Top 5 Reasons Businesses Fail in Social Media Marketing

As we know social media is taking the business world by storm, but are you doing it right?  Many businesses set up social networking accounts, send the odd message and believe they are involved in Social Media Marketing .

Here are the top five reasons that many business fail in their Social Media efforts…

1.Lack of Planning

When you first launched your business did you need a marketing plan?  A business plan?  Well it should come as no surprise that you should also have a Social Media Marketing plan too.   Without a strategy it’s easy to get caught up in the social media frenzy and not actually see it as a valuable marketing tool. Research your target market, where they hang out and pick the best social media tools to network with them.

2.One way Conversations

Ever had a conversation and were you can’t get a word in edgeways and you either end up completely bored or switch off?  Well that’s what it’s like online too. So many businesses talk constantly to customers, ‘we have this sale, try this voucher, look what I did’…not too appealing is it?  They are called networking sites for a reason.  Your customers are there to talk, not to be talked at.  Vary your conversation feed, retweet people or post interesting articles about your industry but don’t tell them what you think they need to hear.

3.Ignoring questions

Possibly my biggest bugbear!!  When someone asks you a question, answer it.  The person is obviously interested in something that you do.  Would you turn away from a potential customer in your store?  Quite frankly it’s rude and these days people are so internet savvy that they will happily move on to your competitor.

4.Keeping Social Media online

Yes it’s great that you have lots of new friends and potential customers or employees online but don’t forget to drive your social media offline. Put it on your business cards, stationary, email signatures.  Don’t miss an opportunity to drive more people to your brand online.

5.Not giving it time

With the fast paced advance in technology businesses are expecting face paced results with Social Media.  This is not marketing as we have known it before.  Its relationship building and, as with every relationship, it takes time to build trust and friendship.  When you plan your strategy, bear this in mind.  Set yourself reasonable goals and time line implementations.  Monitor your social media and review it at a reasonable date.

Do you have any you wish to add to the list?