9 major mistakes in SMM

Creating a page on Facebook or other social network, it's better to think in advance about what kind of information and to whom you are going to generate. In advance you have to understand:

1. What to create?

2. For whom to create?

3. How to set up content?

Before plunging into stormy waters of social media marketing, you should know 9 major mistakes made by SMM-specialists.

1. Don't post too often

Release 1-2 posts per day (for brands). Media and other media projects – 5-10 posts per day. Terribly annoying when RSS is full of commercial posts.

Tip: approve the release schedule, which doesn't irritate your target audience.

2. Interact with people in comments

Marketers often forget that they are dealing with human beings. If your client, ask even a silly question – answer. The lack of interaction – an indicator of lack of respect for its subscribers.

Tip: approve the policy of communication – who will answer, in what time frame should answer, and which questions.

3. Don't argue with subscribers

If you have disgruntled subscribers who pour out streams of discontent – be calm, respond in an official tone, without emotions. Perhaps these are machinations of competitors – follow proffesional tactics. Maybe you got really dissatisfied customer – solve his problem. But do it quietly and with a smile.

Tip: make a policy of solutions of communication “critical” situations. Who and at what time and in what tone will answer.

4. Don't remove negative comments

Even if someone left the most negative comment – don't delete it. Never delete negative comments. Never!

Tip: make the communications policy rules with negative comments. Comments should be classified and given the individuals for study.

5. Follow the rules, agreements and laws

If you are conducting competitions and events in social media, make sure you have followed all the formalities. Regulation and competition rules for participation must not contradict the privacy policy, other governing documents of a particular site and federal laws.

Tip: approve the rules of training and special events.

6. More content variety

Don't use one type of content for publications. For example, only photos or just comics. Publish “bitty” content to attract people with different models of perception – sound, video, graphics, and text.

Tip: make a publication schedule breakdown on different types of content, based on the preferences of your target audience.

7. Use all site's possibilities

Social media offer rich opportunities to attract and retain loyal subscribers. For example, applications or wiki-markup for the layout of “catchy” pages. Don't be afraid to experiment, using all proposes of your site.

Tip: study various marketing possibilities of social media. Develop a strategic plan for development of branded accounts.

8. Reply to everybody

Social media users not being subscribers of your account may be referred to your brand. These references may contain a question concerning to your brand, an unsolved problem or praise. Timely response from the official account can significantly increase brand loyalty and attract new subscribers. Average response time should be no more than 6 hours during business hours.

Tip: it's necessary to establish monitoring brand mentions in social media. And on a regular basis to work with references to the brand.

9. Don't take away subscribers from the community

Many brands believe that the presence in social media is necessary only to attract customers to the corporate website. It's not entirely true. If you redirect your subscribers to your website – they quickly scatter. Provide a link to a site or individual pages are necessary only in the case when it is in the context of situation. For example, a subscriber asked link to the directory of your product. Or you confirm your answer referring to the section “Questions and Answers” on your site.

Tip: make the communications policy rules publication of references to external resources.