Social Media Dos and Don'ts

The lead up to this busy enrollment season may be the exact right time to leverage social media, to increase your following and potentially generate leads.

Not sure where to start, or how to do it best? Here are some simple “Dos and Don’ts” from a social media strategist at SMS, to help guide the way and get you started.

DO

• Figure out who your audience is both in real life and online. The Facebook Insights section of your business page offers basic demographic data on the people who visit your page.
   
• Post things your audience would find entertaining, helpful and interesting. Also make sure to vary the content you are posting. Pictures and videos can go a long way.
   
• Maintain a consistent voice across your social media channels. Try to write or speak in the same way, whether it is on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter. The channels vary but your style should not.
   
• Post content at various times of the day and see what gets the most engagement (“likes” and shares). Not everyone checks their social media at the same time of the day.

DON’T:

• Post too much. For most businesses, one to two posts per day is enough.
   
• Be boring. Ask your audience questions, show them behind the scenes of your office life, and inject your personality into the things you post. Your audience will thank you by engaging with your content – and hopefully your business!
   
• Forget to proofread your posts. Sometimes a simple typo can change the entire meaning of a sentence.
   
• Delete comments that don’t fully agree with what you are saying. This is an opportunity for you to thank them for sharing their thoughts and perhaps move the conversation offline. It’s OK for people to have a difference in opinion. It’s not OK for people to be vulgar or harassing.

Getting started on social media is easier than you might think it is. But it takes thought and work. With time and consistency, social media can help your business generate leads and grow. There is no time like the present. See this upcoming enrollment period as an opportunity to get started.