The internet in general, and social media specifically, have revolutionized the way small businesses market themselves. Today, reaching an audience of thousands or even millions doesn’t require a six-figure marketing budget. With the right strategy and proper execution, even a small Mom-and-Pop shop can reach a large audience with their marketing message.

So it’s no surprise that businesses all across the country have turned to social media in order to bolster their marketing efforts. But as with most things in life, there is a learning curve, and many small businesses are forced to learn the hard way by making costly mistakes on social media. Today we’re going to identify four of these common mistakes to avoid:

1) Not branding your profiles. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube are very user-friendly. It’s not difficult to upload your business logo and additional collateral. Yet many business owners skip this step, and as a result end up with a generic social media presence which doesn’t enhance their brand or highlight their celebrity status.

2) Not staying consistently active. Creating a social media presence is only the beginning. Once you’re set up with a well-branded profile, it’s important to use it regularly! Many business owners are excited about social media in the beginning, but quickly get distracted by the day-to-day operations of their business. If you want to get results, you need to stay active.

3) Using your profiles purely for self-promotion. Social media is a place for engagement, not one way promotion. Interact with your audience. Answer questions. Provide advice. Post content that provides value to your followers. If all you’re doing is promoting yourself, your audience is quickly going to tune you out.

4) Going “out of character”. Finally, remember that everything you do online reflects your brand. Don’t go out of character –stay true to your CelebrityExpert® brand. Before you post anything, ask yourself, “is this appropriate for my audience and for the brand I am working to build?”

Social media is an incredible tool for business marketing – but it’s easy to make mistakes. Avoid these common errors, and contact us today if you’d like to learn more!