Social media can be an invaluable tool when it comes to digital marketing strategies if it is used properly. Here we have outlined 4 mistakes you may be making while using social media to gain business, and how to correct them.

Mistake #1: Not having a consistent strategy

A huge mistake you can make when using social media for marketing is using social media blindly and randomly with no plan. When starting any sort of marketing tactic, you need to have a plan. For social media this starts with setting goals. These goals should align with the company’s goals and values. From there you can begin working on a strategy to meet those goals. A pivotal error made when posting to social is usually lacking in consistency. You should be posting regularly and at times that are most beneficial for your brand. When are your ideal customers on and seeing your posts the most? Choose these times to post, and schedule them in advance if you need to. This can be helpful if you aren’t always able to post when you need to.

Mistake #2: Lack of optimization

It’s probably second nature to create a piece of content and blanket share it to all of your social media platforms. The issue here is that each platforms hosts a different type of audience, therefore the same piece of content may not be appropriate for each one. Tailor your content for each site. You can re-work the same idea to work in several different ways on multiple platforms. Along with different platforms having a variety of audiences, the platforms have different algorithms as well. This means posting more or less to certain platforms. You need to optimize each platform according to its own algorithm so you can get the best ROI across the board.

Mistake #3 : Your online personality lacks substance and value

When it comes to having a successful brand social media account, you need to be posting and sharing content that your ideal customer finds entertaining, funny and/or useful. The worst possible thing you can do in this scenario is self-promote to no end. It will make your brand seem self-serving instead of customer oriented. This may result in very little engagement and therefore no traction. You should be creating and sharing content that your ideal customer would like to see and would be more inclined to share.

Mistake #4: Lack of engagement

Social media for a brand is about creating relationships with your customers. If you are using social media simply to make sales then you are making a pivotal mistake. Engagement isn’t just a follower clicking the like or share button. Engaging with your followers means responding to their comment, questions and reviews. You can even comment on and share a picture or tweet that they’ve mentioned you in. This type of engagement builds trust and loyalty in a brand.

 Social media is an important part of any inbound marketing campaign.  Click below to schedule your free inbound marketing assessment for detailed tips for improvement.