11 Social Media Marketing Misconceptions

Social media has been around for several years now, and it's only grown in that time. From the days of Myspace, right through to today's plethora of different social media platforms, businesses have been utilising these networks to create awareness. When you use social media correctly and strategically, you can reap the benefit of having people share your posts, your news, your products and services, and even help increase your sales. After all, Word of Mouth is still the strongest asset you have in your marketing toolbox.

Here are 11 Common Social Media Marketing Misconceptions debunked!

#1 All social media platforms are the same

Every social media platform has a specific audience that shares a certain type of content. B2B companies have more success using Twitter and LinkedIn than any other platform. Similarly, creative companies benefit from using visually focused platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. The trick is to find your audience and create what they like to share.

#2 I need to be on every channel to make the most of social.

As an extension of number one, your resources cost both time and money. Using social media strategically also means choosing the right channels and platforms to reach your target audience. It's better to start with one and consistently use it to communicate with your target audience than it is to try them all. You can always add to your social media if and when the time comes.

#3 Social media is just for the younger generations. My customers are older.

This may surprise you, but older people use social media too. Facebook has over 1.2 billion daily active users around the world. In the 65 and over category, around 46% of the population use Facebook.

#4 There’s no need for social media in my industry.

Present your business as a thought leader by delivering your opinion on industry news. This is the best way to demonstrate your brand's expertise and circulate knowledge about products and services within the said industry. Social media is your opportunity to reach billions of daily active users, so use it as an opportunity to generate the interests of prospects and nurture them by creating content to turn them from lurkers into buyers.

#5 I can’t measure my return on social media investment.

Each social media platform has a multitude of ways you can quantify data. You have access to in-platform analytics, or you can use Hootsuite, Buffer, or any other software programme to provide you with a detailed analysis of data about your customers. You can also schedule all of your posts using the same software, and see where a lot of your website traffic is coming from.

#6 More hashtags will increase my chances of being discovered.

When it comes to hashtags - less is more, especially if the hashtags are considered irrelevant by your customers. Social media is all about being relevant. By keeping your hashtags concise, accurate and under There is such a thing as overdoing it, and irrelevant hashtags annoy customers. Social media is about serving relevant content to an interested audience. Keep hashtags concise, accurate, and around 2-3 per post.

#7 Social media takes up too much time.

It's no secret that developing your social media strategy can take time. However, once you've started developing your content strategy, you can spend as little as a couple of hours a week organising your content and creating your community.

#8 Negative comments might hurt my business.

We all hate being told we're doing something wrong, especially when you've worked hard to get the business up and running. But negative feedback is an opportunity for you to showcase your problem-solving abilities. This is your chance to let your customer service shine and deal with an issue in a public forum.

#9 I’ll never be as good as my competitor.

It's always a good idea to keep an eye on what your competitors are doing; however, you are not your competitor, and you have a Unique Selling Point (USP). Use your uniqueness to set yourself apart, and you'll create your own following and community.

#10 Social media doesn’t need to be part of my marketing plan.

Social media should always be part of your marketing strategy and align with all of your marketing efforts. Your social media should act as a distribution centre for your campaigns, and offer your customers value.

#11 Social media is just for posting advertisements.

Social media can become a critical element of all of your communication strategies; it helps potential recruits learn about your company ethos and culture. You should also use social media as another channel for your customer services to respond to negative and positive reviews. You can also use your social media to collect information on your target audience, through polls, researching what they're sharing, and conducting further research into your own analytics.

You need to have a clear goal for your social media, through identifying clear goals and strategy, social media is a powerful marketing tool that can help you develop your communication with prospective customers.