You finally have your new website and are ready to show it off to the world. Implementing a social media marketing strategy is one of the golden rules of business marketing, but businesses often struggle with understanding where to start? Social media marketing has become a hot topic, but the various nuances and constant platform changes can make strategic planning difficult. 

As the myths and misunderstandings of social media marketing spread around, business owners are hesitant or unsure where to start. There are a few common misconceptions about social media marketing that can significantly stunt business growth and development if left unaddressed. 

Misconception #1. My customers are not on social media, so it’s not necessary for my business. 

In 2020, over 3.6 billion people were using social media worldwide, a number projected to increase to almost 4.41 billion in 2025. It seems like there is a social media platform for everyone and everything. Friends and family enjoy connecting on sites like Facebook and Instagram, while professionals of all ages network on Linkedin. With the number of social media users in the billions, it is hard to believe that your customers are not using social platforms in some capacity.

Companies large and small invest time in establishing a social media presence to build consumer trust in their brand. Even if a customer is not active on social media, a google search can lead them to your social platforms, which will allow them to witness the confidence consumers have in your product or service. Consider social media marketing to avoid missing an opportunity to connect with a potential customer or client. 

Misconception #2. I need an account on every social media platform. 

When approaching your social media marketing strategy, creating an account on each platform is not always necessary. The sad truth, not every platform will benefit your business: research different platforms and narrow your list to the top three or four social platforms where your target audience is active. Focus on the platforms that align with your target audience and the marketing tactics you plan to implement. Being selective will save you valuable time and help you create an effective social media marketing strategy. 

Misconception #3. Having friends and family “like” every post will certainly get my content seen. 

Social media algorithms will inevitably change, and you may think that having friends and family “like” your content will defeat the algorithm and get your content seen regardless. Social algorithms are becoming more sophisticated in determining which posts are visible to specific audiences. Aim to create content that various people will interact with to grow your reach better and increase the chances of visibility in a user’s news feed. 

According to Hootsuite, social media marketers consider a “good” engagement rate between 1% and 5%. Encourage your current followers to “Like,” “Share,” and “Repost” your content to spread brand awareness and further engagement. 

Misconception #4. The more hashtags, the better. 

The purpose behind hashtags is to bring together common conversation threads. Hashtags are a great tool to allow people to filter through thousands of posts every day, but the practice of over hashtagging can look spammy, tacky and become a rapid turn-off to potential followers. Just because Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags does not mean you should use them all.

Also, while hashtags across various social media platforms share the primary purpose of discovery, hashtag use varies by platform. When applying hashtags, a good rule of thumb is never to have more hashtags than words in your post. Research which hashtags are relevant to your audience and which hashtags trend on each social media platform. Tools like Later or Rite Tag can help you generate and track trending hashtags in real-time. 

Misconception #5. Success depends on the number of followers you have.

Often, people will judge your business success based on the number of followers you have. While the number of followers can provide social proof, the engagement from your current followers matters more. When it comes to post engagement, quality tends to outweigh the quantity of your engagement in many cases.  

Focus on getting to know your followers. What topics are interesting to them? What challenges are they facing? How can you help them and become a trusted resource? Sharing relevant and valuable content will help you attract more followers interested in what you have to say. 

Sophisticated Social Media Marketing with Laing Media 

Social media marketing is an essential part of marketing strategies for businesses of all sizes. It can be a valuable tool that attracts new customers, builds brand awareness, and takes your business to the next level. Don’t let these common misconceptions stop you from taking advantage of social media. Laing Media has years of experience executing and managing successful social media marketing campaigns. We can relieve the anxiety around social media and introduce your business to the world. Connect with us here or on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.