Are you looking for ways to improve your social media strategy? Want to avoid posting content that will make people unfollow you?

We share 8 things to avoid posting on social media in this infographic.

Here’s a quick summary:

• Negative posts about customers or clients
• Irrelevant viral content
• Political or religious posts
• Content that isn’t properly proofread or edited
• Too much overtly promotional content
• Content inconsistent with branding
• Misleading posts
• Unattributed content

Check out the infographic for more detail.

 

In today’s digital age, social media has become an indispensable tool for businesses to connect with their audience, promote their products or services, and build their brand.

However, not all social media content is created equal. Some posts can have a detrimental impact on your business’s reputation, leading to a loss of customers and credibility.

In this blog post, we’ll explore eight types of social media posts that your business should avoid at all costs and explain why each one can be harmful.

Negative Posts About Customers or Clients

One of the cardinal rules of social media etiquette for businesses is to never publicly criticize or berate customers or clients. Negative posts about individuals or organizations can quickly spiral out of control, damaging your reputation and driving away potential customers.

Negative posts can take many forms, from outright insults to passive-aggressive comments. Regardless of the tone, they all have the potential to alienate your audience and make your business appear unprofessional.

Instead of venting frustration on social media, address customer complaints and issues through private messages or email to resolve them discreetly and maintain a positive online presence.

• Avoid public confrontations: Refrain from addressing customer complaints or issues in a confrontational or negative manner on social media.
• Use private messages: When faced with customer concerns, take the conversation to private messages or email to resolve the issue professionally.
• Apologize and take responsibility: If your business is at fault, admit it and offer a sincere apology, along with a plan to make things right.
• Monitor comments: Regularly monitor comments on your posts to ensure that negative or offensive comments are addressed promptly and appropriately.
• Train your social media team: Provide training to your social media team on how to handle difficult situations and customer complaints with empathy and professionalism.

Irrelevant Viral Content

The allure of viral content can be tempting for businesses, as it promises a surge in engagement and visibility. However, jumping on the viral bandwagon without a clear connection to your brand or message can backfire.

Posting content that is irrelevant to your business’s core values or offerings can confuse your audience and dilute your brand identity. It may lead to short-term attention, but it won’t necessarily translate into long-term customer loyalty. Instead, focus on creating content that aligns with your brand’s values and interests your target audience.

• Align with your brand: Ensure that viral content you share is relevant to your brand’s identity and values.
• Add value: Before sharing viral content, consider how it can benefit your audience or contribute to a meaningful conversation.
• Share selectively: Be discerning in your choice of viral content to avoid overwhelming your audience with unrelated material.
• Create your own viral content: If appropriate, create your own viral-worthy content that aligns with your brand’s messaging and objectives.

Political or Religious Posts

Social media is a platform for diverse voices and opinions, but businesses should tread carefully when it comes to posting about politics or religion. These topics are deeply personal and can polarize your audience. By taking a stance on such issues, you risk alienating a significant portion of your customer base.

While some businesses may feel compelled to express their values and beliefs, it’s essential to consider the potential consequences. Unless your brand’s identity is explicitly tied to political or religious causes, it’s generally best to steer clear of these topics and maintain a neutral, inclusive tone on social media.

• Establish clear guidelines: Create internal guidelines for your social media team that outline your company’s stance on discussing politics and religion.
• Stay neutral: Unless your business is directly tied to political or religious causes, it’s generally best to remain neutral on these topics.
• Avoid controversial content: Be cautious when sharing or commenting on content related to politics or religion, as it may alienate certain segments of your audience.
• Foster inclusivity: Emphasize inclusivity and open dialogue in your social media posts and interactions to maintain a welcoming environment.

Content That Isn’t Properly Proofread or Edited

In the fast-paced world of social media, it’s easy to succumb to the pressure of posting quickly. However, rushing content without proper proofreading and editing can result in embarrassing mistakes that harm your brand’s credibility.

Typos, grammatical errors, and awkward phrasing can make your business appear unprofessional and careless. Before hitting that “post” button, take the time to review your content for errors and ensure that it aligns with your brand’s voice and messaging guidelines. Investing in quality content reflects positively on your business and builds trust with your audience.

