[Social media is still all the buzz. Everyone is doing it, wants to do it or is about to start. As a result, the volume of messages flying across the social media sphere is increasing every day. But what about those poor souls (customers) on the receiving end of this messaging barrage?
The volume of social media messaging that is competing for our attention is at all time high. We are all becoming more and more selective as to whom we follow and read. If you want your social media messages to break through the clutter and make an impact with your target, try to avoid these 5 social media marketing mistakes:
- Sending out messages too often. If you are sending out too many messages each day, your audience will not take you as seriously. It’s quality, not quantity.
- Know your audience. If you try to talk to everyone, you end up talking to no one. Identify your ideal target audience and speak directly to them.
- Become famous for something. Once you’ve identified your audience, make sure that you become their thought-leader and expert in that specific category or subject. Your goal is to be their “go-to” person on the subject.
- Never do the “hard sell.” Social media is about providing value to your followers. It is best used for providing information, insight and other valuable information that positions you or your company as the expert or thought leader on the subject. Selling has its place in social media, but hard selling always backfires.
- Tie everything into your brand. All social media activity should be designed to establish your market position and build your brand. Try this test… if someone were to read your tweets/posts/blog and then go to your website, will they realize it’s the same person or company?
You should think of social media like a marketing campaign. The only difference is that in social media the key is to sell your product or service in a way that your audience does not realize they are being sold to. By providing valuable information, insight and knowledge on your subject matter you will become their go-to person when they are ready to buy.
