(ThyBlackMan.com) Social Media is indeed a powerful marketing tool used by businesses all over the world. This is a platform where 98% of consumers can be found. If you have a product or service to offer, social media can help you gain attention online and convert engagement into sales. While it is proven to be an effective tool with it comes to online marketing, it is also fair to be aware of the social media marketing myths as it will help you maximize the tool strategically. 

Let’s bust some social media marketing myths.

Myth #1. Everything is free in social media

It is precisely true that you do not need to pay to create an account on any social media platform. However, having an entrepreneur mindset, you know that money is one of the fundamental resources we need in growing a business. It is okay not to pay a single penny if you are just on a start-up stage but you should consider it sooner or later to gain a strong online presence.

Say, for example, investing in Facebook ads. If you have good content that is worth sharing, investing in it means it will reach more people. This will give you a chance to reach more individuals who are interested in the products or services you are offering. You can start with a small budget and plan the frequency of using an ad in a week or a month.

Myth #2. You need to be everywhere in social media

Many businesses would post a single content to all social media platforms for them to save time. But imagine responding to inquiries to all those platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. It would require a lot of effort and time from you. It might be a good problem but you might need to hire a social media manager to manage everything on time. This is not ideal if you are just starting your business. You do not need to create accounts on all available platforms online. 

The reality is that they are different from each other. They differ in requirements, type of users and focuses. Professionals go to LinkedIn to look for connections and clients for B2B industries. Most millenials prefer Instagram and businesses are focusing on graphics and images to attract their attention. Some other platforms are being patronized because of their users fancy video content. You can choose one or two specific social media platforms that would tailor the type of your business and your target audience. 

Some businesses believe that you have to post multiple times a day. This could entice customers if you are offering a variety of products but if you only offer one or just trying to build a brand, this would not make you popular. Aggressive promotion is a kind of hard selling and it could annoy your followers. You should strive for quality content more than focusing on quantity. Make it worth noticing, relevant and something that can create engagement with your customers. Timing is also crucial. Consider the time of the day or the day of the week when most of the online users are active on a specific social media platform. 

Myth #4. Likes and followers are metrics of success

Converting social media engagements into sales is more attainable if you have a larger audience. It is true that the number of likes and followers could establish your online presence as it would increase your reach but it is not the only measurement of your ROI. But you can also earn a lot from a small number of loyal customers and brand advocates. This means you could bag more from repeat sales. You start with engaging and providing value to your community first, then everything would follow. You do not just broadcast to social media to gain likes and followers, you also interact and connect to them, whether they are new or existing customers.

Staff Writer; Ellie Carter