30 Things Not to Do on Social Media

Social media platforms, which are used by millions of people all over the world, play an important role in the promotion of brands, products and services. When social media channels are managed correctly, their reach can be expanded. The number of followers who will turn into customers in the short, medium and long term can be increased.

However, when using Google+, Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest platforms, you need to pay attention to some rules. Otherwise, a simple mistake can damage your brand value. Google partner agency and the right address for professional SEO service, Sahne Medya, has compiled the things that companies should not do on social media.

1-Focus on Facebook: When it comes to social media, Facebook generally comes to mind. According to research, 71 percent of internet users prefer Facebook. So, does being only on Facebook meet social media expectations? In order for businesses to reach their target audience, it would be a good approach to target different social media networks such as LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter in addition to Facebook.

2-Joining Many Social Media Networks: Other social media platforms besides Facebook can also be considered. However, being on too many social networks at once can sometimes have disadvantages. When a membership is opened and no activation is provided on social media platforms such as Google+, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter, site traffic or follower count will not increase. It should be observed which accounts the target audience uses the most. For example; if the target audience of the business spends a lot of time on Twitter, a Pinterest account may not be needed.

3-Thinking Only of Yourself: Social media is an important interaction tool. Sometimes it can be challenging for individuals and institutions to spend time on social media. However, what needs to be done is to establish strong communication with the target audience. Content that attracts visitors' attention and generates conversion increases the number of followers of brands, products or services.

4-Not Thinking Twice Before Sharing: Sharing pain or joy in social life is of course a good behavior. However, the same cannot always be said for social media posts. It is necessary to be more careful and think twice before sharing. Because some posts can have permanent effects and lead to irreparable results.

5. Posting in a Hurry: Maybe sharing on social media is a fun and simple process. However, sometimes the results can be unpleasant. Therefore, it is important to check whether the information, visuals and messages to be shared are legally or ethically appropriate. The reliability of the sources should be seriously examined. In short, sharing should be thought through in detail and should not be rushed.

6-Not Paying Attention to Spelling Rules: There may be those who use daily language expressions and concepts in personal accounts. However, professionals do not adopt such an understanding. What is written should be reviewed at least twice. An incorrect expression may reflect negatively on the brand's reputation.

7-Answering amateurishly: It is possible to encounter people who mislead people or institutions among the groups you communicate with. In any case, these negative behaviors should be approached more professionally. Displaying a polite and respectful attitude is a much more effective method in communication.

8-Being Impersonal: It should be felt that there is a person or institution behind the social media accounts. Many businesses act as if they were robots when communicating with the target audience. Visitors should be given some introductory information about the person, institution or organization. The number of followers of the brand should be increased with a polite style.

9-Hiding from Negative Comments: There is always a risk of sharing a text or image unintentionally. In such cases, apologizing is a great virtue. Admitting the mistake and learning from it increases the reputation of the individual or business in the eyes of users.

10- Not listening: A continuous dialogue should be established with the followers created within the target audience and the feedback from them should definitely be analyzed. This service can be provided with tools such as Google, Alerts TweetDeck, Social Mention, Topsy, Hootsuite and Icerocket. All questions of the people should be answered and followers who have made positive statements about the brand should be thanked.

11- Not Optimizing Social Media Profiles: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of making a brand's website compliant with certain criteria for search engines to crawl. Social media accounts should be optimized in a similar way, just like the website. Descriptions, titles and URL addresses that attract attention in search engines and social media should be included. Meanwhile, it should not be forgotten that the optimization technique for social media channels is different.

12-Forgetting Social Media Buttons on the Site: Social media buttons should not be neglected to make it easier for visitors to use the website. With this method, visitors who like the content used on the page will have the opportunity to easily share it on their own social media accounts. Social media buttons will further increase the number of followers and visibility of the brand.

13-Being Very Ordinary: It is important to be fun and interactive on social media. However, as mentioned before, this process should be managed consciously. For example; a post made in a restaurant environment will not contribute much to the awareness of the brand.

14-Don't Just Share Content From Your Site: Social media is an ideal platform to reach new customers in the sector. Sharing content about developments in the sector increases the number of followers. The target audience can be attracted with quality content that is informative or entertaining.

