7 Stupid Social Media Mistakes - Are you making them?
 

There are a variety of problems with social media. Here are seven common mistakes that could really make you look like a rookie that just learned about this Internet thing. Don’t worry if you are making some of these mistakes, you are not alone, and you won’t be the last.

1.    Trying to participate in too many tools
If you are signing up and building a profile on every new thing that comes out, you had better be a writer for Mashable or be a social media professional like Chris Brogan.  No one can keep up with all the new things.  Find some you like and do a good job in them.
 
2.    Expect that just setting up an account will yield results
Guess what, you will have to do more than just set up an account to get results.
 
3.    Not using the tools to connect with people
Nearly every social media tool and site makes it possible to connect with other people (that is why they call it SOCIAL media).  If you are not connecting, no one is finding you.
 
4.    Giving up after a short time
Social media is about making and sustaining connections.  The only way you can grow your influence is long term.
 
5.    Promoting yourself without providing value
The fact that you signed up for an account does not give you the right to promote yourself constantly.  And it is a sure way to get people to run in the other direction.
 
6.    Not using the tools to link to other resources
Similar to not connecting to people, if you only link to your website or blog and never bookmark or link to other interesting resources, you will never gain the respect of your audience.
 
7.    Not intentionally building a target network
Don’t pick the biggest network or the one that your kid brother said you should use.  Find out where your current customers go and your target audience hangs out online.  Intentionally build value and influence in the right communities, even if they are smaller.

If you are trying to get into this social media thing, it natural and expected that you have or will make all of these mistakes.  But rest assured, if you get these things turned around, your popularity and influence will rise online and offline.

by Ron McDaniel, of Buzzoodle, www.buzzoodle.com