Each of us has our own set of challenges and weaknesses. You have the option of being a phony or displaying your true self in order to improve your earnings. It is entirely up to you to make this decision. Which option will you select?
9. Being extremely uninteresting
Don't get me wrong: even if you don't have a particularly exciting life, you should still post selfies of yourself on a stroll or cooking supper. To be honest, my life hasn't been too thrilling recently.
However, your selfie has a lot of power. People are intrigued about what you're doing and want to know what you're up to. Here are a few amazing examples of how you may use social media to sell your business:
· show behind-the-scenes (maybe you're working on a video, a new blog article, or a free mini course)
· Take a selfie with your pet goldfish, cat, or dog.
· You may upload a snapshot of your fantastic full cup of that "magical success juice" if you're a coffee enthusiast like me. (p.s. : find out how many cups your audience drinks every day.)
· You might also participate in the #TBT (Throwback Thursday) trend by posting a photo of yourself at a tropical location or on a road trip.
10. Dissing other persons or businesses:
Don't criticize other individuals or businesses. You reveal more information about yourself than they do. And believe me when I say you don't say anything pleasant about yourself. It will harm your personal brand, and people will avoid you if you have a terrible reputation.
I understand how tempting it is to criticize someone after they have done the same to you. However, be a better person and demonstrate that they did not harm you. Also, you don't want to squander your valuable time, do you? Then don't lower yourself to their level and continue to enjoy life.
11. Using photos of poor quality:
Images are the first thing we see on social media. What do you think of a person when you view a poor-quality image? I'm sure you're not thinking to yourself, "Oh, this is a leader!"
This is when you should do your homework:
· Analyze the social media accounts of 5 leaders in your area that you admire and trust.
· Make a list of everything you see and "copy" it (not literally, you need to find your own voice)
· Also, look at their images; you'll see that they're of decent quality (no, you don't have to pay for a professional photoshoot unless you want to) - your phone can take nice photos as well (good lighting will help)
I'm not recommending that you spend a lot of money on professional photography because there are many of websites that provide great shots for free. Here are three of my favorite websites:
· Pexels.com
· Unsplash.com
· Pixabay.com
12. Not delving into your social media analytics:
This was one of my ALL-TIME WORST social media blunders! And if you're doing the same thing right now, don't make the same mistake I did. I understand that analyzing might be tedious, but it is really beneficial. Imagine you're following a plan that doesn't work, but you keep doing it anyhow.
You'll continue to waste time because you don't understand why it doesn't work. Here's a terrific idea: engage your audience in the analysis and have them do it for you.
Inquire about a specific phase in your approach that you are implementing. Let's suppose you're telling your narrative. "Hey, do you feel like I'm talking to you when I share my tale, or should I adjust how I tell my story?" you might ask. Always take your audience's input seriously and use it to better your plan.
13. If you believe that social media is free, consider the following:
If you believe it is free, you are mistaken. Money isn't the sole form of payment on the earth. There's also TIME, which is the most valuable money. Don't squander it since you don't know how much you have.
If you're not careful, social media may be a waste of time.
14. One of the most common social media blunders is failing to answer in messenger:
This is another of the more serious social media blunders to avoid. We already stated that social media is social, and that getting to know people is necessary if you want to grow your revenue. They also need to get to know you.
It is insufficient to just share content and videos. That is why messengers are available on social media networks. It's critical that you make advantage of the free tool that, if used correctly, will bring you the greatest money. You will gain fantastic friendships and, most importantly, loyal consumers in addition to the money. Isn't that your objective?
15. Using the “thumbs up” emoji as a response:
You accept a friend request, thank them, and inquire about their well-being... THUMBS UP AFTER THAT I can see you rolling your eyes hysterically. Yes, I understand; I share your sentiments.
The worst answer you can receive is a thumbs-up emoji. It should be outlawed for good! However, some people continue to use it on a regular basis. That only demonstrates that they are uninterested in who you are. They're there to sell you something.
I know you're clever and won't use the thumbs up emoji in that manner, but if you notice someone doing so, please tell them to STOP!
16. Spamming in messenger and other places:
We've come a long way from spamming, I must say. I noticed more spammers in 2016 and 2017, when I was still a rookie marketer, than I do now. I believe that more people are realizing that this is not the way to go.
But, as we all know, there are still those celebrities who believe this will make them wealthy. Unfortunately, they will never be able to do so.
When social media networks threaten your account will be removed, they are not joking. Many marketers have lost their Facebook profiles or pages, according to what I've heard. We have to follow the norms of social media.
17. Attempting to achieve everything on your own:
You will burn out if you try to accomplish everything on your own. Don't make that mistake; it will cost you far more than you realize. Because of all the Social Media chores you'll have to complete on a regular basis, it's easy to become overwhelmed. Here are a few instances that will consume a significant amount of your time:
It may appear that posting every day is simple. However, you'll need a decent posting strategy if you want your audience to adore and trust you. It's not only about sharing amusing or inspirational quotations.
18. Not knowing who you’re talking to:
This is another of the most common social media blunders to avoid at all costs. You'll attract the incorrect individuals if you don't know who your target audience is, wasting both your and their time.
Will your earnings rise? No, it will be completely absent. You can't sell a car to someone who is in the market for a new home. Does that make sense?
19. Not using the built-in features of social media:
Here are all of the built-in social networking tools that are available for free: Facebook Live, Facebook Stories, Instagram Stories, IGTV, and so on...
Do you make use of them? You're missing out if you haven't already. When you use a social media platform's capabilities, it makes them happy. That is why they were created, so make the most of each one. Because they will reward you by presenting your content to more individuals, your engagement will increase.
I know some solopreneurs and marketers are on a low budget, so this is a great and free approach to reach out to more people and enhance your revenue.
20. Not enrolling in classes:
You won't get far with your internet business unless you invest in classes that teach you the appropriate tactics. Make no attempt to reinvent the wheel. I understand that investing money is frightening, yet you've surely heard that money produces money.
Don't expect to receive everything for nothing.
If you need help with your social media or advice, feel free to reach out to us. We’re happy to help.
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Salty Red Dog Marketing, LLC is a marketing agency in Red Bank, NJ, Westport, CT, and everywhere in between. We service businesses with marketing strategies, digital marketing, social media, and consultations.
Contact: info@saltyreddogmarketing.com
Phone: NJ: (732) 802-6205 // CT: (203) 429-9671