10 Social Media Blunders Your Small Business Must Avoid

By Rob Truslove

The power of social media should not be underestimated, but with so many people free to say and share whatever they want, it is important that social media is used effectively and with caution. Worried? Here are 10 Social Media Blunders Your Small Business Must Avoid.
The power of social media should not be underestimated. With its power to reach mass audiences in seconds, influence opinion and promote your business’ messages, things can very easily go wrong, very quickly. As a cost effective way to promote your business, it is no wonder that so many small businesses have been quick to jump on the bandwagon when it comes to embracing the technological advances of the 21st Century.

But with so many people free to say and share whatever they want, it is important that social media is used effectively and with caution. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Tumblr have become an integral part of everyday life - on both a personal and professional level. At first glance they seem quite simple to use but get it wrong and they will leave you wide open to criticism. 

Yes, the virtual world can be a pretty scary place at times but don’t worry, we have collated a list of the top 10 social media blunders that your business must avoid.

1. There’s nothing more annoying than ignorance. If you ask a question or try to prompt engagement through the content you post, make sure you acknowledge and respond to your audience.

2. Reputation is everything in the world of business. What you post on your social media platforms represents who you are. Make sure you separate your personal account from your business account. You’ll be surprised at how many people post personal information on their professional feed.

3. Keep your personal opinions to yourself. Although social media platforms give you the perfect opportunity to vent about issues in the public domain that anger you, doing this on your business’ social media platforms is not the time nor the place.  You could easily offend or send out the wrong message about your business.

4. No spam – thank you. There is nothing more annoying than receiving irrelevant and unwanted messages in your inbox. This is both impersonal and highly annoying!

5. Understand how to use each platform effectively Every social media platform is different. It is vital that you understand the differences between them and how to get the most out of them depending on what you are hoping to achieve. Familarise yourself with them and identify how to use each one effectively.

6. No regrets. There’s an age old saying, ‘think before you speak.’ Make sure you bare this in mind before posting. By deleting a post that your audience has already engaged with, you can do more harm than good.  It is unprofessional, incompetent and can insinuate that you have something to hide, sparking a media backlash!

7. Nobody likes a job half done. If you are going to take the time to invest in social media platforms, make sure you complete and update all parts of your online profile. An incomplete account looks unprofessional and instantly gives your audience the wrong impression. Credibility is everything.

8. Retain your fan base.  Once you have built a credible fanbase who actively engage in the content you post – keep them. Leaving your account dormant will instantly disengage your audience.

9. Be consistent. You should be able to instantly recognise your brand on your social media accounts. Make sure you are consistent when it comes to injecting your brand identity. Your logo, images and the tone of voice you use should reflect who you are.

10. Measure and get better.  Evaluating engagement is key when it comes to maximising exposure and engagement through social media. Make sure you measure impact and monitor improvement.

Culled from: https://exploreb2b.com