The Biggest Social Media Mistake You're Making (And How to Fix It)

I'm kind of addicted to social media (Instagram, anyone?).

For bloggers, the ultimate goal of social media is to get readers to visit their blog. But not everyone is reaching that goal.

And why not?
Because you're sharing your entire blog on your social media,
and it's the biggest mistake you're making.
I see it hundreds of times a day. Wait, but isn't that goal? It is, but keep reading to see how to do it the right way. But first, here are three ways this social media mistake happens:

1. The Commercial

• It's when every single social media post comes across as an advertisement for your blog. It's all BAM in your face, like a constant commercial.
• • Example: There's a comedian I used to follow on Twitter. Every post was about his upcoming appearances (Hey guys, don't forget to watch me on This Show! or I'll be performing at the Comedy Place this Saturday. Get tickets now!). Every. single. post. was like that. There was none of his personality, none of him, nothing funny, which is why I wanted to follow his account in the first place. Unfollow!
  • How to Fix: Your readers want to see YOU, to know there's a person behind the screen. Otherwise, they can just read a magazine on your subject, and that's what sets blogging apart. We feel like we "know" the blogger. There's someone real there.
  • • Make your content 70% your life (especially great for Insta or Snapchat) and other things (like useful articles or posts related to your blogging genre if posting to FB, Twitter, or Pinterest) and 30% about your blog. A few bloggers share none of their blog on social media and instead use it to interact with readers, or use their personal Facebook for that and keep their blog on their fan page. I can't, but I've seen it happen.

2. The Main Course

• This is when you share your entire post on Instagram or Snapchat.
• • Example: There's a blogger I used to follow on Snapchat. But every snap was of her scrolling down her blog post via her computer screen or it was a screenshot of her entire post. Why would I ever want to stop over and view her blog? She's already shown me her post for the day! The same thing happens on Instagram. If you show your exact blog post, why would I want to visit? Thank to your pic, I've already seen your post for the day. No need to click your link.
  • How To Fix: Think of your Insta or Snaps as an appetizer. Don't show your readers the main course. That's what your blog is for. There are plenty of ways to do this:
  • • If you're a DIY or food blogger, share a behind-the-scenes snippet (Guess what these ingredients will turn into?). If you're a beauty or style blogger, show some of the makeup or clothes you will be featuring, but not the entire look on you. Not yet. If my post is on a haul of new beauty products, I'm not going to post a pic of them all. Why would you visit my blog if you've seen everything in my haul? Instead, I'll post one item.
    • Exception: Once you've shared your appetizer, and only if the picture quality is amazing (we are visual people after all), share a bit of the final result or the "main course." But, don't share pics for the same post back to back on social media--maybe the day after the post goes up, like an "in case you missed it" type of post.

3. The Movie Trailer

• Similar to the first two examples, you're sharing your entire post on your social media. Sometimes there are words on the picture but no words to describe it. Or maybe it's just your blog link with no explanation.
• • Example: You're watching a movie trailer and you realize you've seen the entire movie by watching that trailer. This happens a lot, doesn't it? I don't know about you, but many times it makes me less likely to want to watch the movie, especially if I'm not familiar with the lead actor/actress.
  • • Or the trailer is full of words with little visuals, or the trailer has no explanation at all. I can't figure out what the movie is about. Sometimes it's an intriguing mystery, and sometimes it just leaves me confused.
  • How to Fix It: Again, don't show all your cards, so to speak. Leave a little mystery, a teaser, but not to the point that your readers are confused or feel they've seen everything by viewing that pic. Give them a reason to want to visit your blog. Showing all of your post is not it.
  • • Unless you are sharing a quote, don't share an image with words on it. I call this the "title" or "main" post pic. See the pic at the top of this post? This will not be seen on my Instagram. This is great for Pinterest, but you will find less engagement from other forms of social media.
    • Don't just throw your blog or post link up there on Twitter, Facebook, Google , etc. without an explanation. Tell us why we need to view this post. How is it going to help us?
    • And finally, don't share anything on your blog's social media unless there is a link to your blog in your profile. This sounds common sense, but it's another one I see daily. I will have blog visitors, especially on Google , that don't have their blog link anywhere. Thanks for the comment, but there's no way to contact or visit your blog.

Have you seen these examples on social media?

Extra Elle:

• I had a great weekend but it was so fast. One of my nephew's had his birthday party a couple of weeks early and I made the 5 hour drive down there. It was so much fun and was Mario-themed. But I need a weekend to recover!
• This summer has been one of power outages--last night made the 4th one within the past month. I'm ready for fall :)
• My pup Charlie ate something that hurt his tummy, I suspect at his Doggie Daycare, and is finally better. Whew.