As a social media manager and someone that studied social media for a degree, there are very few things that annoy me more than when people with no knowledge of social media throw out social media advice. Or when people with no marketing experience feel the need to say things like, “why not target everyone?” These two things annoy me so much that I have decided to dedicate one (or maybe a few) posts to debunking said advice. Here is a list of the top 5 social media myths I hate: 

You have to niche down

Now, I am aware that I have given this advice myself. Finding a specific audience that enjoys the type of content or product you create is not the end all be all of your strategies. You don’t have to niche down to grow an audience. You can, however, become the niche yourself. An expert in this? Chris Olsen. People are interested in Chris because, well, he’s Chris, and they like the aspects of his life he shares on the internet. Your target audience does not have to fit a niche, and I am so glad this conversation is gaining more traction. I have been enjoying listening to Katie Xu’s take on this topic.

the number of followers you have is important

It’s 2023. The number of followers you have is not an indicator of your success. I consider this an evident fact that everyone knows, so it irks me when I hear someone say that your number of followers is a determining factor of success. 

you should be posting every day

Consistency is key, but consistency does not mean you have to post daily. In fact, I suggest you not post every day when you are just starting off. Instead, try finding a posting schedule that fits you and gives you time to rest. You do not want to burn out, and posting daily with no systems in place is a quick way to burn out. Social media is supposed to be something you enjoy; find the right schedule, and your followers will know when to expect to hear from you. Post enough to keep yourself on their mind, but not to the point where your mental health suffers. 

your posts all have to be aesthetically pleasing

A perfectly curated Instagram feed? That is so ten years ago. While looks still matter, what matters most is the quality of the content. It is not enough for a post to just look pretty and match when put together. Each post has to stand for itself individually. If it all looks good together, that is a plus. Depending on your target audience (Gen Z), you might want to make your feed not match on purpose. 

all posts need to be professional

Gone are the days when you didn’t have to show your personality on the internet. Finding a social media account with all professional posts really irks my soul. Even if the purpose of your account is to educate or to build professional connections, you can still keep your serious reputation while having fun on social media. How playful you are will depend on your target audience, but your personality still needs to show through.

I am tired of hearing these things come from people coaching others. While some of these may have been valid at one point, social media is constantly changing, and with it, the way in which we post. Be careful of which people you trust when it comes to receiving social media tips. Advice turns into myths. These 5 myths are the ones that have been on my mind lately but don’t you worry; I already have part 2 brewing. Are these all standard takes, or did you find one you disagree with?