Is Your Small Business Committing These Social Media Faux Pas?

I love that more and more local businesses see the value in connecting with their customers on social media platforms. However, there are some practices that make me cringe every time I see them. I’d like to believe that businesses just don’t know better. So in the interest of a better social media experience for all, here are some helpful social media tips for small businesses:

We want to “like” you, but not necessarily be your friend.

There’s nothing more off-putting than looking up a favorite business on FaceBook and discovering they don’t have a Page. It’s so much more gratifying to click the “like” button than send a friend request and wonder if they’re ever going to get back to you. Plus you’re missing out on the functionality that pages bring.

Speaking of FaceBook, my page is not your billboard.

It is considered spam if you post links to your page or website on someone else’s page.  While most page owners are too nice to call you out on it, they will quietly delete it and ban you from posting on their page. The only time it is acceptable to post a link to your site or page is in response to a specific question or something that has already been posted.

Twitter is a two-way street.

If you’re going to play in Twitterland, you have to do more than just tweet your specials. Who wants to follow a one-note bird? At the very least, set up notifications in a program such as HootSuite so you can respond if people mention your business in their tweets. Similarly, turn off the auto direct messages. They are almost as annoying as music playing on websites.

Your website: Keep it clean.

Social media is fun, but don’t neglect your website. Make sure it’s clean (as in, not cluttered) and up to date. No music, crazy fonts, or dancing bears. Make sure your hours, phone number, address, and E-MAIL are easy to find. And if you ARE on Twitter or FaceBook, make sure those links are prominently displayed on the front page.

What are YOUR tips or pet peeves?