Social Media is constantly changing, which is both exciting and exhausting trying to keep up! As it’s constantly evolving, what worked a year ago might not be as effective today. Using outdated Social Media practices may result in missed opportunities to grow your following or provide value to your target audience. The key to optimising your strategy is being aware of (and even staying ahead of!) Social Media changes and updates.
If you are no longer achieving the results you want from your Social Media, please read ahead. Often, the smallest tweaks can make a big difference!
5 Outdated Social Media Practices
# 1 Using Too Many Or Irrevelant Hashtags
Hashtags used to be a great way to get discovered, and they still are. However, while Instagram allows a maximum of 30 hashtags per post, that doesn’t mean you should use that many. Why? It can make your posts look spammy.
Instead… Use fewer but more relevant hashtags. Research the best hashtags for your industry and use them strategically to increase visibility. Alternatively, if you want to use 30 appropriate hashtags, add them to the post’s first comment. Instagram will still pick it up and show your post when the hashtags are searched.
A more effective approach is using keywords in your captions on social media. This technique will help you get found more easily, increasing visibility and engagement.
Our tip… Research is key! Use relevant keywords that people use to search for your business, and strategically use them on your post captions across all social platforms.
# 2 Only Focusing on Promotional Content
Social Media isn’t just a place to sell your products or services; it’s a platform to build a relationship with your audience. Overloading your followers with sales pitches and self-promoting messages will quickly lose their interest.
Instead… Focus on creating engaging content that educates, entertains, and speaks to your target audience. Remember, Social Media isn’t a one-way communication channel; it’s a two-way conversation. Creating useful content that encourages people to comment and share with their personal network will help grow your reach and spread your message further.
# 3 Sharing Overly Polished/Curated Content
Users are drawn to genuine, unfiltered moments reflecting real experiences that make businesses more relatable. As audiences crave more authenticity from brands, sharing overly polished or scripted Social Media content is no longer the norm.
Our tip… Share a mix of curated content and candid posts, such as behind-the-scenes using Instagram Stories, Facebook Live events, unscripted TikTok videos, Instagram Reels and YouTube shorts. Moments of vulnerability foster a connection with the audience and show your reality rather than presenting a flawless facade.
# 4 Buying Followers and Engagement
You read it right! Once a trend in Social Media, purchasing fake accounts or interactions to artificially boost one’s online presence is now widely discouraged as platforms prioritise genuine engagement and authenticity. Buying followers and engagement gives the illusion of popularity but provides zero actual value. Your engagement rates will be skewed since these followers won’t genuinely interact with your content, and savvy users will quickly spot the lack of authenticity.
Instead… Focus on creating high quality, value driven content that is also interesting and entertaining. Always have your audience in mind. Share content that resonates with them. What do they want and need to learn? What is the solution to their problem? How and from where do they prefer to get the message?
# 5 Relying Solely on Organic Reach
Posting valuable content consistently can help build your brand and reputation, but with the amount of content shared on Social Media daily, improving organic reach has become more challenging. Relying solely on sharing content may not be enough.
Our tip… Consider running paid Social Media ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn. When executed correctly, it’s an effective way to ensure your content is shown to your target audience. Incorporating paid ads into your Social Media strategy can help increase visibility and boost conversions.
Outgrowing Outdated Social Media Marketing Practices
Don’t let your Social Media marketing efforts get stuck in the past. Help your brand stand out and grow your engagement by conducting a Social Media Strategy review and incorporating these valuable tips. Remember, digital marketing is fast-paced. Keeping up with the changes and staying updated is key!
Our team can help create a tailored Social Media strategy for your business. If you need expert advice on how to maximise your Digital and Social marketing, please reach out today.
