Social media marketing feels like this magical unicorn that promises visibility, clients, and cash… but more often than not?
It feels like you’re spinning your wheels with nothing to show for it.
If you’ve been posting and praying but not seeing the results you hoped for, chances are, you’re making one of these sneaky mistakes.
The good news? They’re all fixable.
Let’s walk through the top 5 mistakes coaches and entrepreneurs are making in their social media marketing plan—so you can clean things up and finally start seeing some traction.
I recorded a video a while back, but it’s still packed with helpful insights if you want the quick-and-dirty overview. Today though, we’re going beyond the basics.
In this post, I’m not just sharing what the mistakes are — I’m giving you the “why” behind them and how to fix them, so you can start seeing better results right away.
Mistake #1: Talking to Everyone (aka Marketing to No One)
Here’s the truth: if your message is for everyone, it’s for no one.
I see this all the time—coaches and creatives trying to be everything to everybody. But if you’re not clear on who you’re talking to, your message is going to sound like background noise.
Here’s why this matters: When you get laser-specific about your ideal client, it changes everything. You’ll write captions that feel like you’re reading their mind. You’ll promote offers that feel tailor-made. And you’ll attract people who say: “It’s like you’re in my head!”
To build out your dream client profile, start with these simple questions:
- How old are they? Where do they live?
- What keeps them up at night? (Yes, go there.)
- What are their goals?
- What podcasts are they binging? What are they Googling at 2 a.m.?
Pro tip: Go ahead and give them a name (like “Visionary Vanessa” or “Burned-Out Brittany”) and even grab a photo from a stock site. This isn’t going on your website—it’s just for you to keep them real in your mind.
When you deeply understand who you’re talking to, your content becomes magnetic. They feel seen. And seen people? They click, buy, and become loyal fans.
Mistake #2: Hanging Out Where You Like… Not Where They Are
Let’s be real: we all have our favorite platforms. (Mine is Pinterest because of the searchability, FYI.)
But the question isn’t: “Where do I like to scroll?”
It’s: “Where is my audience actually hanging out?”
Because here’s the kicker: if you’re building your whole strategy around your personal preferences, you might be missing your ideal clients entirely.
For example:
- Want to reach high-income professionals? Hello, LinkedIn.
- Targeting creative women in their 30s? Pinterest is your playground.
- Need to catch Gen Z? TikTok and Instagram Reels are non-negotiable.
It’s worth your time to do a quick platform audit. Study the demographics. Check where your audience is already consuming content. (Hot tip: ask your people where they hang out online—it’s faster than guessing.)
And while you’re at it? Clean up old, neglected profiles. If you’ve got a dusty Twitter account from 2012 that hasn’t been touched in years, consider archiving it. An inactive profile can feel like a “closed for business” sign.
Bottom line: go where the people are. Even if it’s outside your comfort zone.
Mistake #3: Winging It Without a Plan (No SMART Goals in Sight)
Be honest: are you posting just to “stay active,” or are you actually working toward something?
Listen, our brains crave clear goals. We’re wired to focus better when we know what we’re aiming for.
That’s why vague goals like “grow my business” aren’t helpful. We need goals with edges—ones that tell us exactly what success looks like.
Enter: SMART goals.
- Specific (What exactly do you want to do?)
- Measurable (Can you track it?)
- Attainable (Is it realistic?)
- Relevant (Does it align with your biz?)
- Time-bound (What’s the deadline?)
Example:
➡️ Not so helpful: “I want to use Instagram to get clients.”
➡️ Much better: “I want to drive 100 clicks to my offer page from Instagram over the next 60 days.”
See the difference?
Now you have a clear target. And once you have a target, you can reverse-engineer a strategy to hit it.
Start by writing down your top 1–3 goals for the next 90 days. This will keep you focused, cut down on random posting, and make it way easier to track your progress.
Mistake #4: Flying Blind (Not Tracking What’s Working)
If you’re not measuring, you’re guessing.
And in business, guessing is expensive.
When you take time to track your data, you’ll start to see exactly what’s working and what’s not—so you can do more of the good stuff and ditch the duds.
Let’s say you promote your new offer in three places:
- Email: You track open and click-through rates.
- Instagram Reels: You monitor views and bio link clicks.
- Facebook Live: You measure comments and trackable link clicks.
If your Reel drives the most traffic? Double down.
If your email bombed? Time to tweak the subject line or CTA.
The goal isn’t to obsess over every single number—it’s to watch for patterns. When you track results, you make smarter decisions. And smarter decisions = faster growth.
Mistake #5: No Content Strategy (Posting Just to Post)
Last but definitely not least: let’s talk content strategy.
If you’re just posting random memes and inspirational quotes without a plan, you’re making this way harder than it needs to be.
Your content needs a clear job description. Think of it like a team: you need players for different positions.
- Some content builds awareness.
- Some nurtures relationships.
- Some converts browsers into getting on your .
Without a strategy, your content is just noise. With one? It becomes a powerful engine for your business.
Here’s how to start:
- Define your content pillars (Ex: Mindset, Lead Generation, Client Wins)
- Know your audience’s pain points and goals.
- Mix it up! Aim for 80–90% value-based content and only 10–20% promotional. Why? Because nobody likes a spammy sales feed.
- Plan your posting schedule. Batch your content if you can—your future self will thank you.
When you take the time to map this out, you’ll save time, create with intention, and show up in a way that actually attracts the right people.
The Bottom Line: Strategy Wins Every Time
Social media can work for your business—but only if you work it with a strategy.
If you:
✅ Know exactly who you’re talking to
✅ Hang out on the right platforms
✅ Set clear goals
✅ Track your progress
✅ And create content with purpose…
You’ll stop feeling like you’re screaming into the void and start seeing real results.
Still feeling stuck?
👉 Get a Visibility Breakthrough
Think of the Visibility Breakthrough like a skilled mechanic taking a look under the hood of your business. This is your chance to get my focused attention on your visibility strategy and pinpoint exactly what’s not running smoothly. I’ll help you identify what’s not working as effectively as it could be, so you can fine-tune your approach and start attracting more of your ideal clients.
