Most Common Misconceptions About Social Media

As the decade ends and a new one rolls in, it is important to really think about the future of your brand and how you want it to be perceived online. If you are someone who is new to social media, you are rebranding, or you’re looking to transform your brand and try new things, social media is a great place to explore most categories. However, a lot of the time there are misconceptions revolving around social media that are often overlooked. This article highlights some of the most common social media misconceptions to better your understanding and help your brand.

It’s Only for Friends and Family

Many people browse social media to see their family members’ posts, or to post their best friend’s birthday photos. While all of this is fun and exciting, many people look past the fact that it is essential for businesses to use social media as well. Social media marketing has evolved into one of the most valuable ways to market a business. As consumers, we turn to social media for things such as news, shopping, stock market, educational purposes, and much more. Considering there are businesses highlighting all of those ideas, we will see them. We look past this because it is so common to us. Social media cuts across many different demographics, so no matter what your niche is, each business has a purpose on social media.

It’s “Free” or “Easy”

While a lot of us join social media as a simple means to connect with people globally, as previously mentioned, many brands use social media for networking and marketing purposes. One of the most common social media misconceptions is the ability for a business to achieve outstanding results with no cost. Paid media is one of biggest costs for your business to reach the largest audience possible. There are many benefits to having paid media on social channels. For example, paid monitoring tools can be very useful. Content development is also something that can be costly for a brand. Considering posts with images or videos are far more likely to be shared, your business will need infographics, illustrations, and other content which costs money to create.

Another social media misconception is that it is easy to maneuver. Yes, most of the social media apps are user-friendly, making it attainable for most people to log on and post content. However, for a business it is slightly different. If things are not running smoothly on your company’s social media accounts, it can impact your brand in a negative way. That is why digital marketing agencies exist – to help your brand succeed and make sure your company won’t be left at a disadvantage.

You Can Set it and Forget it

Posting content on your social platforms is one thing, but if you want your brand to be memorable, it is important to consistently follow up with your content, engaging with your audience. Engagement consists of commenting back to your followers if they have questions, following new people, and just about anything interactive with your community. Just posting content is not enough to grow your brand. Social media has a huge impact on community management, so you cannot simply “set it, and forget it.”

My Target Demographic Isn’t on Social Media

One of the most common social media misconceptions is that social media is limited to one, or just a few demographics. As we are now firmly in the digital age, people of every age and generation use social media. The truth is, every demographic uses social media in one way or another. For businesses varying from entertainment companies, retail brands, restaurants and more, each demographic can see your content. Also, social media has a place in every industry, even traditional industries like law or medicine. Quality content is welcomed by anyone, as well. Many people from all ages turn to social media for their daily dose of news.

Due to Search Engines, Social Media is Pointless.

First of all, search engines are great for many reasons. If keywords are set in place, they can really benefit your brand. However, that doesn’t mean your brand should be limited to search engines only. Social media is a thriving community, making it possible to build an audience online. Not to mention, social media is great for networking and marketing, as each social media platform offers a unique appeal.

As many other topics are, social media is considered to be one of the most controversial ideas to discuss. There is a stereotype that social media is taboo. For marketing specialists, it is a phenomenal tool to help brands blossom and thrive.

 

Sources:

• Social Media Today: Social Media Isn’t Free
• Bright Age: Social Media Marketing
• Social Media Data: User Demographics of Each Platform