Social media has been around for a while now, and in that time it’s accumulated its fair share of myths. Marketers who haven’t kept up-to-date on the latest trends may still believe some of these myths to be true. But data has disproven many of them! In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most common social media myths and why you need to leave them behind.

1- Social media is a fad that will die out soon

This is one of the most persistent social media myths. And it’s understandable why some people might think this. After all, every new platform or marketing strategy seems to be called a fad at first.

But the truth is, social media isn’t going anywhere. It has become an integral part of our lives and the way we communicate. Over three billion people around the world use social media regularly. And that number is only going to grow in the future.

So if you’re still holding onto this social media myth, it’s time to let it go!

2- You need to be on every social media platform

With so many social media platforms out there, it can be tempting to try and be present on all of them. But the truth is, you don’t need to be. It’s not realistic or sustainable, especially for small businesses or solopreneurs.

You should only focus on the platforms that make the most sense for your business. For example, if you’re a B2B company, LinkedIn is probably going to be more important for you than Snapchat.

The key is to focus on quality over quantity. It’s better to have a strong presence on a few platforms than a weak presence on many.

3- Social media is free

This social media myth is half true and half false. While it doesn’t cost anything to create a profile on most social media platforms, that’s not the only cost of social media marketing.

You also need to consider the time and effort required to create quality content, build relationships, and engage with your audience. If you’re not willing to invest the time and effort, social media will be a waste of your time.

So while social media itself may be free, it’s not free to market effectively on social media.

4- Your clients aren’t on social media

Today. there’s a social media platform for almost everyone. And that includes your target clients or customers.

It’s estimated that 3.5 billion people are on social media. And that number is even higher for certain demographics, like millennials (90%).

So chances are, your target clients are already on social media. If you’re not marketing to them there, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity.

Moreover, this social media myth is especially common among businesses that cater to an older demographic. But the truth is, that even older adults are using social media more and more.

According to Pew Research Center, 62% of adults over the age of 65 use social media. That number is only going to grow as the older generation becomes more comfortable with technology.

5- You don’t need a social media strategy

A common mistake businesses make is thinking they can wing it when it comes to social media. But if you want to be successful on social media, you need a plan.

Your social media strategy should include your goals, target audience, content strategy, and distribution plan. Without a plan, it will be difficult to measure your success and make adjustments as you go.

If you’re still not convinced, consider this: businesses with a social media strategy are twice as likely to see measurable results from their social media efforts.

6- You need to post every day

The frequency of your posts should be based on your goals, target audience, and your social media strategy, remember? There’s no magic number of posts per day or week that you should aim for.

If you’re posting quality content that your audience wants to see, you don’t need to worry about posting every day. In fact, you might even alienate your audience if you’re posting too much.

The key is to find a balance that works for you and your audience. And don’t be afraid to experiment with different frequencies to see what gets the best results.

7- You need a lot of followers to be successful

This social media myth is probably one of the most pervasive. And it’s also one of the biggest myths out there.

You don’t need a lot of followers to be successful on social media. Well, you can be quite successful with a small but engaged following. It’s more important to have a smaller group of engaged followers than a large group of unengaged followers. The engaged followers are the ones who are more likely to buy from you, share your content, and leave positive reviews.

So don’t get too caught up in the numbers game. Focus on building relationships with your target audience and providing value, and the followers will come.

8- You can buy followers

There are a lot of companies out there that will sell you fake followers. But don’t be tempted to take the easy way out.

Not only is it unethical, but it’s also a waste of money. These fake followers won’t engage with your content, which means they won’t do anything to help you reach your goals.

What’s more, social media platforms are getting better at weeding out fake accounts. So there’s a good chance that most of your bought followers will eventually be purged from the platform. And then you’ll be back to square one.

It’s important to remember that social media is ever-changing. What works today might not work tomorrow. So it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices.

9- You can automate everything

Automating your social media posts can help you save time. But it’s important to remember that automation should only be a small part of your social media strategy.

Your audience can tell when you’re being inauthentic, and they’ll quickly lose interest. So make sure you’re still putting in the time to interact with your followers, create quality content, and build relationships.

10- You can do it all yourself

Unless you’re a social media expert, you shouldn’t try to do everything yourself.

There’s a lot that goes into social media marketing, from content writing and designing to community management to paid advertising. And unless you have the time and resources to devote to all of those things, you won’t be able to do them all well.

It’s important to focus on the areas that are most important to your business and outsource the rest. That way, you can be sure that everything is being done properly and that you’re not spreading yourself too thin.

Here are some social media marketing tips to get you started! 

Don’t let these outdated ideas hold you back from achieving success on social media. It’s time to let go of these myths and start using social media to reach your goals!

Do you have any other social media myths to add to the list? Share them in the comments below!