‘Tis the season for spreading holiday cheer to your customers on social media! Whether you’re a local dentist office or an online retailer, there are plenty of opportunities to engage your audience in fun, festive and fruitful ways this month. However, there’s a right and a wrong way to take advantage of the yuletide spirit, so be careful you’re not making one of these holiday social media mistakes! And, while you’re at it, put these stock Santas on the “do not post” list.

Mistake # 1: Selling too much.
Don’t be afraid to promote your product, but be careful not to over sell—not every post around the holidays needs a call to action. Consumers are already in the consuming mood this time of year, so sometimes all they need is a gentle reminder that your business is out there. A cheery, upbeat and non-pushy holiday message should do the trick!

Mistake # 2: Less than cheerful customer service.

Time to put your friendliest elves in charge of dealing with customers! The holidays can be stressful for everyone when it seems like the end of the year is fast approaching and there is still so much to do. Make an effort to put your best foot forward with customers and you’ll avoid being called Ebenezer Scrooge in a Yelp review.

Mistake # 3: Not tracking your results.

Do you know how much engagement your holiday post got last year? How many people opened your holiday newsletter? Did you see an increase in leads? If you have this information, it will make planning for this year a lot easier! Be sure to keep track of what went well and what didn’t go well so you have some solid data to work with next year.

Mistake # 4: Not planning a budget.
It’s the one time of year you can splurge and your social media budget is no exception! Help cut through the noise by putting a little boosting budget behind your best holiday posts. Saving a few bucks at the end of the year to dedicate to holiday marketing will go a long way—especially to avoid mistake number 5!

Mistake # 5: Forgetting to give!
The holidays are about giving, and social media is a great tool to utilize when you’re giving back! Whether it’s rewarding your most loyal customers with a freebie or a big discount, or diving into some cause-marketing, make sure you tell your followers how grateful you are for their support.

The post 5 Stock-Photo Santas to Avoid and Other Holiday Social Media Tips appeared first on GetPhound.