Avoid These Costly Errors: What Not to Do on Social Media for Business Growth

Imagine spending hundreds,

even thousands

of dollars on a social media manager,

only to see no improvement in your online presence.

The harsh reality is that understanding what not to do on social media for business is often more critical than simply knowing what to do.

If you jump too quickly into outsourcing without understanding the key dynamics of social media, you risk sabotaging your tutoring business before it even takes off.

Instead of making costly mistakes, learn how to effectively navigate social media and build a powerful, authentic online presence on your own.

The Problem with Outsourcing Too Soon

Even if a tutor is comfortable using social media personally, navigating it from a business perspective is a different ballgame.

Tutors often communicate with potential clients they've never met, leading to discomfort and the urge to hire someone else to manage this.

However, if you can’t communicate your brand clearly to the social media manager, how can your clients feel connected to you?

While posting regularly is essential, engaging with your audience is even more critical.

Most tutors haven't created their core content and hope the social media person will handle everything magically.

But social media managers don’t have the same background knowledge, understanding, or experience that you do.

They might not know how to answer specific questions about tutoring kids in your specialty area, potentially harming your reputation.

Real-Life Consequences

In my Facebook group, the Ultimate Support Group for Online Tutors, I've seen social media managers for tutors post ads, breaking community rules.

This not only gets them removed from the group but also cuts off the tutor from a valuable support network.

What to Do Instead

Instead of outsourcing too early, consider joining a paid community like the Insider Secrets Club 3.0 for Online Tutors. This will provide you with training on all the things you don’t yet know, helping you:

• Understand who you are serving
• Develop your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
• Create core content

Core content can be repurposed across platforms, so you don’t have to be on social media constantly.

Focus on attracting new students while working with your current ones.

Build your infrastructure first, then outsource later once you are ready to scale and have less time to focus on social media.

By doing this, you ensure that your brand’s voice and message are consistent and clear, and you will have a solid understanding of your audience’s needs and preferences before handing over the reins.

Benefits of Building Your Own Social Media Presence

1. Professionalism: Learning about different platforms from a business perspective makes you seem more professional. For instance, LinkedIn requires a professional approach, while Facebook is more informal and TikTok is entertainment-centric.
2. Understanding Platform Culture: Interacting on different platforms helps you understand their unique cultures and expectations. In the beginning, being on social media gives you a glimpse of who your ideal client is, what things they are asking, and what concerns them the most. They are the ones hiring you, so assuming without any data to back it up can be harmful.
3. Cost Efficiency: It's cheaper to learn from experts than to hire someone. Here’s how much social media management costs according to Social Bee:
• Freelancer: $14 to $35 for basic services, +$100 for specialized skills, and $200-$1,000 for package deals
• In-house: $52,000 to $82,000/year
• Agency: $1,000 to +$20,000/month

Hiring a freelancer without understanding the platform can lead to issues, like a tutor I knew who hired someone on Fiverr. When she didn’t leave a 5-star review, the freelancer held her website hostage until she changed it.

Embrace Social Media

In the beginning of your business, you have more time to dedicate to learning social media.

Don't be afraid of it.

Around 30% of online tutors I work with are intimidated by social media and all things techie, but the only way to learn is to begin to dive in.

Engaging with social media not only helps you understand your clients better but also builds your confidence and expertise in managing your online presence.

Final Thoughts

Understanding what not to do on social media for business is crucial, especially for tutors who are just starting out.

Avoid the pitfalls of outsourcing social media management too early.

Invest time in learning the platforms, creating core content, and engaging with your audience.

This approach will not only save you money but also build a more authentic and professional online presence, helping your tutoring business grow effectively and sustainably.

Want to be surrounded by a community of tutors that are building their online presence together, join the Insider Secrets Club today.

 Want to learn more about what you should be doing on social Media?  Check out this post. Why Posting Every Day Won’t Guarantee Success: The Truth About Content Strategy for Tutors