Objections to Social Media – And Why It’s a Good Idea for Your Business Anyway

Twitter is the latest social media platform creating buzz online, and it’s easy to see why – it provides quick snippets of information and allows people to network with friends, coworkers, customers, and businesses in a fraction of the time spent on traditional blogging.

Companies know that Twitter’s “microblogging” is the way of the future and are jumping on the bandwagon in droves, but not all of them are doing it well.

What are some of the most common Twitter mistakes, and how can you be sure to avoid committing them?

1. No Personality: People come to Twitter for human interaction, so uploading your company’s logo as your pic, and restricting your tweeting to business headlines, won’t endear you in this environment. Instead, upload a photo of a real human being, and be sure to infuse your Twitter stream with personality.
2. Spamming: There are a number of ways that businesses spam twitter: unsolicited DMs (direct messages), following random strangers, excessive self-promotion, and tweeting too much are just a few examples. Remember that it’s “social” media, so don’t be afraid to be social! Would you walk into a party and start spamming people face to face with your business stats? Of course not—so don’t do it online. Try to engage people and be real, while subtly promoting yourself and posting interesting, related links in a friendly balance.
3. Misleading Links: Twitter forces you to shorten URLs to fit the 140-character limit, but that’s no excuse for tweeting “Latest news on children’s toy safety” with a hidden, shortened link to your latest special offer – unless that special offer is directly related to and includes the news piece! Link-clicking tricks may work the first time, or even the second, but they’re the quickest way to lose followers and get a bad reputation online. Always stick with direct, honest descriptions of your links.
4. No Engagement: Twitter was made for conversation – that’s why there are @ replies. If you don’t engage with your followers, you might as well be mailing out fliers, because you’re missing out on how people really use Twitter. Try getting involved and replying to things people say – and make sure to check your @ replies and respond to them, too!

You’ve had the crash course in what not to do on Twitter – now you’re ready to tackle the social media monster and use it to your company’s advantage!

The experts at Informatix can help you target the customers you want and build your social media presence the right way. Contact us to learn more.