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Using Pinterest, Facebook, and other social media platforms is a must for bloggers. But, it is more than adding a link to your most recent blog post.
Many bloggers are guilty of making common mistakes on social media. You might be doing some of them too!
We all know the importance of using social media to reach an audience. Some people want to read what you have to say, whether on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or even Pinterest.
But that doesn’t mean you drop a link to your latest article and run. That will never work. Doing so is one of several social media mistakes bloggers make.
Before making your next post to any social media account, ensure you are not making any of these mistakes!
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Social Media Marketing Mistakes To Avoid Making
1. Talking only about yourself
It’s the #1 social media strategy mistake bloggers make.
Think about dating. What impression would it send if one party only talked about him or herself all evening? You’d be bored, right?
The same is true with social media.
One of the biggest mistakes people make on their accounts is sharing only their content. For some reason, they think that they should never use their channels to promote others.
Social media means you need to be social. You need to share all the great content you find that your followers will love.
Doing so makes you a trusted expert in your field, and more people will follow you because they can get all the stories and more that they love – in one place. You do that for them.
Mix up your social shares with content from others. Never talk only about yourself.
2. Posting too much
Think about the pages and profiles you follow. If they start putting too much out there, your instinct is to unfollow them because it is overwhelming.
When it comes to social media, more is more – not necessarily better.
You will need to find a schedule for your accounts and post accordingly. The optimal times and the number of shares/posts/pins will vary based on different factors.
3. Not using tools to help
For some reason, there is this belief that online tools lower reach or reduce visibility. We’ve yet to see this being proven to be true. I’ve tested this time and time again and have never seen a difference.
Tools help you maintain a consistent schedule (another social media strategy mistake we discuss below). Here are some of my favorite tools.
(Remember, even if you use these tools, you need to monitor what posts and still take time to engage with your fans or followers).
Facebook Scheduler: There is a scheduling tool on Facebook that you can use — and it’s free! Navigate to the Creator’s Studio, click the blue circle button on the bottom of the page, or type it into the stop box.
Add your link, photo, video — anything you want. Select the drop-down arrow next to Publish and select the date and select date and time you want it to go onto your page. You are done!
Publer: You can use Publer to find content and schedule your own. You will connect it to your social media accounts and add the content. You can set it to post once or add it to a recurring cycle, so it is shared multiple times yearly on autopilot. You can start with a free plan and upgrade if you need to use more of their excellent features.
SmarterQue: Another application you can use for Facebook automation is SmartQue. You can create a library of content that will be shared based on the schedule you establish.
Publer: You can use Publer for Twitter too! Connect that account and add the content you want to use on Twitter — even if it is different than what you share on Facebook.
Commun.it: This application helps you find new followers and increase engagement. They have a basic free program but plans you can purchase if you want to do more with the application.
Tailwind: If you want to ensure you post consistently, a scheduler will help. Tailwind is highly recommended for this.
You can get analytics, stats, and schedule content to be pinned on a schedule through SmartLoop. They offer Tribes where you can find others in your niche and pin one another’s content. It is easy to schedule a month’s worth of pins in just a short time.
Sign up HERE to try Tailwind for free for 30 days!
Instagram Native Scheduler: Facebook owns Instagram, and you can use the scheduler through Creator’s Studio to schedule your posts. Click on the Instagram image at the top of the screen and then follow the prompts to add and schedule your post.
Need more Facebook engagement? Grab my FREE Strategy Guide!
You’ve got a group or a page but it’s crickets. Find out what you can do to get more people talking and engaged with your content!
4. Using the incorrect images
This is a social media strategy mistake that people don’t even realize. We’ve talked a bit about the correct image size for Pinterest, but there is a proper size that you will use on all platforms.
Also, text on your image should be used on Pinterest and sometimes Facebook, not Instagram.
Here’s a quick guide that will help:
Facebook: 1200 x 600 Text is OK but should be small and take up no more than 20% of the image.
Instagram: 800 x 800 Text is OK, but only if it is a quote; do not put text on your image as an overlay.
Pinterest: 2:3 ratio (which means 735×1102, 800×1200, etc). Text is needed and should be easy to read and captivating to grab the reader’s attention.
Twitter: 1024 x 512 (or you can use the same size as Facebook) Text is OK – will not help nor hurt.
You can use the paid version of Canva to make all of your images. Create one size and then select the Magic Resize button. Check the boxes next to the images you need for additional platforms, and get the size you need ready for download.
5. Not being consistent
When you share on social media, you need consistency in your schedule. You can’t post one day and then not again for another five.
