Have you ever had a bad friend?

They’re the kind of friend that you’ve known for a long time, but they just aren’t that good at putting effort into the relationship. Even though you know that the key to a good friendship is two-way communication, there seems to be a bit of a disconnect.

Have you ever considered that, just maybe, you could be being a bad friend online?

Ouch – that one hurts!

Most of us are pretty good at maintaining open and honest communication with our close friends to develop friendships in a healthy way. However, not all of us are as good at nourishing this same type of friendship online, especially on Instagram.

The main purpose of social media is found right in the name: it is meant to be social!

This means that our online profiles are not meant to be merely a glorified, digital monologue; they exist to create a conversation between you and your followers.

We want to give you just a few different ways you may be being a bad friend on your Instagram profile. Our goal is to provide insight into what you could be doing wrong and give you some helpful insight to improve your online relationships and facilitate growth!

1. You don’t pick up the phone or are radio silent

Imagine calling up a friend, they answer the phone, and you don’t say anything at all. That would definitely be considered a super awkward, and frankly rude, conversation.

You couldn’t expect to have a very meaningful conversation or healthy friendship if the conversation was totally one-sided. This is just not how conversations are meant to be!

The way this often pans out on our social media accounts is when we post something, people comment or DM us, and we don’t ever reply. If you have millions of followers, we definitely don’t blame you for not replying to all the comments!

What You Should Do Instead:

For most of our accounts, it is completely possible to respond to comments consistently and in a timely manner. This simple act of engaging with your followers transforms your Instagram page from a soapbox monologue to a meaningful dialogue.

2. You bombard, overload, and spam them

When you have a great friendship, venting is often a prevalent part of the relationship. Venting is simply unloading your thoughts on someone you trust. Venting can be great… until you’re the only person doing it.

When we post a ton of videos, share dozens of graphics, host a live video, and so on all at once, it can seem a bit overwhelming. There are a few different theories on social media posting and what is too much or too little. Regardless, posting more than 3 times a day doesn’t mesh kindly with the Instagram algorithm, nor does it translate well to your followers.

What You Should Do Instead:

In a world that already bombards us with advertisements and marketing messages, we don’t need more of it when we follow social accounts. Find that sweet spot when posting on Instagram, and try not to overload your followers with way too much information.

3. You only reach out when you need something

The only thing worse than scarcely talking to your friend is only talking to them when you need something. This kind of opportunistic behavior doesn’t just happen in our one-on-one relationships, but it can also bleed into our online community.

It takes going the extra mile and consistently interacting with your followers to develop a healthy, open relationship. The more you interact with your followers, the more they will get to know you and your brand and church on a deeper level. This is the ultimate goal of social media: to develop social relationships and partnerships.

Refrain from only interacting with your followers when you want them to do something, like buy a product, contribute to a cause, or even attending your church. 

What You Should Do Instead:

This comes down to the difference between advertising and marketing. Advertising is just about promotion; marketing is about meeting your audience’s needs. To market well and effectively, genuine relationships have to be built. This means communicating not just to get them to do something but to get to know them.

4. You don’t partake in the community

Friendships are great one-on-one, but they are often even better when the friendship is a small part of a greater community.

Social media gives us the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than ourselves and get to know people we wouldn’t normally have the chance to know. We miss out on an important opportunity when we neglect to use our social accounts to build the community!

What You Should Do Instead:

Staying on top of your comment section is a great way to partake in the community. Entering the conversation with your followers and other brands online helps you get to know your digital community!

Remember, your online presence is the front door to your church, organization, or non-profit. It is where people go to get a glance as to who you truly are. A helpful first step to a healthy relationship with your church attendees or non-profit partners is to be a good friend to them online.

When you are a good friend online, trust is built, and you can create long-lasting relationships that truly resemble a healthy community.

Want to learn more about how PMF Creative can help you with eye-catching designs and social media posts that excite your audience? Click here to learn more about our services!