The Social campfire

If you read Part One of this two-part frightening social media mistakes series, you know there is plenty you can do to make your Halloween engagement and sales soar – and much you should avoid. Design and create a spectacular fall social media engagement plan with my tips below.

Steer Clear of These Spooky Social Media Marketing Mistakes

Avoid these common social media marketing mistakes…

Forgetting to Post Halloween Photos/Updates  

This Halloween, don’t forget to post what you are doing in-office and in-store. Are you decorating your staff cubicles? Dressing up in costumes as a team? Snap a photo! Pair it with a couple lines of copy about what is happening in the picture and how your company is getting festive. Failure to post these photos on social media is a missed opportunity to engage. Don’t forget to use hashtags like #Halloween and #Halloween2017.

Sharing/Posting Too Much

Some of us absolutely love Halloween. However, there is such a thing as posting too much. Stick to one Facebook or LinkedIn post to celebrate 10/31 – and make it count. You can share a few times on Halloween if you’re on Twitter or Instagram.

Getting Too Creepy

For some businesses, there is such a thing as too creepy. Don’t forget, you and/or your social media marketing partner know your brand better than anyone. If gory Halloween graphics or frightening videos don’t sit well with your type of customers, don’t post it. For example, professional services brands may opt for a classier autumn look (think pumpkins and fall leaves), while companies catering to children may post cute or funny graphics instead (laughing pumpkins or other kids in costumes).  While Halloween is a holiday of ghouls and goblins, consider who you are sharing your posts with.

Forcing Your Posts

If you don’t have much to say about Halloween, don’t worry about it. There’s nothing worse than feigning enthusiasm or trying too hard to celebrate in your tweets. Focus on being authentic. If it’s not your favorite holiday or you don’t have much going on in the office, consider a simple “Happy Halloween” greeting with a photo of Jack o’ lanterns or a bowl of colorful candy.

Attorneys and educational brands can remind their followers to be safe and watch out for children “trick or treating”, while boutiques and consulting firms can ask their followers to tell them what they enjoy doing on Halloween or their favorite October 31 memory. While I recommend posting something that day, you don’t have to be cookie cutter. Think outside the box.

Ignoring Curation Possibilities

Strapped for time? Don’t forget curation! Your colleague may have an event going on that you want to help promote – or you may find a funny GIF you can take off GIPHY. Introduce your followers (and customers) to your brand’s favorite Halloween articles, animations, and videos by sharing them straight from Facebook or re-posting them on Instagram. There is no harm with a few RTs or mentions on Twitter, either. If you wrote a blog last Halloween or think some of your content applies to the holiday, re-post it on social media.

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I want you to succeed in your fall social media marketing strategy! If you haven’t already, be sure to read my blog about avoiding 4 more social media mistakes for business. You can also follow me and The Social Campfire brand on Facebook to stay updated on the latest social media tips all year long.