Before, social media platforms were used to help individuals connect with like-minded people. They weren’t used as a platform for brand awareness.
What Some Brands are Doing to Hurt Their Reputation in Social Media?
However, when companies realized the potential of these social media for marketing their products and services, social media has become a cost-effective way to reach out to a wider audience.
Unfortunately, only a few companies do a fantastic job in marketing their brands on social media. They reach out to their fans with well-timed messaging. They provide content that’s engaging, enlightening and entertaining.
Some brands use the social media solely to sell. They post too many promotions. Experts said that overly promotional language should only be used on another forum and not on social media unless you have unbelievable offers to your audience.
Most users of Facebook, for instance, aren’t using the platform to make a purchase. Rather, they use it to interact with their friends and learn about other things.
Another thing that brands should avoid is hopping on to the most popular hashtag bandwagon. It can tarnish their reputation.
This is the same thing when they receive a scathing online review. Brands can join the bandwagon of the latest hashtag only if they can be sure that the content is relevant and appropriate to the topic. It can give their audience a well-timed post that encourages conversations to flow online, instead of an ill-prepared post.
Should they hire someone to manage their social media accounts?
It’s ideal to hire someone to post content to social media accounts. However, they must avoid hiring novices. Although these novices or younger people are knowledgeable about the latest social media platforms, they don’t have the kind of discretion or professionalism that journalists have.
Companies that perform well on social media have a process to ensure that every post they publish truly reflects their brand. That said, brands should have seasoned professionals to manage their social accounts. This is to avoid unwanted gaffes.
To use social media more effectively, brands should engage naturally with their fans or clients. Their engagements should be personal and informal. This means that they must make content more fun and engaging.
Then, it’s ideal to let the fans know the real people behind the brand. Posting a work-related photo or update will give the audience a glimpse of the brand behind the scenes.
Making use of a poll or a link to a fun quiz is also a great idea.
Brands should update their information constantly as social media users look at the profiles of a company.
If you’re managing your company’s social media account, it’s probably best to flesh out your information by providing your audience with interesting content.
Then, use brand journalism to catch the readers’ attention. It’s okay to include links to your website but don’t use overly promotional language.
Most importantly, you should respond promptly, on behalf of your company.
Since more and more people are using social media, they’re likely to contact your company through your social media accounts.
Make sure that you’re there when your fans leave a comment, so you can respond in a timely manner.
