The world has been moving at a breakneck pace towards shifting to an almost entirely online landscape, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated it. Since most people were confined to their homes in 2020, that means online and social media activity has skyrocketed, with a reported 43 per cent increase in time spent on social media. This scenario bodes well for social media marketers, who can expect more engagement and sales from their campaigns.

However, many myths continue surrounding social media marketing, which holds limitless potential for increasing your business’s chances of success. By knowing the truth behind these myths, you can avoid pitfalls that can sink your reputation and land your business in hot water. 

Here are three common social media marketing myths and the truths behind them:



Social Media is Only for Sales

Social media is a great way to connect with your target audience and turn them into paying customers. However, if you use these platforms solely for promotional purposes, your followers will quickly be turned off by such hard-sales tactics. Over-promoting yourself will do much more harm than good, so leverage social media for all the benefits it offers, like establishing rapport with your audience and knowing their preferences. Keep in mind that your followers log on to see interesting content, and ads are sometimes a nuisance to their scrolling experience!

Instead, pursue a healthy mix of content. Follow the 80/20 rule, in which 80 per cent of your content is non-promotional; the other 20 per cent are made of posts with calls to action. You can even share different content on your feed to introduce new ideas to your customers, who will appreciate your content’s careful curation.



Establish Accounts on All Platforms

Just because nearly all companies you know are on Facebook doesn’t mean you have to be, either. Following the crowd without understanding the reason behind their actions will only leave you feeling lost. You might even end up abandoning your social media account after a few updates, harming your visibility and reputation. 

Remember that you don’t need to create accounts on all platforms; find out where your audience likes to hang out and build your presence there. This tactic is handy if you have limited resources, as you’ll be focusing on platforms that you know will give you the most return. Spreading yourself too thin online will only cause people to think that you have a weak presence, affecting their decision to purchase from you.

Instead, think of your goals and make them specific and realistic. Figure out the people you’re trying to reach, their activity on the platform you want to use, and the kind of content they like to see. Doing this will help you narrow down the platforms you’re eyeing, allowing you to sharpen your strategies for these and ensuring that you truly connect with your target market.



Followers Will Automatically Find You

Many companies make the mistake of thinking that simply creating an account on a platform is enough to start gaining followers. However, when people see that you have a relatively empty account, they won’t see any reason to follow you. You’ll have to dedicate hours every day to develop practical, original content that your followers will find valuable enough to start keeping an eye on your posts. By producing and promoting these posts, your audience will be more likely to engage with you, particularly when your content strikes a chord with them. Organically building a following takes time, so be patient and remember that it will be worth the effort!

Conclusion

Knowing the truth behind the most common social media marketing myths will help sharpen your marketing strategies and give you the best way to connect with your audience. By keeping these in mind, you’ll become a master at social media marketing and create a large, active following!

If you need help attracting more customers, let us know at Minotaur Digital! We are a digital marketing agency offering web design, SEO, social media management services, and many more. With all the services you need in one place, we can make you a beautiful website, refine your SEO efforts, and help you engage with your audience more effectively. Contact us today to get started!