You need to ensure that you develop a consistent schedule where you post around the same times of the day, every day of the week.
6. Typographical errors
I can’t tell you how many images or posts I’ve seen containing typos or grammatical errors. Take the time to review your posts before you put them on social media.
If your English skills are not strong, have some review your work or use an online tool, such as Grammarly, to ensure that your content looks good.
7. Sharing the wrong content
We’ve all seen those viral videos on Facebook. You know, the ones that you see have thousands of shares. It is very tempting to share them on your page to reach more people and increase engagement.
Don’t do it.
Well, don’t do it unless that video relates to what your page is about. Don’t make this social media strategy mistake!
For instance, sharing a video about fashion faux pas is not a good idea if your site is about recipes. It is not why your readers are there. They want recipes.
Not only may you turn off followers, but your page will also attract new fans who are there for the wrong reason. They are following you because of a fashion video but will soon learn that your page has nothing to do with fashion.
Those fans will never engage with your content. That can hurt your overall reach.
Instead, share videos, photos, and memes your audience will relate to. Make sure it fits into the premise of what your page is about.
8. Using content without credit
This one chaps my hide!! If you find an image online, you cannot share it without giving credit!! You can either tag the page in the post or link to their website.
Never upload and share a video or image without properly crediting the source. Ever.
9. Missing social sharing icons on their site
It may shock you, but many bloggers have no social sharing buttons on their sites! Every post needs to show a simple way for readers to share your content on the platform they want.
Your social sharing icons should always include Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Even if you are not active on these sites, you need to allow your readers a way to share them as they want.
You may hate Twitter, but your reader may love it. If you don’t allow them a chance to share it on the site they use, you are missing out on potential traffic.
A few options are available, but my favorite is Grow by MediaVine. They have a free version, but you can pay the annual fee if you want more bells and sharing options.
10. Not using platform features consistently
Each platform has its unique features. Pinterest has Idea pins. You can find stories on Instagram and Facebook.
Yes. The platform wants you to use these; when you do, they are more likely to show them in the feed. The algorithm favors this type of content.
You can fight it all you want, but it is essential to take time to learn and use them. Even if you hate video, use photos and your voice to make a 20-second clip (no one has to see your face).
While much social media content seems perfect, followers love it when people show up and are real as it resonates with them.
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You’ve got a group or a page but it’s crickets. Find out what you can do to get more people talking and engaged with your content!
11. Not engaging
You may post an update every day and feel that you are showing up, and that’s enough. But it’s not.
You need people to talk to you and feel they are a part of your community. They feel a connection to you and will be more likely to return and start leaving comments. Even if someone likes a photo, you can leave a comment thanking them.
Take time to engage with your followers to turn your social accounts into more than a branded image and, instead, a community where people feel you get them and are there to listen to what they have to say.
Of course, if everything is negative, you will want to respond kindly and look at other ways to overcome negative comments and rise above and grow.
12. Treating all platforms the same
Each social media platform you use is different. You must learn how your users connect with you and engage with your content.
You won’t try to use hashtags and super long descriptions on Pinterest just like you would not add a pin-sized image on Facebook.
Invest some time learning about the platform you intend to use, so your efforts aren’t for nothing.
13. Being everywhere at once
You can’t be at your son’s baseball game and daughter’s softball practice simultaneously. It’s impossible.
The same is true with social media. You can’t be on all platforms at the same time.
It is important to research where your ideal reader hangs out and the platforms they will most engage with — and be there!
You may think you need Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter. But, managing all of them at once is daunting (and overwhelming).
Focus on two of them, and don’t worry about the others (for now). Grow those accounts, and if the other platform may also be a fit, add it later.
The good news is that these are all fixable. Spend some time making some changes to your strategy and see what happens.
Need more Facebook engagement? Grab my FREE Strategy Guide!
You’ve got a group or a page but it’s crickets. Find out what you can do to get more people talking and engaged with your content!
Guilty of inconsistency because I’m guilty of not investing some time in the right tools for all social media platforms I use.
Thank you so much for the nudge. Just needed this.
We’ve all been there – myself included! But, the great thing is that you can make a change at any time and turn it all around.
Thank you for the tips for an aspiring blogger. I will be referring to this as a resource!
Oh my. I seriously need to develop a strategy. I’m guilty of so many of these it’s no wonder my socials are stagnant. lol. Thanks for the share
Ha ha!! You aren’t alone. ;-). But once you come. up with one, it will make maintaining it much easier.
Thank you for always providing such great information!
You are welcome!