Social media marketing continues to be a powerful tool to reach customers. According to statistics, up to 4.26 billion people were using social media in 2022. Experts estimate that by 2025, the numbers will reach 5.42 billion. This is enough reason for businesses to include social media marketing in their overall marketing strategy.
However, as with any marketing strategy, certain pitfalls can trip up even the savviest marketers. Here are four social media marketing mistakes you don’t want to make in 2022:
Ignoring TikTok
TikTok has been around for a few years, but it only started to gain popularity in 2020. The platform is known for its short-form videos and works by recommending content based on what users previously watched or engaged with. This feature keeps users hooked on the app for hours on end.
The platform is especially popular with Gen Zers and millennials, making it the perfect place to reach out to this target market. But even if your products and services do not specifically target this age group, you can still use TikTok for brand awareness.
How? By creating innovative and catchy videos that showcase your products or services in a fun and relatable way. You can also partner with micro-influencers on the platform to help promote your brand.
Statistics show that 84% of TikTok users like using the platform because the content they come across is something they can relate to. This is because TikTok’s algorithm recommends content based on a user’s interests. Using this to your advantage, you can create content that will surely resonate with your target market.
Pass Social Media Marketing To Busy Employees
Small brand owners often take charge of their company’s social media marketing campaigns. They believe they are good to go for as long as they post daily on select social media platforms and can do a bit of photo and video editing.
However, social media marketing is a full-time job and requires a lot of dedication and effort. Instead of you handling this task yourself or passing it to your in-house marketing team, hiring someone or outsourcing the job to professionals so you can focus on other aspects of running your business. This way, you can be assured that your social media campaigns are in good hands, optimized, and handled by experts.
With a dedicated social media hire, your campaigns on various platforms will be more cohesive, on-brand, and streamlined. You can count on one of the best social media marketing agencies to only produce quality content that speaks to your audience and drives conversions. The right team can handle everything from social media ads to influencer outreach and reporting.
Make sure you choose an agency with years of expertise managing social media for businesses in your industry. Check on the agency’s track record, licenses, and services offered. It would be best if they could provide influencer marketing, content creation, and social media ads. This way, you are getting the most bang for your buck.
Skipping Customer Support in Social Media Channels
Most consumers nowadays would rather “talk” online than on the phone. They would instead ask their questions and raise their concerns on social media rather than call the company itself on the phone. You are missing out on many opportunities if you are still ignoring customer DMs, chats, and comments.
By offering customer support on social media, you are building a good relationship with your customers. You also gain their trust by replying to them promptly on their preferred social media platform. This is also a great way to show your other customers and target audiences that you are indeed customer-centric.
You will need someone to handle your social media accounts to ensure you reply to every message. You can assign this task to one of your customer service representatives or hire a social media manager. The key is to be responsive and prompt in replying to customers. This way, you are meeting their expectations and providing them with the excellent customer service they deserve.
Spending Too Much Time Making Ephemeral Content
Ephemeral content pertains to content that only lasts for a day or less, such as Instagram stories and Snapchat. This type of content is usually quick and easy to consume since it is short and sweet. However, since such content is not permanent, many of your target audiences may not even see your post, let alone engage with it.
This is why you should not spend all your time making ephemeral content. Instead, focus on creating quality content that will last longer and have a higher chance of more people seeing it. This way, you are not wasting time making content that will only be up for a day.
On the other hand, creating long-form content takes more time and effort. But it is worth it since this content can drive more traffic to your website and increase your conversion rates. Studies show that long-form blog posts get more social media shares, which can help improve your reach.
Entrepreneurs should always be on the lookout for opportunities to market their businesses. But you should also be aware of common marketing mistakes that cost you time, money, and effort. By avoiding these social media marketing mistakes in 2022 and beyond, you can focus on strategies to help you achieve your business goals.