The 7 new deadly sins of social media

Think you know the dos and don’ts? Guess again.

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Two years ago, I wrote the original 7 Deadly Sins of Social Media. While many of those offenses continue to hold true, the landscape has changed considerably, and with it, our knowledge of each platform. Every good social strategy evolves with its audience (and brand!), so here are seven new sins social media managers struggle with now—and how to reset your course.

Misappropriation

Just because something happens doesn’t mean you have to take advantage of it for your brand. There’s a difference between being clever and being annoying, and forcing the royal baby into your content schedule for the sake of a post is spammy, not clever. An example? The summer’s weirdest trend: Hot Dogs, or Legs? Brands that sell hot dogs jumped in, and that made sense because, well, they sell hot dogs. Brands selling outdoor gear, on the other hand? A less clear connection that looks like a desperate plea for engagement. The saying that any content is good content is false. Keep it grounded in your brand’s footprint.

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