• Implement a review process: Establish a review process to ensure that all social media content is thoroughly proofread and edited before posting.
• Use editing tools: Utilize grammar and spell-check tools to catch errors before they go live.
• Assign responsibility: Clearly define who is responsible for content review and editing within your social media team.
• Create a style guide: Develop a style guide that outlines your brand’s voice and tone, helping maintain consistency in your content.

Too Much Overtly Promotional Content

Social media is a valuable platform for promoting your products or services, but bombarding your audience with overtly promotional content is a surefire way to lose followers and engagement. People use social media to connect, be entertained, and gain value, not to be constantly sold to.

A healthy balance is crucial. While it’s essential to showcase your offerings and promotions, focus on creating content that provides value to your audience. Share informative articles, entertaining videos, and engaging stories that align with your brand’s mission and interests your followers. This approach will help you build a loyal and engaged community.

• Follow the 80/20 rule: Strive to maintain a balance between promotional and non-promotional content, with no more than 20% of your posts being promotional.
• Provide value: Ensure that your promotional content offers value to your audience by highlighting the benefits of your products or services.
• Tell stories: Use storytelling to make promotional content more engaging and relatable to your audience.
• Educate and inform: Share informative content that demonstrates your expertise and builds trust with your followers.

Content Inconsistent with Branding

Consistency is key when it comes to branding, and this extends to your social media content. Posting content that doesn’t align with your brand’s image, values, or messaging can confuse your audience and erode trust.

Your social media presence should reflect your brand’s personality and values consistently. If your business is known for being eco-friendly, for example, posting content that promotes wasteful practices would be inconsistent with your branding. Maintain a clear and cohesive image across all your social media platforms to strengthen your brand identity and attract the right audience.

• Create brand guidelines: Develop clear and comprehensive brand guidelines that outline your brand’s voice, values, and visual identity.
• Review content against guidelines: Regularly review your social media content to ensure it aligns with your brand’s established guidelines.
• Train your team: Educate your social media team on your brand’s identity and mission to maintain consistency.
• Seek feedback: Encourage feedback from your team and stakeholders to identify any inconsistencies and make necessary adjustments.

Misleading Posts

Integrity and transparency are essential in building trust with your audience. Misleading posts, whether intentional or accidental, can severely damage your reputation and erode that trust.

Misleading posts can take various forms, from exaggerating the benefits of your products to using clickbait headlines. Always ensure that the information you share on social media is accurate and transparent. If you make a mistake, own up to it and correct it promptly. Honesty goes a long way in maintaining a positive relationship with your customers.

• Fact-check content: Always fact-check information before sharing it on social media to ensure accuracy.
• Issue corrections promptly: If you make a mistake, acknowledge it and issue corrections or retractions as soon as possible.
• Use reliable sources: Rely on credible sources for information and verify the authenticity of content before sharing.
• Educate your team: Educate your social media team about the importance of accuracy and transparency in all communications.

Unattributed Content

Sharing content from other sources can be an effective way to engage your audience and provide valuable information. However, failing to attribute the content to its original source can lead to copyright issues and damage your credibility.

Whenever you share content created by others, be sure to give proper credit by tagging the source or providing a clear citation. This not only respects the rights of the content creator but also demonstrates your commitment to ethical social media practices.

• Always attribute sources: When sharing content from other sources, provide clear attribution by tagging the source or including a citation.
• Respect copyright laws: Familiarize yourself and your team with copyright laws and ensure that you have the necessary permissions to share content.
• Ask for permission: If you’re unsure about sharing someone else’s content, reach out to the content creator for permission.
• Create your own content: Whenever possible, create original content to avoid any potential copyright issues.

Conclusion

Social media is a powerful tool for businesses, but it comes with responsibilities. To build a strong online presence and maintain a positive reputation, it’s crucial to avoid certain types of posts that can harm your brand.

Steer clear of negative posts about customers, irrelevant viral content, political or religious content, poorly proofread material, excessive promotion, content inconsistent with branding, misleading posts, and unattributed content.

By adhering to these guidelines and focusing on creating valuable and authentic content, you can effectively use social media to connect with your audience and achieve your business goals.