When the trend of social media began, it was nothing but a selection of channels that teenagers and youngsters used online to share messages with their friends. Today, social media has evolved dramatically to become one of the most important marketing strategies for modern brands. In fact, 98% of digital consumers are active on social media.

Despite the obvious popularity and importance of this marketing platform, many brands still believe the myths and legends about places like Facebook and LinkedIn. The misconceptions around social media might be preventing some firms from making the most of their marketing plan. With that in mind, we’re going to address 3 of the most common misconceptions in social media marketing.

1. Social Media Marketing Is Free

There’s some truth to this misconception because it doesn’t cost anything to sign up for a social media account. However, just because you have an account on the right channels, doesn’t mean you have a strategy for social media marketing. If you want to get the most out of the platforms that you choose, then you need to be willing to invest time, effort, and expertise into the moments spent on social profiles. Not only is your time worth money, but many experts choose to pay for “advertisements” on social media to help them boost their brand reach, too.

2. Followers And Friends Are The Most Important Things To Measure

It might seem like the most important thing you have to achieve in a social media marketing campaign involves getting as many followers as possible. However, the truth is that your followers are only one piece of the puzzle. While it’s great to have a lot of people showing interest in your brand, a huge audience means nothing without valuable engagement. If your clients aren’t contacting you, clicking through to your website, or buying your products, then you need to re-think your social strategy.

3. Only Some Industries Use Social Media

Finally, plenty of companies convince themselves that their niche doesn’t use social media. However, while the people in your audience might not use the same channels as other customers, that doesn’t mean that they’re not active online. Even older adults over the age of 65 are on social media today. All you need to do is figure out where to find them.

A social media manager can help to make sure that you’re getting the most out of your social plan. Click here to find out more about why you should hire a social media manager today.