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Avoid These Common Social Media Marketing Mistakes

 

As we’ve discussed many times before on KillerStartups, knowing how to use social media as a marketing tool can be an effective way of reaching out to your current customers as well as new customers. However, there are certain common habits startups use that may limit that communication via social media. Let’s take look at some common social media marketing mistakes and how you can overcome them.

 

 

 

 

Repetition of Content

If you find yourself updating your social media accounts with the same kind of news and you’re not finding the kind of attention you’re looking for as a result, it’s probably because your content lacks variety. Spice it up.

 

One way to do this: Instead of thinking about your updates just a few minutes before you actually log-in, sit down and make a list. This list should contain the types of updates you already have in addition to some new ideas. They can be general types of categories that you’re not already covering.

 

Think photos of events, photos of products, highlighting people you’ve met that have had a positive reaction to your product – maybe think about doing short blog posts on Facebook. Another good idea is to address common questions regarding your product.

 

 

 

 

The Personal Touch

It makes a difference if you use “I” instead of “we” whenever you can “We’ve updated our blog post –check it out!” Using I here is much more appealing and it connects much more effectively with the user.

 

That difference can set you apart from appearing like just another startup and an actual person sitting at a computer taking the time to communicate. Audiences are more apt to respond knowing that their comments or suggestions are going to that actual person writing the post instead of wondering if their comments are going to be forwarded to someone else in the startup.

 

When I contact startups and get directly in touch with a person who is equally amicable about the email I’ve sent and they use “I” instead using the distance creating “we,” it definitely colors my further interactions with the startup. Not knowing who I am communicating with is a bit odd as a writer if the person I’m communicating with doesn’t at least use “I” if not an actual name.

 

This is little different when users are customers are contacting you via social media instead of a direct email, so keep that in mind. In both cases, the use of “I” is preferable.

 

 

 

 

A Conversation

Remember that just posting updates and expecting people to be interesting simply because of new startup integrations or elements isn’t enough to get people to bite. Social media is an opportunity to have conversation with your users or customers. Allow them room to ask questions and make suggestions. In addition, remember to respond quickly and take their ideas into consideration. Time and time again, the most successful entrepreneurs I’ve spoken to talk about customer service being an essential element to the evolution of their startup and their product. I can’t overstate this enough.

 

You want an interaction with your users or customers. You want an exchange. If I can’t stop by and chat with the people behind the startup I believe in, I at least want to feel like their addressing me as someone who cares enough to contact them, and not just another dollar.

 

 

 

 

A Good Starting Point

These are just a few ideas to remember if you’re having some trouble with returns when it comes to the social media space. If you make this immediate changes now, chances are that your interactions will be more a two way street instead of that boring one way you always take to work.

 

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