Are social media marketing myths blocking your potential success as a brand? Your favorite platforms are a great way to connect and sell, but if you take any of these social media marketing myths as the truth, you could be missing out on sales, connections, and community.

Industry experts at Clearbridge Branding Agency help us debunk seven social media marketing myths below. Are you a believer?

7 Social Media Marketing Myths

Myth #1: You should ignore negative feedback and comments.

So, you got a bad review, or someone left a scathing comment on your latest post. What do you do? Use it as an opportunity to learn about your customers’ expectations of your brand. No matter if they’re right, no matter if they’re wrong, it’s always best to handle negative feedback with tact instead of sweeping it under the rug. Not to mention, if an unhappy customer takes notice of your passive removal of comments or reviews, it could incite them to leave more.

 Myth #2: You can’t measure how successful your social media efforts are.

Say what? Social media is highly measurable, says Clearbridge, though it may take those with experience to help you squeeze the most out of all those metrics. Tracking your customers and monitoring your sales funnel are key benefits to utilizing social media for measuring success.

 Myth #3: Social media is for broadcasting.

Sure, social media is all about having a voice, but if you limit your brand to self-absorbed soapboxing, you’re missing a huge opportunity. Social media is for conversation and communities. It’s for interaction and connection. Remember, your brand isn’t the dialogue, it’s just part of one.

Myth #4: You need to utilize as many social platforms as possible.

You don’t need to be on every platform. You just need to be on the platforms where your customers are. Join the networks that make sense for your brand. If you’re selling cupcakes, LinkedIn probably isn’t necessary. If you’re a funeral home, TikTok may not be appropriate. Understand the character of each social platform and pay close attention to where your customers are hanging out online.

Myth #5: Social media replaces the need for a website.

You can almost understand why some small businesses adopt this way of thinking. Websites can be costly and perhaps a business profile on Facebook is working just fine. Why bother? Number one: it increases credibility. Clearbridge suggests a modern, professional website will help establish trust between you and your customers online. You can also track your performance even further and gain insight from how visitors are engaging with your site. You can create a fully-functional online store to drive sales and it provides a place for customers to learn more about your products and your brand that they can’t necessarily find on social media.

Myth #6: Every post should point to your brand or product.

Have you ever been to a dinner party or celebration and there’s that one person who just can’t stop rambling on about themselves? Offline, we call those people narcissists. Online, we call those brands confused (although, you may have another word for them). The goal of your content marketing should be to provide value. Break up the monotony of your promotional posts with content exclusively designed to engage your customer.

 Myth #7: The more you post, the better.

As with most things in life, social media should always be about quality over quantity. That said, you need to maintain consistency in both your post frequency and aesthetic to optimize brand awareness and visibility across various social channels.

Are you looking to get a leg up on your competition online? Clearbridge Branding Agency offers social media consulting and management services to fit your unique needs as a brand navigating the digital world. Contact them today to learn how they can help you earn even more online.