7 Popular Social Media Myths Freelancers Can Ignore
Posted July 6, 2011 in Social Media
Social media is big news these days. Nearly every week we hear something different:
- This social media company has gone public and is valued at $$$$
- That large company just launched their own social media platform
- This celebrity just embarrassed themselves on social media
- ?% of all adults are now on a particular social media platform
The list of news items about social media goes on and on and there’s a lot of conflicting information out there. It’s no wonder that many freelancers are confused about how to handle social media.
In this post, I’ll refute seven of the most common myths about social media so that you don’t have to worry about them.
Myth #1. Social Media Is a Waste of Time
You’ve probably read posts and articles proclaiming social media to be a waste of time. Your friends and family might even make this very statement to your face.
The truth is, social media CAN be a waste of time if you don’t plan your social media strategy. You can spend a lot of time absorbed in Facebook, Twitter, or whatever suits your fancy.
Most of those who believe social media to be a waste of time are thinking about casual use of social media. They’re thinking about the teenager who spends all day playing Mafia Wars or gossiping about who just broke up with whom in their high school. They’re not thinking about a strategic business use of social media–but you should be.
Myth #2. You Can’t Reach Decision-Makers
According to this myth, no one who is really successful is on social media. For this reason (according to the myth), you can’t make really significant contacts through social media.
While it’s true that many famous celebrities may be unreachable through social media (and even if they have an account, it may be handled by their publicist), there are many other business decision makers who can be contacted directly through social media. But before trying to sell them your product or services you need to take the time to cultivate a relationship with them.
Myth #3. Social Media Leads to Instant Success
“Instant” social media success is rarely instant. You can’t sign up for a social media platform one day and expect to get six new clients from it the next day (or even the next week).
It’s better to spend a small amount of time each day on a social media platform for several months or even a year than to spend 24/7 on it for a week and then burn out and quit participating altogether.
Myth #4. You Must Sign Up for Every New Platform
It’s also easy to be too eager about social media. There are so many platforms out there with new, smaller social media platforms being announced nearly every week. If you tried to keep up with it all you’d wear yourself out. There’s simply not enough time in the day.
Fortunately, you don’t have to sign up for every single social media platform the instant it becomes available. Let’s face it, not all of them were designed for people like you and your clients. Plus, some of them will fail.
You should definitely have a presence on the larger platforms. After that, take your time and try to discern where your clients and prospective clients are interacting and go there.
Myth #5. Social Media Can Replace Your Website
Another common myth is that the small business website is obsolete. According to this myth, it’s been totally replaced by your social media profile and participation.
I don’t buy it.
For one thing, your website is the one place where you have complete control. Social media sites can change the rules with little or no input from you. They can even fail and cease to exist.
Your website, on the other hand, is totally yours. You can use it to showcase your best work, your expertise, and your vision. Trust me, it’s still important to your freelancing business. Always include a link to your website from your social media profiles.
Myth #6. What You Do or Say Doesn’t Really Matter
What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but what happens on Facebook (or Twitter, or Quora, or any social media platform) is fair game for your prospects, future employers, and competition. Just ask those people (via Mashable) who have lost their jobs due to their social media indiscretions.
Anything you do or say online (or even offline for that matter) has the potential to affect your professional reputation. If you’re in business, this could possibly be a big deal–so be careful.
Myth #7. You Can Buy Social Media Friends
In my opinion, one of the most disgusting myths is perpetuated by those schemes that charge you in exchange for inflating your social media friend count.
While having a ginormous number of social media friends may impress your friends and family and be a great conversation starter at parties, if part of your reason for social media involvement is to promote your business having a large, untargeted (and uninterested) following probably won’t help.
Instead, try to learn a little bit about each social media contact so that you can interact in a meaningful fashion with those who are truly interested in what you have to offer.
Your Turn
What social media myths have you encountered? Share them in the comments.
