Using social media seems like it should be easy. It’s a great place to post your thoughts online and to connect with your audience. However, thanks to AI, algorithms and other technological changes, using social media effectively feels like it’s only getting harder. That’s because a lot of what used to work on social media isn’t effective anymore! There are common practices that can actually hurt your chances of success on social media, and you might not even be aware. Here are the two biggest things you can change to help your social media accounts’ success.
Side note, this blog is largely going to feature social help for Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. While they’re not the only social media platforms; they’re the three most popular for businesses right now.
Mistake 1: Too many links
When using social media, especially for your business, it can be tempting to link all of your social media posts back to your website. However, this is a habit you’ll want to break! While links may generate more traffic for your company site, they can also cause less traffic for your social media accounts. It makes sense when you think about it though – social media companies want people on their website as much as possible. When you link to other sites, you take traffic away from the social platforms.
Luckily, there’s an easy solution to this! Change your call to action. When you create posts, encourage your followers to visit your website without directly linking to it. Your website should be linked somewhere on your social media page already, so visitors can find where to go easily.
Mistake 2: Cross-platform content
This mistake is a little more complicated than the first one! Businesses often misplace their social media efforts, putting in more than necessary to achieve their goal. You don’t have to rewrite your post three times, using slightly different wording each time, if you’re sharing the same topic across three different platforms. When creating a social media strategy, it’s OK – and even encouraged – to use the same content across social media platforms. Consistent wording is recognizable and can showcase your professionalism. You just have to know the differences in platforms.
To reuse content across platforms, focus on changes to accommodate platform-specific differences. Instagram should have a square version of an image, whereas Facebook and LinkedIn can have rectangular images. Tagging people looks different on each site, so make sure you’re using the right method for your page. You don’t have to recreate your entire social media post; just make sure you’re keeping the post appropriate for the platform it’s on.
If you’re concerned about making other common social media mistakes – or just want someone else to do the work for you – talk to an image.works account representative. Our social media posting program takes the burden off you and provides all the need-to-know info. We can make your marketing job easier, one social posting calendar at a time!