The Social Media Practices Brands Should Avoid

The digital era has made social media an indispensable component of brand marketing strategies. Nevertheless, not all social media tactics are equally effective, and adopting certain practices can turn detrimental. 

Social media can propel brands to great heights, but only when deployed correctly. It is vital for brands to adhere to a bold, informed, and refined online image by eschewing particular social media methods. Let’s delve into the social media techniques that brands must refrain from to avert negative impacts.

Don’t Over Rely on Automatic Posting

One mistake that’s all too common is blindly relying on automatic posting tools and schedulers. Sure, they can save time and effort, but they can also produce robotic, impersonal content that turns off your audience. Instead, value authenticity and human connection in social media marketing. Prioritize real-time engagement and personalization over the easy loophole of over-automated posts. 

We recommend utilizing a bit of both, have posts scheduled for your convenience but don’t forget to be active on your social media every day, interact with your customers, and be willing to be flexible with your posting schedule if something comes up that’s more authentic. Don’t let the ease of a scheduler or automatic posting tool detract from your brand’s potential to connect with its audience in meaningful ways.

Over-Advertising

Brands must tread carefully when it comes to excessive self-promotion through social media advertising. Undoubtedly, promoting products or services is integral to marketing, but drowning followers with ceaseless ads can be irritating and lead to an outflux of followers or unfavorable comments. Thus, brands ought to achieve an equilibrium between promotional and organic content and guarantee that their social media existence enriches their audience by delivering pertinent and fascinating content, rather than being excessively sales-driven. 

Remember, the goal is to add value to your audience, not to agitate them with too many ads.

Don’t Be Deaf to Tragedy

Brands must prioritize the sensitivity and relevance of their social media content to current events and social issues. During crises, disasters, or delicate topics, brands must steer clear of tone-deafness or insensitivity in their posts. Engaging in hashtag hijacking or exploiting unrelated events for promotional purposes can lead to negative repercussions. Empathy and respect must be at the forefront of brands’ minds when addressing sensitive topics. 

Careful consideration of social media content appropriateness is crucial during such situations.

Don’t Think You’re Always Funny

Humor can be a double-edged sword in social media marketing. While it can be a valuable tool to engage with customers, it can prove to be a risky move if not executed with caution. Under no circumstances should brands take humor lightly, as it is subjective and has the capability of offending or being misunderstood. 

Crass, distasteful, or inappropriate jokes hold the potential to damage a brand’s reputation and trigger negative feedback. Hence, brands must be cautious and considerate while incorporating humor in their social media posts, aligning it with their core values and ensuring that it is inclusive and respectful towards all.

Don’t Hijack Trends

As a brand, it can be tempting to jump on the bandwagon of popular trends or hashtags. However, tread carefully because it could be a risky move. Blindly hopping on the latest trends without understanding the context or relevance to your brand can backfire. Don’t make inauthentic or forced attempts to ride the wave of trends as it can come across as opportunistic or insincere and may not connect with your target audience. 

To avoid this, conduct thorough research and ensure that trends align with your brand identity and values before incorporating them into your social media strategy. This will guarantee an authentic, meaningful, and successful engagement with your audience.

Don’t Forget to Support Your Critics

In the world of social media, criticism is unavoidable, and brands must be equipped to handle it with composure. Brushing off or disregarding adverse comments or feedback can exacerbate the issue and incur irreparable harm to a brand’s image. Brands must avoid taking a defensive stance and instead rise to the occasion by responding to criticism in a respectful and positive manner. 

Recognizing feedback, tending to concerns, and delivering optimal solutions can convert critics into advocates and showcase a brand’s unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction and perpetual growth.

So, What Should You Do? 

For a successful social media strategy, brands must prioritize following best practices, understanding their audience, creating engaging and authentic content, and fostering customer engagement. By avoiding these social media blunders, brands can establish a reputable online presence, cultivate significant relationships with their audience, and fuel growth.

If your brand is struggling with social media, don’t hesitate to seek assistance from Ignite XDS’s experienced team. Our social media specialists possess the knowledge and expertise necessary to elevate your brand’s social media presence and achieve marketing objectives. Contact us today and unlock social media’s full potential for your brand!