Marketers are well aware that there may be an occasional slip up and all their efforts backfire when it comes to Facebook promotion (or any other social media marketing for that matter). Maybe you are not getting many followers or you are attracting the wrong kind of followers. What can you do to fix this? Here is a collection of some common and quite basic social media mistakes that are made by new business owners who move online along with the solution to resolve them. It is simplythe best idea to avoid making these Facebook don’ts in the first place because damage control may end up taking forever. If you are one of these unfortunate souls that make a common mistake, don’t fret. Take it as an opportunity to show your audience how committed you can be and show them your best effort to come back gracefully from the fall.
5 Common Mistakes:
#1 Not using or misusing your account
When followers see that there is hardly any activity on your profile or business page, they automatically assume that you do not put the effort in. The easy fix is to make sure you update at least twice per week with posts that are relevant to your business brand image. Remember that posts don’t need to be long, just so long that they are there. This gives an impression that you care and are actively there for your audience.
Other times, users end up treating their professional accounts as personal pages. Do not make the mistake of posting controversial views. Instead, stick to neutral opinion while still giving your online presence some personality. Try to keep your personal and business accounts separate. The business account should still maintain an aspect of professionalism.Don’t lose your credibility my making spelling mistakes either. Reread before posting! You may choose to link the two so that your followers can discover the person behind the brand if they so desire.
#2 Not customizing your profile
When you set up your social media account, you are in charge of customizing it according to your business brand and the image you are trying to evoke. If you leave your page blank, how would you expect to bring in fans? You have to appear trustworthy and be a little imaginative. A quick fix is to give a basic outline of information to establish an identity…this can include your brand name, logo or photo and a brief description of who you are and what you do as a business.
#3 Posting at the wrong time and frequency
Avoid posting when your fans are all asleep. Save your update for the daytime when your followers are logged on and active. Try weekends, mornings or after work. In addition, when you post too often it could end up annoying fans instead of helping you. If you post too little you will not be noticed. Find an in-between. A simple fix is to look at responses you get on your posts and note the time so you can posts according to when your fans are active.
#4 Not linking back to your page
Why post anything about your most recent blog without linking back? Give links even if you mention the title of a blog or reference with a hashtag. Audiences won’t bother searching for your much if you don’t link.
#5 Lack of engagement
It takes a lot of effort to gain followers and sometimes you may attract ones who may not necessarily have interests in line with your brand. Try to follow people who you think would be a good addition to your network. Follow influences in your business community.
Once you have followers, you need to maintain their presence by interacting back. The point is to collect a community of people, not just empty accounts! Your followers are your potential clients and they should be valued. Acknowledge them and thank them for any contributions related to your business page. Start a conversation and invite them to visit your blog or give feedback.
Social media platforms such as Facebook are a beneficial tool and powerful way of reaching out to your audienceand future clients. If you use your accounts with these guidelines in mind, you will increase your chances of getting great customer engagement and support!