Ever had a tip given to you about social media marketing that you thought would work perfectly, but in reality, didn’t work as you planned? It happens more often than you might think. Here are 4 popular social media marketing tips that just don’t work.

1. There Are Specific Times That Are Best For Posting

Ok, so this one is more of a half-truth. Each social media platform has times that get more exposure for your posts in general. However, those referenced times are not something that all organizations can apply equally. For instance, Sprout Social suggests the best time to post social media content is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, while others say Mondays at noon or Fridays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. are the best times. As these mentioned times can certainly be used as a guide for A/B testing, the reality is that each organization and its social media communities are unique. You have to determine what days and times work best for you to increase exposure and engagement. Using tools like Instagram Insights and Meta Business Suite to analyze your social media metrics can help you find the best times to reach your audience.

2. You Must Join All Social Media Networks Out There

Can you count how many social media platforms are available these days? It would be quite difficult to join all those social media networks without getting burnt out. So, we must ask ourselves which popular social media platforms will be most useful for our company. A few important factors to consider include who your target audience is, what your business goals are, and if you have adequate resources. Additionally, you want to know which social platforms your target audience is on. For example, if you sell skincare products and want to target a younger audience, platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which are highly relevant to this demographic, could be a great starting point. No matter what platform you decide to use, engage with your target audience and keep the conversation going. Focus on a few networks that work.

3. You Should Attract A Community That Is Only Interested In Your Niche

Many believe you should attract followers who are only interested in your niche. For example, if you’re on Instagram and you’re a writer, you may believe you need to attract other writers. But is that a good strategy? In many cases, no. Instead, it will be important for you to think about what your customers are interested in so that you can create and deliver the kind of content that resonates with them most. The more interesting your content is to them, the more likely they will find your posts valuable, which can increase the likelihood of building a community of potential customers. Social listening tools like Sprinklr, Brandwatch, Brand24, Mention, and  Sprout Social can aid marketers in tracking engagement and responding to their audience promptly.

4. You Must Have A Professional Tone to Your Social Media Activity

Just because you’re posing as a professional on Facebook or Instagram doesn’t mean that you have to make posts that are always professional or related only to your business. Life is not only about making money. You have to show your personality on your social media channels to connect with your audience on a more down-to-earth level. Don’t be afraid to post about your hobbies or what you may find humorous, as long as it’s appropriate for your audience. Be personable. That’s the motto that you should keep in mind if you want to keep your followers interested in you. Take Wendy’s social media strategy, for example. As one of the most popular corporate American fast-food chains, the company often posts hilarious and sassy remarks. By capitalizing on trends and silly replies, Wendy’s successfully connects with their audience.

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Those are 4 popular social media marketing tips that are often used – but rarely effective. If you want some good advice, avoid following these tips to a T and start building your social media following the right way. Resources such as Social Media Today also provide many great tips to watch for in social media marketing.

Let us know in the comments whether the tips discussed above have worked for you in the past or if you believe they’re a myth.