There are a lot of different versions out there of how the Seven Deadly Sins apply to social media but here are some that For Rent Media Solutions has put together to assure that you are making the most of your social media marketing campaign.

1.      Don't Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

We have all been there before and understand this one. When most companies enter the social  media landscape they want to have a presence everywhere. In order to be effective both with time  and resources, you need to have goals and a solid strategy to support them. It is not necessary to  have an account on all of the social networking sites. Choose one or two platforms that best  match your goals and target audience and get to know how they work. 

2.      Don't Get Greedy

One of the main reasons businesses enter the realm of social media is to build relationships with  consumers and increase their brand awareness; however this does not mean you need to solely promote it while you are on these sites. Follow the 80/20 rule. 80% of the content you are   submitting, sharing, tagging and commenting on should not be yours. Don't consistently link   your content. Offer help to others that genuinely  and directly benefits them, not you. Provide value to the conversation and become a trusted member of the community. Move people to engage your brand and be collaborative. You can only build a community by contributing and that contribution needs to provide value for the consumers. Only then will they begin to trust your brand.

3.      Don't Try to Control It

Your relationships are your brand. Anyone can blog, tweet or Facebook message about a good or    bad experience they had with your product and it can be seen by millions of people. Embrace the transparency of social media because people are talking about your communities whether you like    it or not. We can all learn a lesson from the recent experience of a property management company that is suing a former resident for $50,000 over a tweet complaining about mold. Read more here: What the Horizon Realty Fail Can Teach You About Social Media. Within a few hours, Horizon Realty became a "trending topic" on Twitter, which means that Horizon was one of the most talked about topics on Twitter. Although trending topics on Twitter tend to be short-lived, the reach and distribution of social media goes further than Twitter.

If you try to control the message too much, you will lose control. Rather than be fearful of   messages made about your brand, engage. Use it as an opportunity to display your customer service and you will win customers for life.

4.      Don't Lose Sight Over Quality vs. Quantity

Social media is about quality not quantity and it should not be looked at like a popularity contest. Having the highest number of followers and fans is not what it is all about. Take the time to build  a targeted list even if it is smaller and takes longer. It is important to have followers that take action versus having thousands of followers/fans that will never convert. Social media is about building relationships, so you will also want to make sure that you can manage the relationships that you have.

5.      Don't Be Fake

 As we've mentioned before, social media is very transparent.  Consumers will know if you've  entered a space with the intention of only promoting your business and not engaging in conversation with them. This is a big mistake businesses are making. Your company needs to be honest and personable in the online space in order to build relationships, loyalty and trust. It's ok            to make a mistake, admit when you are wrong and move on. People want to do business with people NOT with companies so talk to them versus talking at them.

6.      Don't Be Lazy

Not only do you need to be honest, but you need to be THERE! Don't get in the mindset of "Set It and Forget It." Your brand needs to be involved more than just once a week and response time   is critical. You have to write interesting content, you have to stay current, and you have to be                       willing to show up and put forth the effort. This is a relationship that needs continuous nurturing.  Setting up profiles on social media Web sites is easy. However, growing those profiles and keeping those profiles alive require time, dedication and resources.

7.      Don't Be In Violation Of Fair Housing

Fair Housing laws are still applicable with social media. Generally, any postings online should be considered the same as email or text messages. This information is discoverable and can lead to liability. Posting photos of residents and employees? Get a model release and consider fair housing implications! Posting endorsements, testimonials and raves from your residents?  Get endorsement permission! Allowing unmonitored and uncontrolled posts?  Know how to respond to "bad press" about your community. Monitoring and controlling the posts?  Your liability            increases - libel and fair housing issues.