Social media marketing is not as easy as people think, and as a result, many end up swearing off it completely the minute they fail. But tons of companies can make their place on social media and dominate. Sometimes, it’s all just a matter of understanding what people truly want to see online and changing their focus. You may also be committing some classic mistakes that are holding you back. Here are a few things people don’t understand about social media marketing.
If You Want the Best Results, Don’t Sell
You heard that right. People don’t go on social media with the intention to buy and you shouldn’t be on social media to sell. Most of your activity should be about helping, educating, or entertaining your audience. It’s also a great way to build brand awareness, though subtly.
One example is the campaign JBD Agency did for Bissell. Instead of trying to showcase their product or use the same tired challenge formula, they instead decided to focus on one very important subset of their main audience: pet owners. Instead of selling their vacuum, they made pets the star of the show. They released pet photoshoots every two months and found a way to gain traction that way.
If all else fails, at least try to redirect your audience towards resources. They will be thankful for it, stay subscribed, and will have their ears opened when the time comes to deliver your message.
It’s a Long-Term Strategy
It’s surprising to see how many people think gaining traction on social media is all about getting a few followers and letting them know about your specials. In reality, you are out to win the trust of potential customers. It’s also about how you treat your clients after-sales. You have to commit to interacting with them and putting out fires quickly so that your marketing efforts aren’t sabotaged.
It would also be wise to work with a digital strategist, at least at the beginning. They’ll be able to help you build an integrated strategy that will tie all your channels together. They will also help you identify your KPIs, track them, and analyze them.
They Either Don’t Care or Have no Clue About their Audience
Some people seem to think that a one-size-fits-all approach will work and be more efficient. These people simply don’t understand the nature of social media and how people use it. You will be one out of thousands of options and people are already getting bombarded by advertisements left and right.
People don’t go on Facebook or Instagram to hear good news from your HQ. They mainly go for entertainment, sometimes only in passing. This means you have to make it count and catch their attention. This can be achieved by studying your audience, seeing where they congregate and which type of content they interact with the most, and giving them exactly what they want.
These are just some of the things people don’t seem to understand with social media marketing. Make sure that you correct any of these anomalies if you find yourself committing them and consider working with a professional team that will be able to lay down the groundwork for you.
