Six social media myths that waste your time.
Much of the advice about social media sounds sensible and sends businesses in the wrong direction. These six myths come up again and again. Here is what is true instead, and what to do with your limited time.
- You do not need to be everywhere. Pick the one or two platforms your customers use.
- Followers are easy to count and easy to buy. Enquiries matter more.
- A steady rhythm you can keep beats posting every day.
4 min readPublished By Domeq Solutions
Why these myths stick
Social media advice is everywhere, and a lot of it is written by people selling something. Platforms also change often, so a tip that was true once can linger long after it stopped being useful.
The result is businesses that spend months on effort that was never going to pay off. The six myths below are the ones we see most. Each one is worth testing against your own situation before you act on it.
Most social media advice is true for someone. The question is whether it is true for you.
The six myths
Read them as a set of questions to ask of any social media advice, including ours.
Six myths, and what is true instead.
You need to be on every platform.
Pick the one or two where your customers already spend time, and do them consistently. Instagram and LinkedIn suit different businesses; see Social Media Marketing.
More followers means more business.
Followers are easy to count and easy to buy. Enquiries, messages and visits to your website are what matter.
Post every day or the algorithm will bury you.
A rhythm you can sustain beats a frequency you cannot. Steady posting works better than bursts followed by silence.
Social media is free.
Posting costs nothing, but planning, design and replying take time or money. Treat it as work that needs an owner.
A viral post is the goal.
A viral post can bring attention without customers. A steady audience that trusts you is worth more.
LinkedIn is only for job hunting.
Many professionals use it to follow companies and look for suppliers. For businesses that sell to other businesses, it can be a core channel. See LinkedIn Marketing.
What to do instead
If the myths are what not to do, the alternative is refreshingly plain. Choose where your customers are, decide what you want them to do, and show up consistently in a style that looks like your brand.
That is not glamorous, but it is what works for most businesses. It also fits the time you actually have.
Domeq runs Instagram and LinkedIn management, and designs the posts through Graphic Design.
Show up where your customers are, consistently, and measure what happens.
A saner starting point.
- One or two platforms, chosen for where your customers are
- A clear goal for each, such as enquiries or visits to your website
- A posting rhythm you can keep for months
- One consistent visual style, see Graphic Design
- Time set aside to reply to comments and messages
- A monthly look at what drew a response
How to tell advice from noise
You will meet new social media advice every week. A few questions sort the useful from the noisy faster than any expert can.
Four questions to ask of any advice.
Who is it true for?
Advice for a consumer brand may not suit a consultancy. Check it fits your audience.
What does the person gain?
Be wary of advice that happens to require buying what the adviser sells.
Can I test it cheaply?
Try it for a few weeks before reorganising your plan around it.
How would I know it worked?
If you cannot say what success would look like, the advice cannot be tested.
Questions, answered.
What should a small business post about?
Things your customers find useful: answers to common questions, behind-the-scenes looks at the work, news and examples of what you do. Mix them, and keep to a rhythm you can maintain.
Do I need paid ads on social media?
Not necessarily. Organic posting builds an audience over time, and ads can speed things up. Many businesses start organic and add ads once they know what works. See Performance Marketing.
How do I measure social media?
Set a goal first, such as enquiries or visits to your website, then track it. Likes and views are easy to count, but they say less than messages, clicks and enquiries.
Who should run my social media accounts?
Someone with the time and a clear brief, whether in your team or an agency. What matters is that a named person owns it and replies promptly.
How long before social media shows results?
It builds gradually and depends on your audience, your content and how consistent you are. Domeq does not promise specific results.
Does Domeq manage Instagram?
Yes. Instagram account management is part of Social Media Marketing, and LinkedIn is handled through LinkedIn Marketing.
Keep reading.
More guides on the same topic, and on the ones around it.
- Social Media Content Calendar Template You Can CopyA social media content calendar template for a small business: columns to copy, a sample week, content pillars and a monthly routine for steady posting.Social Media Marketing
- Instagram Business Profile Setup: A Step-by-Step GuideHow to set up an Instagram business profile: switch to a professional account, write the bio, pick a profile picture, add a link and plan the first posts.Social Media Marketing
- LinkedIn Company Page Checklist: Build a Page People TrustA LinkedIn company page checklist for B2B businesses: the profile, the banner, the about text, the first posts and the habits that keep the page active.LinkedIn Marketing
Keep going.
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