When it comes to social media, companies have a lot to gain and a lot to lose. On one hand, social media platforms offer businesses an unprecedented opportunity to connect with their customers, build brand awareness, and drive sales. On the other hand, social media can be a double-edged sword that can destroy a companys reputation, alienate its audience, and even lead to legal trouble.
In this blog post, we will explore some of the most common mistakes that companies make on social media and how you can avoid them. The tips are not going to be too complex, so you should find them easy to implement
1. Too much or too little
One of the biggest challenges of social media is finding the right balance between being informative and being concise. You do not want to write a novel that no one will read, but you also do not want to write a sentence that leaves people confused or indifferent. You want to give people enough information to get the general idea of what you are trying to say, but not so much that they lose interest or feel overwhelmed.
So how do you find that sweet spot? Well, it depends on the platform and the purpose of your post. E.g., if you are posting on Twitter, best stick to a few sentences, otherwise you are going to lose a lot of people. You can use abbreviations and links to save space and convey your message. But do not try to cram too much into one post.
On the other hand, if you are posting on Instagram, you have more space to write a caption for your photo or video. But that does not mean you should write an essay either. You still want to keep it relevant and interesting for your followers. You can use the caption to tell a story, share a tip, ask a question, or express your opinion. But do not go off on tangents or repeat yourself. And do not forget to use hashtags and tags to increase your visibility and engagement.
2. Being platform specific
Another common mistake that people make when they post on social media is not taking advantage of the unique features and benefits of each platform or app. Each one has its own style, audience, and purpose, and you need to adapt your content accordingly. You cannot just copy and paste the same thing everywhere and expect it to work.
For example, if you are posting on Facebook, you can use different types of posts such as text, photos, videos, live videos. Twitter is great for sharing short and snappy messages, Instagram is all about visuals, and LinkedIn is more professional and formal. They allow you to give the same content new twists, so there is no need to rehash the same stuff.
3. Quality and quantity
It is tempting to think that the more you post, the better. After all, you want to stay on top of mind and reach as many people as possible, right? Wrong. Posting too frequently or on too many platforms or apps can actually hurt your reputation and engagement. 
You may come across as spammy, annoying, or irrelevant. You may also dilute your message and brand identity. Just have a folder or something where you keep all the stuff you might wanna post later. If you clog up timelines, people will start unfollowing.
4. Ignoring people
Social media is not a one-way street. Sounds very banal, but people still do not bother to really make it a two-way street. If you want to build trust and loyalty with your followers, you need to interact with them. Simple as that.
Generally try not to ignore their comments, messages, and feedback. Prioritize being quick to respond and maintaining a respectful attitude, even when others are anything but. Thank them for their support, answer their questions, address their concerns, and ask for their opinions. Show them that you care about what they have to say and that you value their input.
5. Your organization
Social media is not just a place to promote your products or services. It is also a place to showcase your organizations personality, culture, and values. People might not want to know who you are, what you do, and why you do it at first, but these things factor in when they are choosing which brand to trust.
Sharing stuff about your organization can help you humanize your it, build trust and credibility, and foster a sense of community. You have to get started somewhere.
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