Today I want to share with you the 3 biggest mistakes I see being made on social media, and they stem more from the misconceptions about what successful social media marketing looks like then it does the actions that are being taken But this can also be what's blocking you from taking action and really harnessing the power you have at their fingertips for growing your business.  If you're focusing on things like the algorithm, your lack of skill or knowledge or your competition keeping you from success, I'll tell you that's typically not the case. I want to help reframe the way you view your role on social media, and its purpose in serving your audience and growing your business. So let's dive in!

Mistake Number 1: Inconsistency

When it comes to anything including marketing your business,  you need to focus on what you have control over. And the first thing you need to really get good at with social media is consistency. The most common reasons most people are inconsistent with their social media presence is because of their lack of clarity and confidence that they're doing the right things or if what they're doing is actually working. They want to know that if they do A, B is going to happen...but you won't know until you show up consistently and test what works and what doesn't for your people. And here's the thing too, that is a blessing in disguise...there is an unknown outcome of the level of impact you can actually have if you seek to create a vision beyond the metrics of social media. Social media is simply a platform for sharing your message with more people...the name of the game is exposure! 

So take some time to refocus and gain clarity on the bigger picture and allow your brand to evolve and grow. But be mindful with the consistency of sharing a clear and concise message, the type of content you're creating, the timing with which you deliver it, and so on. I recommend you actually preplan and schedule your content, or at least have an idea of what theme of content you'll share each day. When you are consistent, your audience knows what to expect from you. And with consistency comes practice and with practice comes confidence.

But you need to make sure you have a solid foundation in place and a work flow, so you're not wasting your time. Most business owners have a limiting belief on how much time social media marketing takes, because they lack the strategy, systems and success pathways to be more efficient in their work. That's why James and I have created this incredible program where we combined group and 1 on 1 coaching and our best tools and resources for your success: Social Media and Performance Strategy Made Simple: The Digital Marketing and Action Plan for Entrepreneurs

Is your business important to you? Is this a hobby or a business for you? If you're not marketing your business, you're not getting in front of people. If you're not getting in front of people you have a hobby that isn't making you any money. That's an expensive hobby! And we want you to have a thriving business, that will allow you more time for your fun hobbies!

Mistake Number 2: Positioning

The biggest mistake I see when it comes to positioning is that most business owners are selling instead of marketing on social media. Marketing should be what is happening on the front end, and the selling is what happens within your funnel on the back end, whether that's a group or email list. 

The second mistake I see is the focus that is put on positioning the the product thats for sale instead of focusing on the benefits that product provides. For example, in real estate, instead of posting a home for sale, educate home owners on interest rates, trends in the market place, what to look for when buying a home. Position yourself as a valuable resource that is helping them make the best decision, and can start a conversation between you and them about real estate. They'll start following you more closely, and will come to you when they're ready to buy.

The same goes for products like weight loss. People don't want to know what's in it, they want to knows how they will feel emotionally physically and mentally when they get results. They want proof that this product isn't just going to be another waist of time and money, and they wan to know if it tastes good and will be easy and convenient for them to stick with. They're not thinking about facts, they're thinking about the way their spouse looks at them, how they feel in their bikini or that little black dress, the energy they used to have and how they just want to feel good again in their own skin. 

And lastly, and probably an aspect more social media marketers should focus on is howyou position yourself... Especially in industries like Influencer Marketing, Affiliate Marketing and Network Marketing. A key to success in these professions is taking people on a journey, and sharing with them your unique stories, beliefs and perspectives. Be mindful to not just highlight just their wins, you also want to be sharing what you're doing, learning, and how you're growing. People love to be involved in the process.  Watch the video above for some really great examples of positioning and some ideas for content, but in short, make sure you are sharing what supports your product...people make decisions emotionally and justify them rationally. 

Mistake Number 3: Vanity Metrics

So what do I mean by vanity metrics? Well, this is when you get hung up on what you think is or isn't happening based on who did or didn't like, comment, or engage...but this doesn't mean you aren't getting viewership. What I recommend is giving what you would like to get. Spend some time checking out people in your feed, and like and comment on their posts. Find a point of inspiration to connect with them and start a conversation. You'll be surprised how many people will comment to you personally about your content when you reach out to them. And keep this in mind too, people do business with people they know like and trust. So when you start the conversation, you raise the value of your content, because now you've humanized yourself. And if you want to credit the algorithm, the people you connect with personally will see more of your content in their feed. It's called priming the algorithm...so engage first, and then post. 

And lastly, remember, social media marketing is so much more then just posting about your business. Yes there are strategies such as posting at the same time each day, knowing your niche, utilizing all the different features for maximum reach, and creating content that converts. But you also need to know your message, make sure you're connecting, pay attention to what is working, what's resonating, and what's sparking conversation. You also need to be sure you're expanding your network, collaborating and sharing amongst other entrepreneurs for maximum exposure. And you'll get all this and more in a success blueprint when you decide to work with James and I, and fast track your road to high performance and social media success.  Click Here to get started.