Be honest: when was the last time you looked at your business’s social media and thought, “Wow, we are crushing it”? If your answer is somewhere between “never” and “does reposting memes count,” you are not alone. The online world is one of the best marketing tools available to small businesses, but it’s also one of the easiest places to the biggest social media mistakes.
Between missing trends by just a few days to needing to post literally everything that happens at your company, there are a lot more ways to make mistakes than there are to be successful. Let’s take a quick tour through some of the biggest missteps, and let us know how many you’ve been a victim of.
Posting Without a Plan
If your social media strategy is “post whenever we remember,” congratulations, you have no strategy. Random content with no schedule or goal leaves followers confused and algorithms unimpressed.
Then you post, that information gets thrown back into the working algorithm, meaning there is in fact a science to posting on social media. Posting too early in the morning or posting too much in one day can skew that equation, leading to less interaction and more empty pages.
It’s important to remember that every business has their own “best time to post”. Take a look at those handy analytics that these platforms give you to see when your followers are most active. It’s not helpful if you think you should be posting at 9am because that’s when you open, verses your followers being most active at 5pm when they get off work.
Ask yourself: Would I follow a page that only shows up when it feels like it? Exactly.
Ignoring the Numbers
Speaking of analytics… use them! Analytics aren’t just for big corporations. If you never look at engagement rates, reach, or follower growth, you’re basically driving without a a steering wheel.
Data tells you what works and what flops. You can see everything down to the exact post and what attracted the attention to it. Focus on follows that come from your posts, how many link clicks you get, and follower interaction. Ignoring it is like leaving your growth to fate — it may happen, but it probably won’t without a little divine intervention.
Treating Every Platform the Same
With the rise of Meta Business, it can be tempting to post everything to all the platforms you can physically touch. Copy-pasting the same post to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and the lot might save time, but it also screams “we didn’t think this through.”
Each platform has its own audience and best practices. LinkedIn does not want your TikTok dance video. (Well, maybe it does, but don’t count on it.) While Facebook and Instagram are fairly similar to each other in terms of interaction, the audience differs greatly. It’s important to remember what you’re posting and who you’re posting it to to get the most out of your engagement.
Skipping Engagement
Social media is supposed to be social. If you post and disappear, you’re missing the point. Replying to comments, liking other posts, and starting conversations tells people there’s a real human behind the account—not just a robot set to “auto-post.”
We like to use the 5-3-1 rule when it comes to social media. This is the strategy that before you post, try liking 5 posts, making 3 thoughtful comments on other accounts, and follow 1 account. Just these simple things can help keep your page relevant and on other people’s pages.
Forgetting the Brand
Your brand should have a consistent voice and look. If your profile picture changes every month and your captions sound like five different people wrote them, followers will notice. Consistency builds trust, while chaos drives people away.
Also, having a consistent look to your page is a great way to bring attention to your brand, especially on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok that focus on visual posts. Try out different filters, editing tools, and tone of voice to keep your page consistent.
Selling All the Time
Yes, social media helps you sell. No, it is not a 24/7 commercial. If every post you make is “we’re having this sale!” or “come eat at our restaurant!”, it’s only going to drive customers away. Constantly shouting “Buy now!” is a quick way to lose followers. Mix in tips, behind-the-scenes content, and posts that entertain or educate. Give value before you ask for the sale.
Remember: people love people, so don’t be afraid to show the bad sides of your business too. Mistakes, funny happenings, silly customer interactions, and more do great to show you’re a personable company.
Skip The Social Media Mistakes With Three Ring Focus
How many of these sounded a little too familiar? The good news is that every mistake is fixable with a real strategy, a consistent voice, and a little expert guidance.
At Three Ring Focus, we help small businesses clean up their social media, sharpen their marketing strategy, and keep their websites as polished as their feeds. Whether you need a full content plan, analytics tracking, or a complete site overhaul, we’ve got the tools to get you back on track. Check out of some the work we’ve done for a little sneak peek. Don’t miss out on the benefits of having an expertly crafted branding identity.