The 5 Dos and 5 Don’ts Of Social Media For Small Businesses - a podcast by Dan Nedelko

While there's no wrong way to eat a Reese's, there are some things you shouldn't do on social media.

So if you are a Social Media Manager or running your small business account, how do you ensure that you provide an enjoyable and informative experience for your audience?You follow our list of the 5 Dos and 5 Don'ts of Social Media!

Let's dive in.
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 Do: Introduce Yourself
Take the time to introduce your brand and your employees! It’s a great way to showcase your brand’s personality.Re-introduce the team every 2-3 months so that new followers know the face(s) behind the brand.

Some topics you can cover are:How the business started
Company valuesYour background, previous experience
Your favourite thing about your jobDon’t: Misuse Automated Messaging
Bots are a great way to provide quick answers at busy times; however, it is never good to rely on them for everything.You must be transparent with your bots and let people know when interacting with an automated service. 

  

Talking to a bot can feel impersonal and sometimes frustrating; it is important to use them when needed.If you require them, let your customers know that you'll contact them soon if they need to have a person-to-person interaction.
Do: Listen to Your FollowersEngagement is a two-way street, and you mustn’t close any doors with your audience.

Does a follower have a content request? If so, try your best to fulfill it! This shows that you do listen and that you value input.  



 This back and forth interaction promotes conversations and is the key to being SOCIAL on social media. 
Don’t: Obsess About Numbers.It can be easy to forget that brand awareness and growing your network are long-term endeavours. 

While having a lot of followers can be a good indicator of success, it’s not the only metric that matters.  



 Focus on QUALITY over QUANTITY. Provide your audience with engaging content instead of pressing them incessantly for likes, follows, and reshares.
Do: Separate Personal and BusinessWhen building a business brand on social media, you must keep your personal and professional pages separate.

While it’s great to be personable, some content may only be appropriate for friends and family (i.e., pictures of your dog, home renovations). 



 Maintaining a divide also prevents confusion over who you are as a business and what you’re trying to sell.
Don’t: Overly Brand Your PageOver branding comes off as inauthentic. 

While some posts will require heavier branding, you need to have a nice content ratio. We recommend focusing on an 80-20 practice where 80% of your posts are fun and educational, while the remaining are for branding.  



 Good branding is about generating the right amount of curiosity.
Do: Designate a Social Media Time for EngagingOnce you start creating larger engagement, learn your audience is most active times.

You must involve yourself with your audience: like their posts, answer their questions, reshare content, etc.Dedicating time each day (ex. 1hr) will allow you to make a habit of being social on your platform. 

  

Engagement allows you to showcase your personality!Don’t: Spam Post
Posting too much at once can drown out your authentic content and engagement. Not only is it annoying for followers, but it can also come across as pushy and unprofessional.

 Creating content that provides value is one of the most important aspects of social media. 
Do: Batch Create Your ContentContent batching is one of the most effective ways to create social media content.

It helps you save time, post consistently, and repurpose your ideas across platforms. 



 You’re able to focus your creative energy without jumping from task to task, and you can plan content weeks — creating a more cohesive approach to your strategy.

Further episodes of Digital Marketing from the Trenches Live at the Hive

Further podcasts by Dan Nedelko

Website of Dan Nedelko