No doubt about it. Social media can be an incredible tool in the hands of coaches. I’ve seen it used for amazing impact time and again. However, I’ve also seen it become a huge source of frustration as well. So, how do you avoid those social media mistakes that leave you beating your head against a wall and instead harness the power of social media for your coaching business?

To start, you’ve got to identify which of the common costly social media mistakes you’re making as a coach — because there are several. And honestly, multiple factors could be at play in your struggles.

Also, before we dive too deep, take heart in knowing you’re not alone in your frustration. Social media is an ever-changing beast and it’s overwhelming knowing where to start (and where to stop) when it comes to using it effectively in your business.

Thankfully, knowledge is power and we’re taking back your power over social today by uncovering 5 Costly Social Media Mistakes Coaches are Making.

#1: Social Media Mistakes Around Your Message & Content

One of the biggest social media mistakes I commonly see in coaches is not honing their messaging and content to speak to their ideal client and their pain points. 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again (and again and…), if you’re trying to speak to everyone, you’re actually speaking to no one. For your social media content to resonate, you need a deep understanding of your ideal client and the struggles they are facing.

As a life coach or business coach, you are offering an extremely valuable lifeline to your people, but you have to know how to throw that line for them to grab a hold of it. 

The first things you always need to consider when your social media posts aren’t converting or engaging are: Who am I talking to? What do they need from me? And am I clearly telling them how I can help?

#2: Trying to Be In Too Many Places at Once

There are a LOT of social media platforms to choose from these days — LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest (among others). But without a huge amount of time, money, or team members, you can’t effectively be on all of them. Also, you don’t need to be.

As a one-woman (or one-man) show or as a coach with a small team, it’s better to focus on one or two platforms where you know your people are hanging out. For many coaches, this is Instagram. For some, it’s LinkedIn or even Facebook groups. 

It may take some trial and error to find your audience, but when you do find your tribe, go all-in on those key platforms for your business. It makes focusing, converting, and avoiding other costly social media mistakes so much easier.

#3: Spending Too Much Time on Social

In addition to the dangers of being in too many places when it comes to social media, you can also fall into the trap of spending way too much time glued to the social media apps on your phone.

Yes, it’s amazing to engage with your audience, but you also need to focus on other parts of your coaching business. Also, the more time you spend on social, the easier it can be to slide into the social media mistakes (and life mistakes) that occur when you begin comparing yourself and your business to what others are doing or sharing.

Every single social app you’re on is designed to keep you sucked in as long as possible, so I strongly suggest you protect your time and your mindset by being conscious of this. Set a goal to spend approximately 30 minutes per day on your favorite platform, engaging and building relationships. And then get off.

#4: Hiding Your Beautiful Face

As a coach, you are your brand. People want to know you. 

Yes, your content, your offers, and your messaging are about your tribe, but you are at the heart of your business and your potential clients want you to see your face and hear your stories.

Vulnerability can be hard, but as a coach, you’re asking people to be vulnerable with you, so it’s only natural that they would expect some amount of that in return as well.

Sidenote: I highly recommend investing in a branding photoshoot. They help you confidently show up in photos on your social media regularly. If you’re looking for a great value for high quality brand photos, check out Shoott and see if they are in your area.

#5: Over Outsourcing 

Listen, I am all about outsourcing and bringing in a team for support, so you can focus in your zone of genius. This is what my business is built on — serving others so they can do what they do best while I take the marketing off their plate.

However, this doesn’t mean that as a coach or business owner that you should ever be totally out of touch with your social media audience or your content. 

It’s amazing to have someone creating and scheduling your content or doing engagement. It’s fantastic to have people help you come up with and implement a strategy, but you still need to have a beat on what is happening in your social community. It doesn’t have to be a giant time suck, but it does need to be on your radar somewhere. 

Also, when you do outsource, make sure you’re working with someone you trust. Social media is an important touchpoint for your potential clients and you want to make sure you’re using it to shine brightly. 

If you need help shining, strategizing, or scheduling when it comes to your social media, the team at Amazing OBM would love to connect. You can start by scheduling a FREE 30-minute consultation. We are happy to chat, offer you some valuable tips, and determine if we are a good fit for one another in future endeavors!