5 Mistakes of Social Media Marketing, Plus 3 Practical Solutions

CMN Marketing Solutions from Emily Ricci of Gloriam marketing

Do you have a social media account for your business or ministry? If so, is it a vibrant, exciting page, or does it more resemble that graveyard out back behind your parish’s chapel? As a social media marketer, here are 5 mistakes I see Catholic ministries make on social media:

Not having social media at all - It’s free and a great way to connect with your potential audience! You don’t have to use every platform out there, but having one or two does allow you to humanize your brand and make connections that distance wouldn’t normally allow. 

Not posting enough - Too many Catholic organizations have a social media presence, but never use it. Believe it or not, this is actually worse than not having a page at all; it shows a lack of interest and activity.

Posting too much or going off-brand - You can also post too much as a business or organization. Posting too often or revealing too much about your personal life will not bring your audience closer - it will simply annoy them. This doesn’t mean you can’t share all; just as you would with your personal profile, always use discretion before posting.

Utilizing the wrong platform - If you are trying to reach the middle-aged members of your audience, Snapchat is the wrong platform for you. Likewise, if you don’t often have photos to share, you should stay away from Instagram. Knowing the intended audiences and uses of the platforms is the key to using them successfully.

Not engaging the audience – This is the #1 mistake I see. Don’t just sell to your audience. What makes a good social media account great is the one who creates opportunities for engagement and gets people talking. After all, that’s how you connect with people in genuine friendship, not just pushing a pitch for a store, a product, a service, or a brand.

Ready for your business or ministry to take a deeper plunge into social media marketing? Here are three easy ways you can improve your success!

Ask for help - Do you know any teenagers? Consult with them for social media advice or put them to work taking pictures or making informational graphics. Members of Gen Z are practically all born with a certification in social media, so use that to your advantage.

Start asking questions - Ask your audience questions about themselves. It not only drives engagement, but it can also help you do some valuable market research about your audience.

Use resources you already have You know all of those graphics you’re making for your newsletter or blog? Those can easily be repurposed for social media. Same goes for your photos, website content, etc. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to have an active and fruitful social media account!

Most importantly, make sure that your social media accounts are an addition, not an obsession. Start by making your business or ministry great, and then get the word out through social media (not the other way around). Happy posting!

Article author: CMN Team Member and Gloriam Marketing Professional, Emily Ricci 

Visit Emily at: www.gloriammarketing.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/gloriammarketing

Instagram: www.instagram.com/gloriammarketing