Social Media is changing the game for a lot of businesses but it’s important to know what you should and shouldn’t be doing to keep your strategy game strong. There are plenty of do’s and don’ts and we’re here to give you some insight.
Do: have a strategy
It seems easy enough: upload a picture, write a caption and post. Bam, you’re done. Think again… You can easily see who has a strong Social Media strategy and who doesn’t. It’s important to have a plan for what you’re posting and why. If you put time into creating a content calendar and sticking to it, it takes the pressure off the day-to-day posting and engagement, and will ultimately improve the way consumers view your brand.
Don’t: overshare
Consistency is key. Make sure what you post is relevant and meets your strategy checklist of what you are trying to accomplish on Social. People want to relate to your posts and see consistencies throughout your platforms. If you post mostly about your brand or products but share the odd snap of your dog from time to time, this works! If you post about your brand and products and dog and dinner and 2019 tax filing and that funny meme your friend sent you that may or may not offend someone, this doesn’t work. Don’t overshare and always try to keep things relevant to your brand and your business.
Do: know your audience
It’s one thing to have a sky high follower count, but if they don’t support your business, they aren’t authentic, and they don’t add value. Get to know your audience and understand which followers are there to support your brand and your success. Speak to those followers, ask questions, did deep, and learn exactly what they want from you so you can give it to them!
Don’t: ignore comments
If your followers are taking the time to reach out by commenting on your posts, don’t ignore them. Whether it’s a question, a complaint, or just some support for your brand, address it! Answer their questions, help solve their problems, show them some love. It’s so important to engage with your followers not only to keep your profile “discoverable” by the Instagram algorithm, but to build truly valuable relationships with your followers.
Do: have a personality
More than ever, consumers are following influencers, brands or businesses that they can genuinely relate to. Make sure you have a personality that shines through to your followers beyond just the product you sell or service you offer. Maintaining an authentic and relatable voice on social media will have people lining up to follow and support you. Plus, if you personalize your content, people are more apt to share your story.
Don’t: follow everyone
It’s easy to assume followers = growth. But that’s not always the case – your followers should be organic and support your growth. Just because someone follows you doesn’t mean you need to follow them back. Understand who they are and what they can bring you’re your following. On the flip side, it’s important to connect and engage with people who can help you with your growth. Following fellow local businesses is a great way to get yourself known and build relationships within your local community.
Do: be original
You are successful as a business for a reason – so embrace those reasons and make your content awesome! Don’t try and copy someone else, tell your own story and ensure your content is always original and authentic to your brand.
Don’t: forget the checklist
Make sure you are following the steps to creating a consistent platform. Are you using the right hashtags? Keeping the voice of your captions the same? Is there a cohesive theme across your feed? Do the images you post relate to one another? Follow a consistent checklist each time you post on social and you’re sure to find success!
Social Media can be confusing – it’s definitely trial and error around what works for your business and what doesn’t. When you develop a good strategy for your business, stick to it and ensure you are following the do’s and avoiding the don’ts.
Need help understanding the world of Social Media? We’d be happy to help you – send us a DM or email us at hello@mintandpoppy.com
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