As social media creators, it’s important to carefully curate our feeds and the message we put out to our fans. If we post bad content, we run the risk of destroying some of the careful considerations we have made to create a feed that is up to our standards.
Here at Multibrain, we want to make sure you don’t make a content mistake that results in damaging effects for your social media presence. That’s why we’ve compiled the five main content types you should stay away from when posting on any platform.
1. Overly Promotional Content
Many of us are on social media for a variety of different reasons, but I guarantee that a good amount of you are here because you are operating a business (or trying to make some extra money).
While that is accepted and even widely encouraged on social media today, it is extremely important to monitor how you are portraying your product and your attitude. Customers want to see content that provides value to them, so if all they see in their feeds is “sell, sell, sell” 24/7, they will be significantly more likely to unfollow.
Join conversations that other influencers have already begun instead of becoming a broken record and posting the same products every day. Tune in to what your consumers are saying or commenting, and then tailor your posts around those subjects. Remember the general rule of thumb that your posts should be 80% real life and 20% selling.
2. Irrelevant Viral Posts
We’ve all been there. You’re out of content to post, low on motivation, and want an easy way out. As simple as it may seem, reposting a viral meme you saw on Facebook a couple hours earlier is NOT what is best for your social media presence. Odds are, your fans have already seen it somewhere else online, and they will likely become disengaged with your feed if they believe you are just spitting back out what is overwhelmingly mainstream.
Instead, to avoid this issue, plan your content out weeks, if not months, in advance. This prevents day-of situations when you run out of ideas and can’t find something to share. Make your content meaningful and relevant to your fans’ interests. The more time you give yourself to plan, the better.
3. Negative and Derogatory Content
Sometimes, you get fed up with competitors, consumers, or even the world in general.
However, there is a time and place for voicing those concerns, and I promise you, your Instagram page is not it. Vent to family or friends, but remember that your social media presence is the only look your fans get into your persona and life. You want that image to be crystal clear and positive, so keep those negative emotions to close family and friends.
4. Posts with Spelling and/or Grammatical Errors
Imagine if you walked by a store with a big typo plastered across their promotional marketing. Would you want to walk in and check out their products? Most likely not.
As a social seller, your platforms ARE your “storefront” and you need to make sure that you are putting out your best work for potential consumers to view. Proofread and spellcheck your copy before you press publish, or even better, have a friend or family member check it over too!
5. Unaccredited Content
If you love someone else’s content on social media, it is certainly encouraged that you share it with your fans. Although it is essential to remember it is not your content. So no matter how much you love it and want to repost, you need clear permission or to explicitly list credit when posting.
Particularly for copyrighted images, if you do not take the necessary precautions to protect yourself, you may wind up in a legal battle. Always credit the source of the content you’re borrowing, and when in doubt–ask for permission from the original poster!
When social media is your career, sometimes it can be easy to fall into habits that are easy–even if they’re detrimental to our success. Keep these five reminders close by when posting content and you’ll be set for success. Happy posting!
Have something you’d like to add? Let us know in the comments below!