10 Social Media Mistakes Every Beginner Should Avoid

Social media platforms are a great way to get the message out about your new blog and brand.

But when you first start using it, you’re likely to make a few mistakes. These can hurt your business and your reputation.

Before you start expanding your online reach, check out this list of common social media mistakes and take the steps needed to fix them:

1. Focusing Too Much on Yourself

When you’re starting a blog, it can be exciting to publish content that you are passionate about. And you most definitely should post the things that you wish to share with your audience.

The drawback is that focusing too much on your own interests could turn your followers off.

While talking about your blog and its success is fun, you should focus more on nurturing the relationship that you have with your audience.

Show an interest in the things that are important to them. Before you post something, ask yourself if it adds value to your readers.

While entertaining your followers with a funny picture is great, your reach will only grow when you are able to engage your audience.

2. Being Everywhere at Once

If you’re a one-man marketing team, it can be tempting to try to have an active presence on every social network.

While this is a great way to protect your brand name from being used by someone else, it may end up costing you in the long run.

Trying to maintain a presence on every site forces you to divide your attention between the networks.

Instead of trying to be everywhere at once, focus on the platform that your target audience uses most.

You can also match your blog content to your social media channel. For example, if have a photography blog, LinkedIn might not help you too much. Instagram and Pinterest are a better choice.

These platforms allow you to post a photo of the image to capture the viewer’s interest and then include a link to the recipe in the caption.

3. Sending the Same Message

When you are marketing your blog on social media, it can be tempting to share the same message across all channels.

But sharing the same update on Facebook and Twitter can be one of the worst social media mistakes a new blogger makes.

While it may save you time, your audience will most likely see your posts in multiple places. They won’t appreciate feeling bombarded by the content.

4. Using Poor Metrics

Sometimes, you don’t even know when you’re making social media mistakes.

It can seem like the only important thing is watching your follower count grow. But if these followers aren’t clicking on your content and engaging with your posts, then your account really doesn’t have that much value.

Advertisers want to be featured on blogs that make a stir. Make sure that you pay attention to the engagement you have with your followers.

5. Bad Timing

Timing really is everything, and social media posts are no exception. Sending out the right message at the wrong time can cause your thoughts to get lost in a sea of posts.

Don’t just post whenever you have a moment free. Think about the times when your audience will be online.

For example, if you’re marketing to millennials, then posting around dinner time is a great way to catch people winding down after a day at work.

Most of the things you post will have short lifespans. If you want to reach the majority of your following, calculate the timing of your posts carefully.

6. Misused Hashtags

Hashtags are a relatively new way to tag and search for things on social media websites like Twitter and Instagram. Posts with hashtags get more engagement from followers.

They offer you an opportunity to make a witty joke or link your post to other content like it.

Your hashtags should add value to your posts. Use wording that makes sense for your target audience.

7. Poor Spelling and Grammar

If you don’t use Grammarly or another tool to check your spelling and grammar, then you could potentially embarrass yourself in front of the world.

Don’t tarnish your blog’s reputation before it even gets off the ground. Take the time to check your work before you post if you want people to take it seriously.

8. Trying to Buy Fans

Money can’t buy love, but it can buy followers. Fake ones, that is.

Digital marketers often try to sell a social following since so many people use it as a measurement of success.

But purchasing the ‘likes’ of fake profiles does not give you an engaged audience. You want a following that is interested in your blog topics and brand message. Otherwise, what’s the point?

9. Lazy Content

When you write content, you should exercise your creative muscles. Just posting a “Happy Friday” tweet every week won’t gain you a following.

People are looking for content with substance. Share something that is important to you and adds value to the lives of your readers.

If your message is memorable, you will capture your audience’s attention and grow your social following. Invest time in your posts, and you will have a much more successful blog.

10. Template Text

If you have worked out a generic message to send to your new followers, you should reconsider your strategy.

One of the biggest social media mistakes is to make yourself look desperate or beg for followers. Play it cool and post content that your new fans want to interact with.

Plan Ahead So You Can Avoid Social Media Mistakes

When you’re starting a blog, it’s crucial that you send the right message and avoid social media mistakes.

Have a plan and stick to it. Don’t just post things randomly. Social media success takes planning and consistency.