It may seem like social media is a ‘free for all’ and that anything goes. That is definitely not the case though. With so many eyes being on the different platforms, it’s important that you what businesses should not do on social media
Buying likes and followers.
There are tons of businesses that promise to get your company thousands of twitter followers or Facebook likes in a few days. It sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Well, it is. Buying followers and fans is a terrible idea because most of them are actually fake accounts. Not only will this severely mess up your analytics, but most of them will end up dropping off your account in a few months anyway. So it’s actually a waste of money. Also, there are numerous websites and apps that people can use to determine how many of your followers are fake. Your company will look bad if most of its followers are fake.
Only using social media to advertise.
We all have those friends on Facebook – the ones that only post about how great they are, their family is, their job is, etc. It gets old, doesn’t it? Businesses can get like that as well. Don’t use social media to just talk about your company or your product. Post about your community or current events as well. This will help your page appeal to a wider audience and help with engagement. There are also ways to talk about your product without sounding “salesy”, so try doing that on occasion as well.
Arguing with a customer.
Never ever argue with a customer online. If someone posts a complaint or a negative review, respond to it quickly and kindly. Attempt to resolve the issue by responding to their post. If at any point you realize the issue cannot be resolved in an effective manner, it is best to contact the customer directly instead of continuing the conversation on your social page. Make sure you respond to the complaint and tell the person you will be reaching out to them, that way all of your fans will see that the issue has at least been addressed.
Deleting a negative comment.
Don’t delete negative comments. The original poster will most likely noticed their comment was deleting and that will escalate the situation even further. The upset customer is likely to post the complaint again, or post something much worse. It is best to address the issue and be as transparent as possible.
Talking bad about a competitor.
Don’t talk bad about your competitors. It will say more about your business than theirs, and it won’t be saying anything good. Talking negatively about a competitor will cheapen your company and just make you look bad. Just focus on your company or products and highlight what makes you the best at what you do, instead of being negative.
Posting too often or not enough.
No one likes to have their newsfeed crowded with updates from one company. Not only is it annoying, but it keeps customers from seeing updates from their friends and family. While it is acceptable to post pretty often on some social media platforms (like Twitter), it’s best to post only once or twice a day on others. You don’t want your customer to feel overwhelmed by your posts and unlike or unfollow your page.
On a similar note, not posting enough can also have adverse effects. Make sure you post consistently. Absence does not make the heart grow fonder when it comes to social media. If you stop posting, people will forget about your company. If you find that posting consistently is too time consuming for you, consider hiring an outside firm like Blue Frog.
