Let's face it, we all want to be seen as professionals, especially when it comes to our online presence. Growing an audience is no small feat, and there's no shortage of advice out there on how to do it. But let's be honest, some of that advice can feel a little... well, spammy. Sure, they might promise quick growth, but at what cost? The last thing any of us want is to turn off our audience with tactics that feel inauthentic or pushy. It's all about building genuine, meaningful connections with our audience - after all, they're not just numbers, they're real people.

1. "Invite Your Friend" Pleas

We've all been there - casually asking our followers to hop on over to our business page and invite their friends. Seems harmless enough, right? Well, it can actually come off as a little spammy. So, instead of asking for favours, let’s focus on creating valuable, share-worthy content that gets our audience excited about our brand.

2. Overdoing it with @Everyone Tags

Tagging everyone and their dog in our posts can feel intrusive and downright annoying. Let's aim for a more personalized approach by tagging only those directly involved or those who might genuinely be interested. Trust me, it's a better way to build real connections.

3. Comment Pods

While comment pods might seem like a magic boost for engagement, they often lead to interactions that feel a bit...forced. Let's aim for organic engagement by offering content that truly resonates with our audience and sparks genuine conversations.

4. Follow Trains

Follow trains might make our follower count look impressive, but they rarely lead to solid engagement or real conversions. They actually make our content look less valuable and give a lower engagement rate overall, which reduces our future reach. Why not focus on attracting followers who genuinely dig our brand and what we bring to the table?

5. Paying for Features as Recognition

Paying for a feature and then spinning it as recognition can be misleading and damage our brand's credibility. Let's strive for authentic recognition that's based on the real value we provide.

6. Dressed-Up Criticism

Constructive criticism can be a great tool for growth, but it's crucial to deliver it in a respectful and empathetic way. Being overly critical and disguising it as 'said with love' can come off as passive-aggressive and could turn off our audience.

7. Reacting to Your Own Posts

Interacting with our own posts from different profiles can look a bit desperate. Let's trust in the value of our content and give our audience the space to engage organically.

In the quest for growth, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters - serving your audience. Remember, it's not about playing to the algorithm or collecting followers; it's about building a community and helping people. Focus on understanding your audience's needs and delivering value. Genuine engagement and growth will follow naturally.

Avoiding these practices will help you maintain authenticity and build genuine, meaningful connections with your audience. Remember, the key to a successful brand is not just in the numbers, but in the quality of the relationships you cultivate. And always remember, serving your audience and providing value always wins in the long run!