There are plenty of mistakes that can be damaging to your business via social media, 
but I have 5 main things that I try to get my clients to focus on. Of course we all make mistakes, and generally, your audience will look past small errors. However, some things cannot be overlooked and should be avoided as much as humanly possible.
- Lack of content variety: Incorporating different forms of content is key to keeping your audience engaged. From images to polls, to blog posts, to videos, your business needs to be versatile and show all sides of their personality.
- No personality: Many of my clients come to me because their social media accounts are no longer growing. The first thing I see is their content is only selling and not showing people who they are as a business. Personality is critical, especially if your target market include’s generation Z who only follow brands they can relate to.
- Avoiding negative feedback: All too often small business owners fear negative comments or reviews on their social media. Unfortunately, these “haters” cannot be avoided. By ignoring the comments, deleting them or trying to defend yourself you are only causing more harm. The best way to manage these situations is to thank them for the feedback and let them know you are always trying to improve your business. This response acknowledges their comment while not adding fuel to the fire.
- Think before you Tweet: Of course, this rule applies to all social media platforms, but it cannot be said enough that irresponsible or insensitive content should be avoided. If you think it might offend even one person, avoid posting it. Also, if it simply does not speak to your brand and overall voice, don’t post it.
- Customer Service: This can be difficult to remember, but social media never sleeps, and sometimes, your customers don’t either. While you may not get to every message promptly, (ex. someone messaging you at 2am) it is crucial to respond as soon as you can. If it is a situation where you missed their message, be honest and apologize. Apply all the same rules of customer service to your communication via social media as you would in person.
Remember to always have your brand in mind. You are representing your business on social media, so put your best foot forward. Your audience is watching.
