Avoid These Social Media Misconceptions at All Costs

We all assume that just about everyone uses social media, but the actual statistics are staggering.

According to recent research, 74% of internet users participate in social media in one way or another.

In other words, if your business isn’t social, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to reach your audience.

But before you start creating a marketing plan, use caution. While there are no hard and fast rules that work for everyone across the board, certain misconceptions about social media can undermine your efforts.

Here are some myths that every marketer should avoid, no matter your industry. It is only once you dispel these myths that you should approach digital marketing agencies with your social media requirements.

(And for a complete social media marketing plan for your business, contact SPINX Digital today).

There are only 3 worthwhile social networks for businesses

When people only hear certain names being mentioned by Creative Agencies, they might believe the misconception that those names and platforms are the only social media platforms worth exploring. Facebook continues to dominate social media at 1.35 billion active monthly users; Twitter remains a go-to for a brands’ customer service channel; LinkedIn is a popular platform for professionals looking to network.

However, other social networks are ideal for different kinds of opportunities. Pinterest, for example, is great for any e-commerce operation, as it relies almost exclusively on visual content. In fact, you can get some of the best ideas for your website redesign from this platform itself. You can post alluring, dynamic images of your products, network with similar companies, and build an audience. Unlikely industries are also succeeding on Pinterest, such as Healthcare, Engineering, Politics, and more.

Meanwhile, Google Plus allows for more text in a post than other networks, which could benefit an info-based B2B brand; Instagram is ideal for sharing pictures of people, products, and ads; and if you’re using video, you need YouTube. You can take the names and ideas from all these different social media platforms when you approach Website design companies for your needs. It will really help your brand stand out and break the clutter.

Social media isn’t for direct sales

Branding Companies will tell you that this myth is really holding you back from making the most of the resources at your disposal. While social media is a powerful tool for directly engaging with your customers and fans, it can also generate sales. Dell famously made 3 million dollars from a promotion on Twitter. With a carefully measured, promotion-focused strategy, any company can improve its bottom line through social media.

But stand-alone sales aren’t the only way social media can help. Many brands use them to build relationships with their audience, which in turn creates customers in the long run.

Check out this graph from HubSpot to see the sales potential for different platforms (including a company blog). Once you go through the statistics, you are sure to employ the services of enterprise cms solutions to make the most of your content online.

Forget marketing to seniors; they don’t use social media

Seniors are stereotypically regarded as incompetent when it comes to technology. We presume that they’re too old to understand the internet, let alone able to operate a social media account.

However, these assumptions conflict with facts. Reportedly, as of 2013, 43% of Americans over 65 use at least one social media site. That number actually marks a 17% increase from the previous year.

If your business caters to an older crowd, make sure you include it in your social media strategy. Like everyone else, this demographic wants to feel included.

Social media campaigns always work

When used strategically, social media marketing campaigns can create audiences, build relationships, and increase sales. But not all campaigns succeed.

One thing many digital marketers forget is that people don’t go online for advertising. In fact, according to one study, 62% of people surveyed said that social media didn’t influence their buying decisions.

For me, the big takeaway here is that social media shouldn’t be used as a sales pitch. Certain brands may have success with different platforms’ promoted posts, and one-off promotions can work, but the key to success is cultivating trust and interest among your followers. If they’re compelled by your brand, they’ll likely become customers. The good thing in today’s times is that you have a number of ways in which you can compel your audience and end consumers. There are innumerable website redesign services that can make your entire brand story captivate the interest of your audience the minute they go online. One of the best ways to make this happen is to implement the best web design los angeles so your viewers find it tough to leave your site once they are there.

Only some industries are social

Some brands translate more naturally to social media. If you’re a B2C with an exciting consumer product that’s inherently photogenic and can be easily promoted, your campaign creates itself.

However, it’s a mistake to assume that a B2B with a technical product or abstract service can’t gain attention or even go viral.

(E-commerce security company, VeriSign’s “Cart Whisperer” viral campaign)

With a little creativity, brands like IBM, Cisco, and VeriSign all cultivated an entertaining and compelling social media presence. The formula for their success wasn’t rocket science. They simply started by addressing their audience’s core questions and challenges and proceeded from there. One good way to measure what your audience is looking for is to work with SEO Companies. They will provide you with invaluable insights about the things your end customer is looking for and will help you attract these very customers in the end.

Calculating ROI in social media is impossible

True, there is no magical “Calculate ROI” button for social media marketers. However, anyone can determine the return on investment as long as specific metrics are set before the campaign begins.

Whether you’re measuring the performance of certain posts, landing pages, views, or even purchases, you need to establish your goals, what assets you’re going to create to achieve them, and measurement tools such as Google Analytics.

With the right metrics in place, you can track and adjust your campaigns for maximum success.

Social media is for company channels only

Social media is an excellent platform for brand storytelling. In other words, by sharing the personality of your business, you increase your chances of connecting with your audience.

Don’t just share company facts or industry trends. People respond to other people more than a brand name. Enlist your employees to use social media, and encourage them to offer up a mix of industry and unrelated topics. They don’t have to share every detail about their lives, but a little personality can endear a user to your company. Tools like Advocate can help you manage this process.