Thought Leadership - PR101: Ten (10) Social Media Myths to Quash

In a technology-saturated environment, it is undoubtedly that businesses today are keeping up with the massive social media movement as part of their business growth. According to a recent survey by Adobe, Malaysia shows a strong online penetration of 66% with around 20 million users, with approximately 70% of Malaysian users checking on a brand’s social media presence before making a purchase decision. It is no surprise that business owners are embracing profiles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, which could significantly attract a significant quantity of customer traffic.

Nonetheless, it is distressing that many businesses still struggle with the misconceptions that exist within this powerful tool of communication effort. From a PR and marketing perspective, a major number of business owners jump right in before they fully understand on the ways to harness the true potential from social media platforms. Social media myths do exists, but the falsehoods have to be dispelled so that the social media proficiency skillset of the PR and marketing professionals can be put to good use for their campaigns and branding efforts for clients.

Here, in an article written by Melissa Meyer, she has addressed the ten (10) common social media myths and the truth behind them that should be placed to rest.

 1. I don’t have the resources for social media.

Even though many small and mid-sized businesses have bestowed their social media tasks onto small (or solo) teams, there are many ways to scale your social strategy without missing out on effectiveness. Check out our seven tips for the one-person social team.

2. My organization must be on every social platform.

Not every social platform will suit every organization’s needs. Each social platform requires a certain level of attention and curation—and each appeals to a different audience for a different reason.

Find the platforms that can benefit your organization the most and focus your energies (and money) on them. If a platform isn’t working for you, or if you don’t have time to keep up with it, remove the account. Don’t leave dormant accounts in your wake. Check out our social platforms guide to find the right fit.

3. My customers aren’t on social media.

Professional online activity can vary by industry or job role, but chances are, some (if not most) of your customers are on social media personally. eMarketer estimated that almost 20 million Canadians will be using social platforms by the end of 2015.

Though only some users are active contributors, many more—roughly 90 percent of them—are lurking. These users might not post or interact with content, but they use social platforms for news, research and entertainment, just like the rest of us.

4. My fans are my customers.

It’s fun to have a healthy amount of fans and followers, but numbers are only one piece of the social media pie. The quality of your followers is also important. Are they influencers and opinion leaders? Do they engage with your content? Defining these influencers takes time.

5. Social media is only a promotional tool.

On social media, it’s almost never all about you. Use social posts to overtly promote your brand, but remember to keep the “social” in social media.

This means that you must pay attention to engagement and conversation. One-way communication strategies are better suited to a press release or white paper. As with all good conversations, make sure you respond to users in a timely fashion, especially anyone who seems angry with your company. However, not every user will warrant a response; you may learn more about from the eight (8) internet trolls below.