Social media can be an amazing tool for businesses especially if it is used correctly. However, there could be serious consequences for a business’ reputation if misused. Like other business tools, social media is a double-edged sword. Its effectiveness depends on how it is used.
One of the best ways to use social media the right way is to avoid common pitfalls. Here are some mistakes that can ruin your brand’s reputation.
Neglecting Customers
When you start a business, your primary concern is to ensure that your customers are satisfied. In today’s competitive world, there are many options available to customers; which is why it is difficult for businesses to win them over. With this in mind, it is normal to remember that customers might sometimes have questions or have issues they want to address. One of the ways they reach out to you is through social media platforms.
According to research, over 80% of customers use social media to contact businesses. This means that your social media account is a very important communication tool. Companies that don’t respond to queries might find themselves in hot water. A lack of response could signal to customers that you’re not interested and make them shift to rival brands.
Posting Insensitive Comments
Just because other accounts or businesses are posting witty content, does not mean that you need to follow suit. What works for other brands might not be relevant to your business. Instead of trying to make people laugh, you should be welcoming, friendly and sharing useful content for your followers.
Not Being Consistent
In the social media world, your online presence is the “face” of the brand. This means that you should have good social skills. We all have that one family member who doesn’t contact us and when they do, it’s only when they need something. There are brands that behave this way in social media.
Also keep in mind the saying “out of sight, out of mind” so post consistently. Don’t wait to post only when you’re launching a product or when you’re holding a sale. There are many scheduling tools to help you post consistently on your social media accounts.
Neglecting Security Protocols
Data theft can cause the reputation of your brand to plummet. A cyber-attack on your social media accounts can cause the same devastation as an attack on your website. Therefore, it is important to safeguard your social media accounts too. Some the best ways of doing so is by using strong passwords and ensuring that your computer is protected by anti-virus and anti-malware software.
It is also important to avoid using public WIFI to log on to social media accounts. If you really need to use public WIFI, make sure to use a VPN service.
Being Too Salesy
Many businesses use social media to promote their products and services. This is why it is easy for them to forget that the goal of social media is socializing not promotion. Too many posts about your product will annoy customers and cause them to look away.
People follow you on social media to keep updated or to learn something new and useful. This is why you need to provide compelling and engaging content to make sure that they come back each time. Repetitive content is boring and should be avoided.
In many cases, managing a social media account is easier than running a website. To avoid the above mentioned mistakes, make sure that you have a system in place and only follow good practices. Creating social media accounts should be a part of your digital strategy.