Image by PhilllipC
Related posts:
- You May Be Addicted to Social Media If…
- Embracing Social Media as Freelance Job Search Tool
- 5 Misuses of Social Media That Could Kill Your Freelance Business
- Social Media Basics For Freelancers
- 5 Reasons Freelancers Can’t Ignore Twitter
About the author: Laura Spencer is a freelance writer from North Central Texas with over 20 years of professional business writing experience. If you liked this post, then you may also enjoy Laura’s blog about her freelance writing experiences, WritingThoughts. Laura is also on Google+.
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23 Comments
BebopDesigner
July 6th, 2011 at 8:37 amThis myth stuff really fascinates me. There are social media myths for corporate, for freelancers, for clients and for public users in general. Many of these myths are common among to all these different fields… We could spend hours and hours discussing the list. Love this post. Cheers
Laura Spencer
July 6th, 2011 at 10:17 amThanks BebopDesigner. I think that myths evolve for almost every human endeavor as we attempt to better ourselves and understand how human interactions truly work.
Mizan
July 6th, 2011 at 1:43 pmGreat writing Myth #6 so so true!
Myth #1 i always hear it. :)
Gold
July 6th, 2011 at 3:01 pmYour right. Before social media it was something you didn’t own was better than something you own. At least according to what the site owner, who was letting you use his blog site to communicate, claims.
Laura Spencer
July 6th, 2011 at 4:04 pmThanks Mizan! I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve heard all of these myths at one time or another. :)
Gold–Good point! I believe the person owning the site will always have the advantage of control.
TheAL
July 6th, 2011 at 6:12 pm#4 (I’m on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, but I have no interest as of yet in Google+) and #6 are especially true. Very enjoyable post.
Laura Spencer
July 6th, 2011 at 6:30 pmHi The AL–I’m glad you liked the post. BTW, I consider Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to be the three social media standards for freelancers. :)
Melissa
July 6th, 2011 at 10:30 pm#3 is a big one. I’ve signed 3 contracts in the last three months that came via twitter but, they were as a result of genuine relationships that were developed over months and months. Be in it for the long haul.
Sandeep Kumar
July 7th, 2011 at 4:40 amS.M is very essential part of online marketing. It impossible to think business without using this.
How can I use my facebook to get traffic for my blog.
Rishi Patel
July 7th, 2011 at 9:04 amGreat post Laura! A huge part of my business is social media marketing training for independent salespeople/contractors, and you nailed all the principles on the head! Great information :)
Laura Spencer
July 7th, 2011 at 3:44 pmGreat comments!
Melissa–your experiences just confirm the point I’m trying to make. :) If used to build relationships leads will come from social media.
Sandeep Kumar, It may be an obvious question, but have you linked to some of your blog posts on your Facebook wall?
Hi Rishi Patel! I love that you have a social media job. Just think that wouldn’t have existed five to ten years ago…
Jason
July 8th, 2011 at 12:34 amI hate how everyone assumes you’re on Facebook or Twitter these days.
I rarely have to go searching for work. A few quick emails to my client base or just popping on skype can be all the marketing I need. You don’t need to blog or tweet or make noise. Let your work do all that for you =)
Mlm network team
July 10th, 2011 at 4:32 pmAnd what about the bidding myths?
Samantha Gluck
July 11th, 2011 at 9:37 pmSocial media is a huge part of my business success. The last 3 new clients I landed have come from social media. What you say and do DOES matter and it’s essential to know how your particular audience wants to engage. I notice the difference when I neglect my social media — even for a day or two. It’s not something I allow to happen often, but with deadlines and pressing assignments, sometimes it’s unavoidable. I was playing catch up today with SM and it’s all back in order now. Great list of the myths that circulate around the Internet. I know that I didn’t take SM seriously until I started freelancing full-time.
Parmindar-the Mlm gal
July 12th, 2011 at 4:13 pmIn india or in asian social media book starts with and ends with facebook.
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