15-Being inexperienced: There are differences between generations in terms of social media usage today. Young people have more experience and skills in social media. However, older people may have some deficiencies in this area. For this reason, experienced personnel who know the details of social media should be employed in the team in business life.

16- Increasing Your Number of Followers Instantly: Every person or brand on social media aims to have a high number of followers. However, it is against the rules for this to happen quickly and in a short period of time. Maybe with some applications, it is possible to reach thousands of new followers at once. Of course, it is a nice feeling to see the numbers grow with each page visit. But this is not an organic way. The important thing is to gain members who will constantly support the brand.

17-Leaving Comments Abandoned: There are many demoralizing users on the internet. There is a risk of becoming a target of these people with a poorly thought-out comment. Therefore, as is frequently emphasized, every comment or statement should be approached sensitively and no delay should be expected in responding. In frustrating situations, solutions should be produced on legal grounds without stooping to the level of the interlocutors as much as possible.

18-Working with a Social Media Manager: Being tech-savvy or having knowledge of the technical details of social media platforms and being a social media manager are different areas of work. In this respect, in some cases, it may be useful to work with a marketer or a good communication expert who knows the society closely.

19-Staying Loyal to One Person: Creating content on social media and attracting the attention of the target audience requires time and effort. An experienced social media team is needed to keep the accounts constantly active. With a professional social media team, questions from customers can be answered quickly and efficiently. This increases the prestige of the business.

20-Not Knowing the Differences Between Accounts: Google+, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest platforms have separate personal and business pages. Thanks to these channels, you can follow the developments in the business world with your social media friends. However, care should be taken to ensure that the posts are made from the relevant accounts.

21-Making Timing Mistakes in Sharing: Timed sharing can provide advantages in terms of planning. However, some content planned with the timer can become meaningless due to unexpected developments. For example; an event previously announced on the timer can be cancelled at the last minute. In order to avoid such a problem, possible latest developments should be constantly taken into consideration.

22-Not Encouraging Followers: There should be a constant flow of information that will generate interest for individuals who follow the business and brand on social media accounts. Competitions can be organized for this. However, there may always be problems with products that can be given away after the competition. Users' questions can be answered quickly. Educational information about their lives can be provided. Or posts can be made about a new product or service.

23-Underestimating Data: It is important to measure how effective a campaign conducted on social media is. Otherwise, there is uncertainty about the continuation of the work. How many people did the message reach? What content did users engage with the most? Knowing the answers to these and similar questions will help to chart a healthy course. The data in question can be analyzed with tools such as Google Analytics, Moz Analytics, Buffer, Sproutsocial.

24-Not Promoting Your Profile Through Advertisements: A person or brand followers may not be able to see everything shared. The way to solve this problem is through ads. Each social media platform has different advertising methods. It is possible to increase the visibility of your profile and the number of followers by using these methods.

25-Not Having a Quality Control System: A post or photo may have been checked superficially before being shared. However, having a quality control system makes this procedure even healthier. For example; is a visual that is wanted to be shared current? Or could this photo be related to another subject? In order not to make mistakes on these and similar points and not to damage the value of the brand, it is necessary to establish a quality control system.

26-Being Negative: In general, positive content should be highlighted on social media because followers like entertaining and inspiring content more.

27-Being Inconsistent: A consistent path should be followed regarding the timing and amount of content shared on social media. Shares should be timed to coincide with the time period when the target audience is active. Sharing regularly increases visitors’ expectations and viewership. When this harmony is disrupted, users’ interest decreases.

28-Failing to Build Credibility: It is a basic rule; practice is more effective than words. Customers want to trust managers or experts who have a say in the sector. For example; a brand that promotes itself as an “environmentally friendly” brand should not harm the environment. Honesty is always the most valid currency. Brands are expected to meticulously comply with whatever advice is given.

29–Sharing Without Visuals-Videos: It is faster to see, read and share many contents that contain visuals or videos. The like rate can be increased with quality photos and videos. Especially on Facebook, such shares are seriously liked.

30-Inappropriate Use of Hashtags: Hashtags (#) added to the text section of social media posts have become a phenomenon. Hashtags can contribute significantly to content shared on social platforms. Hashtags have an important function in environments such as Google+, Facebook, Pinterest. Short, clear, and understandable hashtags should be preferred in posts.