Over the years, we’ve definitely heard a lot of social media tips. And, sadly, not all of it is good. In today’s article, we’ll be sharing some of the worst social media tips we’ve ever heard.
1. Post Three Times A Day
We’ll be honest, posting three times a day will absolutely help you grow your account. You’re creating tons of content for your viewers, the algorithm sees that you’re engaged and pushes your content, and you have more chances to reach your audience. But this “foolproof” method isn’t actually foolproof.
To be foolproof, there has to be no way it couldn’t work. For a lot of creators, they simply can’t post three videos a day every day. Between work, family, friends, and other responsibilities, there’s no time for daily content creation. And even if you do find the time to post three times a day, you’ll run out of steam. This tip is a foolproof way to burn out.
Instead, find a schedule you can stick with consistently. That might be posting every day or just posting four times a week. Both are great! Just find what helps you post regularly without burning you out.
2. Post On Every Single Platform
Just like the above advice, this is good in theory. You’re getting experience creating content for a variety of mediums and reaching audiences across all formats. But it’s a surefire way to burn out. Posting on every platform means that you’re creating content for at least five or six other platforms. You’re trying to connect with and engage all of those different audiences. It’s exhausting, and you end up spreading yourself too thin.
Instead, focus on one, two, or even three key platforms. For short-form creators, that can be as easy as posting your videos on Clapper, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts! You’ll be reaching a new audience and establishing your brand on multiple platforms, but without having to create entirely new content.
3. Post To Go Viral
We broke this down in greater detail recently, but we’ll summarize. Going viral can be rewarding, but it doesn’t build sustainable, long-term success. Literally thousands (sometimes millions) of people will see your content. But you aren’t building a community that enjoys your content and feels connected to you. That means that the next video after your viral one likely won’t do as well.
Instead, focus on creating content that will attract your ideal audience. Take the time to create authentic content that will resonate with people. Build a community that will give you lasting support because they’re interested in your content. Even if you end up changing niches, they’ll likely be along for the ride! But a “viral” audience? They’ll leave as quickly as they came.
4. Posting Stolen Content
This feels like a given, but you’d be surprised how many people want you to (basically) steal content. They take videos that have gone viral or gotten a lot of engagement, save them without a watermark, and repost them as their own. They aren’t adding anything to it; they aren’t adding commentary; they’re just reposting the exact same video on their account. While this will get your account some traction and might even get you some followers, it doesn’t build a reliable community.
Not to mention you’re literally stealing other people’s IP.
Instead, post original content. Create videos that are authentic to you and your interests. Don’t try to be someone you aren’t or steal someone else’s content. Not only will you build a community that will support and show up for you, but your chances of being sued decrease dramatically. Learn more about IP law and the other ways you can get sued here.
5. Posting Only For Your Audience
This last one probably has you scratching your head. Even we’ve said you should consider your audience when creating content – we literally said it in this article! A lot of content advice says that you should create solely for your audience. You should put them at the forefront of all your strategy and planning. What do they want to see? What are they interested in? Some advice even says to choose content niches that are more likely to get attention.
Instead, we recommend starting with what you love. You should consider your audience and the content they’re interested in, but you should also prioritize the content you like. Start with niches or ideas you’re more drawn to. It keeps you interested and inspired, but you’re still creating content that your audience is drawn to. Don’t sacrifice your passions just to appease your followers.
Want some actual social media tips? Check out our Clapper 101 section for more advice, or follow @ClapperAcademy for weekly tutorials.
The Clapper app is a short-form video and Livestream app for creators 17+. Our goal is to give creators a platform to build communities and express themselves freely without judgment and censorship. To learn more, download the app, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.