I know there are a lot of articles and commentary that touch on “how to succeed in social media”. Heck, I recently wrote a piece on it – This social media thing is easy. So instead of compiling another list of things that you should be doing, I’m going to give a list of things you should NOT be doing.
- Using social media as a sales tool. If you want to sell a product or service, get into a sales role.
- Focusing on your brand. It’s not about you and it’s not about your brand. It’s about your customer(s).
- Ignoring requests/customers. Chris Brogan recently commented that it’s impossible for him to reply to everyone, but he does his best to respond to as many as he can. This is how you use social media. If you’re a brand, you MUST respond to every inquiry.
- Trying to be cute. Yes, social media allows your brand to interact on a more personal level, but you need to remain professional and remember you’re still running a business.
- Using a “see what happens” approach. I know social media is new, I know it can be overwhelming; but you shouldn’t get involved without a plan. It’s one thing to learn as you go, but using social media to “throw things against the wall and see what sticks” won’t work. You’re community will call you out and call you out hard.
There are a lot of brands that are using social media the right way. Unfortunately, there are far more using it the wrong way. Each brand’s strategy is different and you need to tailor your plan accordingly. There isn’t a magical recipe out there, but if you avoid the common mistakes listed above, you’ll be on the right path.
Folks, what other ‘do’s’ and ‘dont’s’ are out there? What are some of your tips for success?
