Be careful! Don’t make these ten social media branding blunders that can harm your company’s image and brand on social media.

When the Titanic is sinking, you don’t look for another Titanic to rescue you.

You swim towards the lifeguards.

They’re affordable… Easy to find… And extremely useful…

Social media platforms are very much like lifeguards for your company.

Therefore, they can save you from sinking without breaking the bank.

And you already know how easy they are to access.

Branding agencies ensure they equip their carriers with these life-saving resources.

Even SEO firms and web design companies are using social media to grow their businesses.

It’s interesting how everyone is gravitating towards social media marketing, right?

And it’s understandable because:

• There’s no cap on finding new clientele
• Plus, you can market affordably
• Return on investment is excellent
• You gain brand visibility on social platforms
• There’s a stronger influence on search engine rankings

However… If You Don’t Know How To Use Them, You’re Playing With Fire.

Your business ventures into the world of social media with significant responsibility.

One misstep and everything can crumble.

Therefore, you should steer clear of all the social media errors that even leading branding agencies make.

And, don’t approach social media with the mindset that “something is better than nothing.”

Because you can’t afford to be half-hearted when it comes to branding.

You want customers to be captivated by you and your services.

Mistakes will only sabotage your strategy.

So, let’s not delay any further. Firstly, let’s explore social media branding pitfalls to avoid.

Social Media Mistakes #1: Lack of a Plan

The biggest error you can make on social media is to proceed blindly without a strategy.

Furthermore, do you notice those business accounts with 50k or 100k followers?

They didn’t achieve success overnight.

They carefully planned effective social media marketing strategies to maximize their efforts.

And then they implemented their plans for months or even years.

You should aim to replicate the same level of dedication.

Here’s how you can achieve this:

Start by evaluating your current social media presence:

• Which platforms are you active on?
• Which platform is the most beneficial?
• How does your profile compare to your competitors?
• Is your current account optimized?

Next, understand your ideal audience. Develop a persona based on:

• Age
• Location
• Income
• Job Title

Identify metrics to track your progress. For instance:

• Reach
• Conversion rate
• Sentiment
• Brand Mentions

Create engaging content:

• Videos
• Infographics
• Images
• Interviews

And lastly, establish your objectives:

• Is it brand awareness?
• Or are you focused on sales?
• Or is it solely for engagement?

Once you’ve planned all of this, your social media branding will be off to a strong start.

Mistake #2: Your Brand Culture Misses the Mark

You shouldn’t just randomly publish posts on social media.

There needs to be a defined brand culture.

Ask yourself…

• What’s your purpose on social media?
• Are you being overly sales-driven?
• Are you sharing unprofessional or inappropriate content?
• How will you address comments and negativity?

These questions help define the type of brand culture you want to cultivate. Therefore, avoid repeating these ten social media branding errors that companies make and prevent damage to your brand on social media.

How to Establish a Strong Brand Culture:

• Observe the brands you follow
• Analyze how they interact with their audience
• Showcase your expertise in a balanced way
• Highlight your work (within limits)
• Feature your clients
• Provide entertaining content for your followers

Remember, every action you take on social media shapes your brand culture.

You need to maintain a positive and consistent approach. That’s key.

Social Media Mistakes #3: Inconsistent Brand Voice

How you communicate, both verbally and in writing, shapes how your customers perceive you.

Are you humorous? Playful?

Or are you an intellectual, witty persona?

You need to determine the desired brand voice.

And then, you must maintain consistency across all your social media platforms.

However, many top branding agencies compromise on tonal consistency just to “stick to the posting schedule.”

Remember, you can afford to fall behind on your schedule, but not on your tone!

That’s a critical error to avoid.

Tips for Developing a Strong Social Media Voice:

• Be clear about your adjectives
• Write as if you’re explaining it to your grandmother
• Sound authentic and avoid using jargon
• Refrain from clickbait tactics; ditch the drama altogether!
• Communicate from the reader’s perspective
• Always listen and respond

Leading branding agencies prioritize brand voice to ensure their message resonates with their audience.

Mistake #4: Neglecting Brand Experience

The primary objective of your social media branding should not be to annoy your customers.

But don’t underestimate your ability to do so.

You can easily annoy them if you disregard brand experiences.

Even 90% of experts agree that brand experience is far more important than posting random content.

Don’t just take our word for it.

• Why do you think brands try to be humorous?
• Why have they embraced meme culture?
• What’s the appeal of cat and dog videos?

The concept is straightforward.

Brands aim to:

• entertain you
• provide moments of joy and relaxation
• offer a positive viewer experience

You want to create a memorable create a brand experience that they will share with friends and family.

Tactics for a Unique Brand Experience:

• Prioritize engaging content
• Create dynamic media
• Explainer videos
• Educational videos
• Experience videos
• Product videos
• Don’t compromise on engaging content
• Host contests
• Offer branded merchandise
• Go live and connect with your audience

Social Media Mistakes #5: Inconsistency Across Platforms

You’re an apple on Facebook and an orange on Instagram.

The result?

Your reputation will spoil like those fruits.

You must ensure your brand remains consistent across all social media platforms.

Consider all the elements associated with your brand:

• Fonts
• Colors
• Brand Voice
• Images
• Music
• Hashtags
• Live Streams

The list goes on.

Make sure these elements are consistent on all platforms.

It’s all about presenting a unified image every time.

How to Maintain Brand Consistency:

• Start by clearly defining your message and brand identity
• Use your logo as your profile picture
• Engage specialized branding agencies to manage your portfolio
• Schedule your posts well in advance
• Implement a two-three step approval process for content
• Ensure all posts are brand-focused
• Prepare a comprehensive checklist beforehand
• Avoid excessive automation; rely on in-house experts

Consistency is not something to be taken lightly…

By implementing these practices, you ensure your message is effectively conveyed across all platforms.

Five Additional Social Media Mistakes:

1. Targeting the wrong audience
2. Ignoring your followers and their concerns
3. Failing to address negative comments effectively
4. Over-promoting yourself instead of providing value to your audience
5. Not analyzing reactions after posting content

Social media management is not as simple as waking up and posting random thoughts like you might do on your personal profiles. In conclusion, steer clear of these ten social media branding pitfalls that can harm your company’s image and brand on social media.

However, it becomes significantly easier when you approach it as an enjoyable activity rather than a chore.

Share with us any mistakes you’ve learned from along the way.