10 Social Media Mistakes to Avoid

With so many social media myths out there, it can be hard to know what practices REALLY work. In this article we’re going to share 10 major mistakes that you may be making while managing your social media accounts.

1. Posting too much

You may have heard elsewhere that you should be posting every day, or even multiple times a day to get noticed. While a consistent posting schedule is certainly helpful, you should be more focused on the quality of your content. If you provide great value to your audience, they will naturally want to engage more. Besides, posting TOO much can annoy your followers and cause them to unfollow!

2. Inconsistent goals/content

It’s important to develop an organized content plan with 3-5 predetermined topics and themes as part of your social media strategy, often referred to as content pillars. Keeping things consistent will help you avoid confusing your audience and help you build a solid strategy.

3. Not optimizing your profile

Optimizing your profile to its fullest potential is key to having customers find you and get to know what you’re all about. In order to optimize your profile, make sure you have a clear profile photo, a relevant username, and use searchable keyboards to your display name and bio.

4. Only talking about yourself

A common mistake most business owners make when marketing on social media is only talking about themselves. Consider following the 80/20 rule which states that 20% of your content should be promotional, while the remaining 80% is educational, engaging and entertaining. Sharing user-generated content is also a great way to include your audience while providing social proof.

5. Not knowing your audience

One of the worst things you can overlook is your own audience. Check your analytics to get a better understanding of who you appeal to and what their shared interests are. This way, you can continue creating content that they want to see. 

6. Being unprofessional

It’s important to have fun on social media but always be mindful of how you are presenting your business. Remember to remain professional online as well and avoid things like disparaging comments about other businesses.

7. Focusing on the wrong analytics

Understanding your analytics can be a daunting task, so make sure you know exactly what to look out for. Instead of just focusing on your follower count, look closer into engagement rate and what content has performed the best. Read our ultimate guide to Instagram analytics here.

8. Comparing to others

A generally good rule to follow is to stop comparing yourself to others, especially on social media. Focus on what makes YOU special, and stop worrying about the competition getting more likes. Then, success will follow.

9. Copying others

A huge no-no on social media is copying or stealing content and presenting it as your own. If you ever want to share or curate online content made by others, make sure you always credit and tag the original creator or ask for permission if necessary. Making this mistake could get you into big trouble! 

10. Not hiring a Social Media Manager

It may seem like an easy task to take on all of your own social media responsibilities. Spoiler alert: it is NOT. Keep in mind you will be creating weekly content, engaging with other accounts, and reviewing your analytics on the side all while running your business. Have dedicated social media experts do all the work for you, like us! Click here to read more about our done-for-you social media management and services.