Do you think you know what it takes to run a consistent, results-driven social media campaign? Do you know how to post to social media for your business or brand? If you think it’s easy, cheap, and that anyone can do it, think again.
You may be surprised by these misconceptions regarding social media marketing, but luckily we’re here to set the record straight.
#1 Results are immediate
“All I have to do is post a picture with a caption, and that’s social media marketing, right?”
WRONG. Strategy is everything, and the best social media marketers constantly create, analyze, adjust, repeat. It’s not just about posting, it’s knowing when to post, where to post, and what to post to get the right engagement from the right people (your target buyer).
While all of that can seem tedious, the best results will come when you take your time to do it right.
#2 Number of followers measures success
The number of followers you have does not mean your efforts are more or less successful than the next business on social media.
If you see that a competitor has way more followers than you, don’t panic. It usually means 1) they’ve been around longer on social media; 2) they bought their followers (a BIG no-no); or 3) they’ve poured money into social media advertising, which is fine – when done right.
#3 It’s free
We’ve said this time and again, but it’s always worth repeating: having a social media ad strategy is a MUST. Social media is saturated with businesses, and platforms – Facebook in particular – have been consistently changing their algorithms to favor posts from friends and family over posts from businesses and brands.
This means that if you want to be seen and heard on social media, you are going to have to pay for it. HOWEVER, “paying for it” doesn’t mean throwing ridiculous amounts of money at boosting a post or running an ad and hoping for the best. Quality results come from “slow and steady” ad campaigning. Learn how to A/B test, create qualified custom audiences, and when it’s time to try a different platform. Again, a strategy is KEY!
#4 All social media marketers/agencies are the same
Just because an individual or agency claims they “do social media,” doesn’t mean they do it right. Those types of marketers are usually just one-trick ponies that can’t deliver consistent, measurable results.
When you’re looking to hire an agency or individual to handle your social media marketing, make sure you review their previous work, ask plenty of questions, and don’t be fooled by a low price. Steer clear of those who promise very specific results (“we’ll get you 1,000 followers in 3 months and double your revenue,” for example) without knowing your brand/needs.
#5 You can wing it
If you haven’t learned by now that you can’t just “wing it” with social media marketing, let me reiterate a few points.
Successful social media marketing requires a solid strategy. That includes having goals and objectives, a thoroughly researched buyer persona, some kind of ad budget, creative content, and analysis of platform insights and competitors.
Immediate results aren’t always the best results, and a long-term plan will offer much more in the way of valuable, quality leads that are more likely to convert to paying customers.
Be sure you know who you hire before you hire them to run your brand’s social media. The cheapest option will not offer the best results.
