18 Mar 6 Social Media “Icks” Your Business Should Avoid

The new word making the rounds on social media is “ick.” For example, “that’s just given me the ick” or “Your social media strategy is giving me the ick.” It’s usually used to describe a feeling of discomfort or aversion towards someone or something. It’s also a great way to describe how some people may feel when engaging with your business on social media.

Looking to avoid giving potential customers the “ick?” Here are our top tips:

Posting But Not Engaging

One of the biggest things brands get wrong is missing the “social” aspect of social media. While it’s all good and well to post the recommended 3 – 5 times a week, you also need to understand that social media is an extension of your customer service department. With so much activity moving online, customers are quickly realising that it’s easier to head to social media to find information about your business and ask questions. If you’re not responding to their queries promptly and respectfully, you may be losing out on a loyal customer. It’s important to remember that engaging with customers on social media builds strong relationships. After all, if they’re engaging with your posts, then they’re interested in what you have to say. So go ahead, give them the attention they deserve!

Links in Your Instagram Caption

This is an ick that can leave customers feeling frustrated. Adding links in your Instagram caption is visually unappealing and unclickable – a big ick for many users. Instagram also makes it incredibly difficult for you to copy and paste a caption on mobile, so the likelihood of a user actually making an effort to follow the link is close to zero. Instead, drive followers to your Instagram bio and supply them with a link they can actually click on. Linktree, Later.com or Lnk.bio are all great tools you can utilise.

Being too Salesy

We all know how annoying it is to receive ten different phone calls from car insurance companies attempting to make a sale. Being sold something all day, everyday can leave customers frustrated, resulting in hitting that unfollow button. Remember, the point of social media is to engage and provide value to your followers. Create content that encourages them to comment, like and share. It’s so important to cultivate brand trust and a sense of loyalty, and creating content that’s too “salesy” will leave users with the ick.

Hopping on Every Trend

Customers buy from brands they trust and connect with. Therefore, authentic brands tend to foster stronger emotional connections with their audience, leading to increased brand loyalty. However, it’s important to remember that you’re not going to be perfect for everyone, and that’s okay! Whether it’s the latest dance challenge on TikTok or a hashtag that’s going viral, your business doesn’t have to hop on everything that’s popular. If it’s relevant to your brand then go for it, if not, wait for the next hot trend.

Ignoring Customer Feedback

We all hate being ignored. Ignoring customer feedback on social media can have a negative effect on your brand’s reputation and customer relationships. While it’s natural to get defensive and want to strap on those boxing gloves in an effort to defend your brand – please don’t do that! Acknowledging and responding to feedback, especially negative ones, allows customers to see you care about what they have to say. It also provides you with valuable insights into areas where your products, services, or overall customer experience may need to improve. Ignoring feedback means missing out on opportunities to address issues and enhance the quality of your offerings. The best thing to do is to respond promptly and respectfully.

Being on Every Platform

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be on every social media platform to make an impact. Not all social platforms attract the same demographics or cater to the same interests. So, what works for one platform, may not work for another. Do your research about which social media platforms make the most sense for your products or services, long-term goals and target audience. Focusing on platforms where your audience is most active allows you to better tailor your content and engage with them effectively. It also allows you to maintain a strong presence on a few platforms, ensuring you provide quality over quantity without spreading yourself too thin.

Avoid Giving Customers The “Ick

Navigating the ever-evolving landscape of social media marketing can be challenging, but avoiding common pitfalls is essential for success. By steering clear of these six social media marketing mistakes, businesses can enhance their online presence, build stronger relationships with their audience, and ultimately achieve their marketing objectives.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and struggling to handle the challenges that come with social media management, trust the experts to handle the ins and outs of daily management. Connect with SOMS Digital Agency and allow our experienced team to handle the logistics, while creating a strategy that allows you to meet your business goals.