If you want your business to thrive and survive moving forward, making social media a key part of your marketing strategy is essential. Without it, you risk hurting your brand and business by not staying relevant, accessible, and connected to your customers. But when used properly, it can serve as a powerful force to boost your business and keep you ahead of the competition.

In this episode, Adam discusses 15 social media marketing mistakes your business should avoid and why social media marketing is one of the most important tools you can implement in your business.

Episode Discussions:

• The most important element in creating an effective social media marketing plan
• The one tip that could 10x your social media marketing results
• Why the short game is a costly amateur mistake
• How to start benefitting from the incredible power of paid social media traffic
• The best place to start if you're brand new to paid traffic
• What separates the amateurs from the pros
• One of the biggest mistakes you can make in business and social media marketing
• Facts and stats on social media consumption and it's influence on web traffic and consumer purchases
• What important details to consider when identifying your target markets social media usage
• Why right now is considered to be the "golden age" of paid traffic
• The most effective marketing strategy to combine with social media to amplify your efforts
• Why it's fair for social media networks to charge for ads
• How being overly polished, rehearsed, or scripted can hurt your business
• How to save time and money by identifying your target market's channels
• Ways to avoid overwhelm and how to get help with your social media marketing

3:18

Mistake #1: Not using social media marketing

• There will always be some form of social media channel that connects users, friends, family and businesses.
• Neglecting it signals carelessness for customers, how they want to connect and consume information.

3:59

Mistake #2: Not giving social media marketing the respect it deserves

• Most businesses are unaware of power and potential of a strategic social media marketing campaign.

4:44

Mistake #3: Treating social media like a hobby

• Happens when:
• Social media is misidentified and not treated as a valuable business tool.
• Miscategorize it under personal and not a professional heading.
  • Differentiate the two.

• Don't do the same thing from the same channel at the same time.
• Approach it thoughtfully and strategically.

5:45

Mistake #4: Not being strategic about your social media marketing

• The cause of a failed campaign is almost always a focus on tactics, shiny objects, a disregard for foundational marketing strategies and principles.
• Businesses play the short game at the expense of building long-term trust and customer loyalty.
  • Spread too thinly across too many channels
  • Throw everything at the wall hoping something will stick

"Strategy is the single most important element in creating an effective social media marketing plan."

7:08

Mistake #5: Ignoring customer social media details

• Successful companies try to make their customers feel understood.
  • Identify your target markets social media usage statistics
    • What channels they're on
    • How they use them
    • What kind of content they're consuming
    • When they're most active
    • What about that channel appeals to them
  • How you can leverage info to your business's advantage
• Identifying what channels they're on eliminates the need to be on every channel.
  • Saves you time and money.

8:05

Mistake #6: Being active on every social media channel

• Can prove to be overwhelming and time-wasting.
• Focus on platforms that best align with your market, business, and style.
  • Cuts workload and increases results.

"You don't need to do everything. You just need to do the right things, in the right place, for the right people."

9:04

Mistake #7: Thinking social media marketing is free

• The cost is either time or money.
• Look at your revenue and workload.
  • If you have more time, get active sharing, helping, posting, and caring.
  • If you're more established, it's worth investing money when done strategically.

9:42

Mistake #8: Not investing enough in social media marketing

• Competition is at an all-time high
  • more connected world
  • more discerning clientele
• Level of minimum viable investment continues to climb.

"When done right, more time and money in is going to equal more time and money out."

• Allocate more of your business's marketing budget toward social.

10:36

Mistake #9: Playing the short game

• Overpromotion will burn audience and yourself out.
• Many get the impression that online marketing doesn't work.
• The real money is generated long-term with:
  • Back-end sales
  • Continuing to nurture customer relationships
  • Building a worthy brand

11:41

Mistake #10: Not combining social media with content marketing

• Social media is a tool, not a strategy.
• Combine it with a foundational marketing strategy like...
• Content marketing:
  • Rapidly builds know, like, and trust factor
  • Establishes authority in your marketplace
  • Creates a world class brand and business

12:33

Mistake #11: Not leveraging paid social media traffic

• Organic (non-paid social media reach) is rapidly declining.
• It costs to create, maintain, and service a massive social media network.
• They're free to do what they want to do
• Post content on your website first in order to maintain control of your content and share on social media after.

"In a competitive business environment, any barriers to entry eliminate those unwilling to adapt and evolve from the competition."

• Start with Facebook if you're new to paid traffic.
  • Offers the best targeting, options, and easiest use.

14:13

Mistake #12: Not being consistent

• Consistency provides exponential returns over time.
• Builds trust, likeability, recognition.
• Commit to integrating and scheduling into your business to fully benefit.

14:52

Mistake #13: Leading with anything other than value

• Understand the mentality of the average social media user and adjust accordingly.
  • The typical user doesn't log into social media with the intent to purchase.
• Engage customers with value-providing content that educates, entertains, or a combination.

15:50

Mistake #14: Not being authentic

• One of the biggest mistakes you can make in business and social media marketing.
• Customers are quickly able to detect a fraud.
  • Less receptive to big faceless corporations and meaningless mission statements.
• Being overly polished, rehearsed or scripted can hurt your business.
• To fix it, define and establish your values and principles and live them day in and day out.

"Simply be yourself and don't be afraid to show it."

• Customers will appreciate your genuineness and humanity.

16:52

Mistake #15: Being afraid to ask for help

• Facebook influences over half of all online and offline consumer purchases.
• Pinterest drives 25% of all retail website traffic
• 81% of Millennials check Twitter at least once a day
• Snapchat reaches 41% of all 18-34-year-olds in the US alone
• Easy to get overwhelmed and put off social media marketing.
  • Seek help by buying a book, taking a course, or hiring an agency.
• Businesses and entrepreneurs who take action and commit to adopting a social media strategy are going to be the ones best positioned for success today, tomorrow, and for years to come.

"Go out there and take action."

Contact Adam: [email protected]

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