4 Social Media Mistakes Every SME Makes

Being able to find your customers on social media can make or break a small business. But if it were that easy, every SME would be thriving.

Many small business owners are uncertain in how to approach social media, and they often make the same kinds of mistakes. With a bit of forewarning, you can make sure you don’t make the same missteps.

Read on for our guide for a successful approach to social media marketing.

1. Overlooking Customer Ratings and Reviews

Don’t overlook positive social media ratings and reviews. After all, these translate to free word-of-mouth for your business.

People read reviews to judge your business and decide whether to buy your product or services. Studies also show that businesses with more than 200 product reviews earn twice as much revenue as the average business.

It’s not just one-way, either. Take time to reply to reviews, whether to thank the positive ones or respond (appropriately) to the negative ones. As a guide, small business owners who routinely respond to more than 20% of customer reviews earn 40% more revenue than businesses that don’t.

2. Adopting the Wrong Social Media Platforms

Frame your content marketing material appropriately for each social media platform.

Each platform has a different set of sub-cultures, memes and shared jokes. Different groups of people will use different types of social media, for different reasons. To build your following and reach your right customer base, make sure you fit in.

For example, LinkedIn is ideal for B2B marketing and thought leadership among professional networks. Instagram, and TikTok and Snapchat appeal to younger audiences in different ways, while Pinterest is dominated by women. Meanwhile,

Facebook is the common denominator for social media.

3. Posting Inconsistently, or at the Wrong Times

Though it may seem like it, people aren’t on social media 24/7.

Many small business owners post on social media for the sake of it, hoping that something will get through or “go viral”. This isn’t a very productive – or profitable – approach.

In fact, posting too much on social media without a coherent message can be counterproductive. Consistency is key. Follow a similar tone and brand, and try to post at a regular schedule, whether that’s every day or twice per month.

Also, post at a convenient time for your audience to be online. There’s no point in trying to put something in front of your audience, if they’re busy commuting, eating, sleeping or so on.

The long-term risk is lack of interest or brand inertia.

4. Not Being True to You

Authenticity is an invaluable commodity that cannot be bought or replicated – that’s what makes it authentic! And in a world where everything seems fake, it’s more important than ever.

It costs a business nothing to be helpful, informative and credible in their social media marketing material. But this practice can reap dividends and attract a growing fanbase among customers who share your social media posts on their feeds.

If your business message rings true to you, chances are that your audience will believe it.

Contact Us

Payleadr is all about making business easier for small businesses.

While you’re powering ahead with your social media and everything else your business needs to grow, have a think about your payments system.

We make it as convenient as possible for your customers to send you subscription payments. Whatever kind of small business you have, from gym to beauty salon, we make recurring payments smooth and seamless.

To learn more about our online payment systems, tailored for small businesses, reach out to the team at Payleadr.