6 COMMON INSTAGRAM MISTAKES TO AVOID

At Social Pop, we know there’s a right and a wrong way to use IG for business growth. What separates a good social media marketing strategy from a bad one? Realistically, we’d probably need to dedicate a whole course to answering that question! Over the years, we have noticed a few trends from business owners and coaches that scream cringey social media etiquette. Today we’re covering the most common IG faux pas we’ve seen, so you know what to watch out for! 

1. Choosing vague + overly saturated hashtags Ever since Twitter popularized hashtags, the digital marketing world has seemed to develop a love/hate relationship with it. Hashtags can be perfect for budding coaches to attract more attention from potential clients, but there’s an art form to it! If the hashtag is too vague, like #fitness or #weight loss, then there’s a slim chance that new potential clients will join your 90 Day Abs Challenge. Pick hashtags that speak directly to your audience and what you do best, to increase your overall impact!
2. Lack of consistent posting: One of the most frequent questions we get from budding entrepreneurs when it comes to social media management, is “how often should we post?” While that’s a great question, there is no magic # of posts that are guaranteed to work for all platforms. Here’s what we do know, though! Setting a consistent post schedule seems to be the biggest factor between high performing accounts and pages that are still on their come-up. Most major accounts post daily, but everyone has to start somewhere. Pick a schedule you can commit to, like “once a week,” and then try it out! There are preschedule tools like Planonly that can help you plan and schedule ahead without any fuss! 
3. No clear bio If you’re selling a product like cordless water hoses, then it makes sense for content like the features of your product, and high-resolution photos to be the focus of our website. Certain industries, like coaching and counseling, are special. Your clients want to get to know you! Don’t be shy. We know it can feel a little awkward writing your own bio. There are ways to make crafting your bio pain-free! Challenge yourself to at least write a couple of lines that highlight your passion, and what sets your practice apart. Include a call to action that encourages potential-clients to reach out. Take it one step further by getting opinions of your content from people you trust! #NotHaters 
4. Forgetting to engage: Part of the fun of social media for users is getting to engage with the brands and personalities they love most. Let’s say you’re a relationship therapist. While you’ll do the bulk of the heavy lifting with your clients in each session, that doesn’t mean your IG page can’t also be a safe space. At the end of the day, your audience wants to hear from you and what you have to say. Remind them of some of the useful tools for healthy fights. Try making meaningful connections through comments, and IG Live videos

5. Being spammy: There’s a fine line between encouraging clients to try out your amazing services, and making every single post include a “Buy Today” or “Sign Up” button. We’ve all seen those types of accounts before, and we know how it makes us feel or think… not great! Strive to make your IG account a space dedicated to serving your clients first. Provide them with high-quality content that solves their problems. 
6. Not showing who you are. If COVID-19 and the quarantine have taught us anything, it’s that we value human connection and forming bonds. Your followers want to connect with you, but they need to know who you are. Your short bio is just the start. Get creative! We all know social media runs off of selfies. Share pics while you’re prepping right before you get on stage for your next talk. 

Did any of these sound familiar? 

If so, don’t sweat it! We’ve all made our fair share of mistakes while trying to craft the perfect voice for our brand. The great news is, many of the mistakes we covered today are actually pretty simple fixes. It might mean tweaking your posting calendar, so you’re churning out more consistent high-quality content for your loyal followers. You may find that because you’re a booked and busy coach, you’ve got way too much on your plate to fully devote the time and energy it takes to create an amazing IG page. 

In any case, think of this blog as either your sign to revamp your IG game or possibly partner up with an agency you trust to get the job done. What are you waiting for?