One common mistake that many business owners make is mixing their personal and business social media habits. While it may seem harmless, using your business accounts for personal scrolling can actually have negative effects on your online presence.

In this blog post we’re going to break down why this is ruining your business social media accounts.

1. Confused Algorithms

Social media algorithms are designed to analyze user behavior and preferences to deliver personalized content. When you use your business account for personal activities, you send mixed signals to these algorithms. For example, if you’re scrolling through cat videos on your business page, the algorithm may start showing cat-related content or your behaviour (“likes”) to your business followers, even if it has nothing to do with your brand. This can confuse your audience and dilute your brand’s message.

3. Inconsistent Branding

Consistency is key when it comes to branding. Your social media presence should reflect your brand’s values, personality, and identity. Mixing personal content with business content can create inconsistency in your branding. Your followers may be confused about what your brand represents, leading to a loss of trust and credibility.

2. Engaging the Wrong Audience

Your former high school classmates and extended family members are likely not your business’s target audience, so don’t lead your algorithms to be convinced of this. Your business social media accounts should be focused on engaging with your target audience and promoting your products or services. Mixing personal content with business content can attract the wrong audience and detract from your brand’s message. You want to engage with your key audience or connect with your specific industry only.

4. Multi-User Management

If you have employees or a marketing partner managing your social media accounts, keeping personal and business activities separate becomes even more important. Allowing others access to your business accounts means they’ll have visibility into all content, including personal messages and interactions. This can not only be distracting for them but also potentially compromise your privacy. By keeping personal content on personal accounts and business content on business accounts, you maintain a clear boundary between professional and personal communications, ensuring that your business’s social media presence remains focused and professional.

5. Professionalism Matters

Lastly, maintaining separate accounts for your personal and business activities demonstrates professionalism. It shows that you take your business seriously and respect your audience’s time and interests. By keeping personal content on your personal accounts and business content on your business accounts, you ensure that each platform serves its intended purpose effectively.