If you thought you knew all about social media marketing, you might want to think again. In social media and online marketing, when there are facts and information, there will always be social media marketing myths.
Why Are there Social Media Marketing Myths?
The concept of social media marketing only rose to prominence in the 21st century. Due to its newness and novelty, the concept of social media marketing is susceptible and vulnerable to supposition and speculations.
These days, anyone can call themselves a “social media marketer” just by having basic knowledge about how the various platforms can be used for online marketing. It’s no wonder why so many impressionable social media personnel subscribe to both online marketing facts and social media marketing myths.
On the other hand, it is useful to be able to distinguish between fact and myth when it comes to social media. Doing so helps you craft more effective social media campaigns. According to Growth Gurus, social media presence is critical to online success today. Without accurate and adequate knowledge about the phenomenon and how it works, your campaigns might fall short of success.
4 Social Media Marketing Myths You Should Stop Believing In
Before these social media marketing myths start dominating schools of thought and knowledge about internet marketing, we are here to set the record straight.
Whether you are a greenhorn or dark horse when it comes to social media marketing, getting the facts right is worthwhile. We have done our research on 4 of the biggest and most influential social media myths today.
1. “It is Better to Use More Hashtags”
If you have read our about black hat vs white hat SEO as well as do’s and don’t’s in blogging for business, you would know about the term “keyword stuffing”. Similarly, stuffing hashtags may help you accumulate some likes and followership, but the results are only short-term.
Using the same hashtags over and over again can actually look like spam. According to Adweek, spamming hashtags on Twitter could come off as pushy. It might also alienate a particular group or community.
In addition, posting countless hashtags might come off desperate. While your post may trend for a while, it could give your followers the wrong impression of your brand.
2. “If I want to Increase Viewership, I Should Schedule More Daily Posts”
Sorry to burst your bubble but your efforts might be futile because of social media algorithm.
This is one of the biggest social media marketing myths. But the truth is – even if you schedule four Instagram posts to go live later today, your followers might only see one of the posts on their feed.
According to Buffer, Instagram introduced a software algorithm in 2016. This software makes the content that you are most likely to be interested in appear first on your feed. The algorithm ranks content based on the likelihood that you will be interested in the content. Likewise, author Alfred Lua goes on to explain how your relationship with the handler and timeliness of the post also play a role.
In other words, these social media algorithms might be controlling the rate in which your content shows up on someone’s feed.
Sadly, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest, too, have their own algorithms installed. Click to view how posts are ranked.
3. “I Should Post Sentimental Content to Emotionally Connect with My Followers”
Oh, hell no.
Last year, we described how emotional content on blogs can worsen your brand image. When it comes to social media, you might want to keep your emotions at bay, too.
Sure, emotional marketing works – but there is a limit to how much pathos you should weave into your content. Adding too much emotion into your content could make your brand come off as desperate, temperamental and unprofessional. No one likes to read whiney and sad content anywhere.
Sadly, even if you are having a bad day, the internet is cruel. People will judge and criticise. So keep your emotional posts private if you want to maintain a professional image.
4. “I Can Build My Brand Simply By Posting Regularly”
Sorry, but social media marketing takes a lot more than just owning an account. Sadly, the fourth myth in our list of social media marketing myths is a far cry from the facts today.
These days, online engagement is the new currency that can accelerate business success in social media. We have done our research early this year and noticed that brands have started linking up with micro-influencers as engagement has become the most critical tool in enabling a brand to bridge more networks with their customers.
In fact, engaging with users through responding to comments and direct messages could improve your brand image. Moreover, engaging with your customers also showcases that your brand values their opinion and comments.
Also, responding to your customers is particularly critical especially when dealing with negative feedback. It is highly imperative for your brand rep that you address online angst in order to appease an angry customer in a professional manner. If you have no idea how to deal with negativity in a professional manner, click here for a step-by-step guide.
Thus, when crafting your social media grand plan, make sure you allocate resources to respond to customer queries and feedback.
The Trouble With Social Media
Luckily, it doesn’t take a social media expert to realise the severity of these social media marketing myths. Now that we have busted 4 huge social media marketing myths, make sure that you revamp your campaigns accordingly so that you can grow your followership and enhance brand awareness!
Then again, learning about social media is easy, but staying relevant to retain your presence online can be challenging. Especially if you do not have a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon. The nature of social media is dynamic and ever-changing. Make sure you keep yourself updated with the latest developments and trends to the various social media platforms across the internet and adapt accordingly.
While there is no foolproof strategy when it comes to social media, being versatile, adaptable and bold would do good for your campaigns in the long-term.
Did you know that micro-influencers are the new in-thing for social media marketing? Click to find out who the top local micro-influencers in Singapore are.
