10 Terrifying Social Media Mistakes Filmmakers Make

"Hallowe’en again: tis the season of ghosts, witches and things that go ‘bump’ in the night.

It’s the season of facing the things you fear most. It could be the screenplay that you’ve started and never finished, the part you promised to an actor friend you forgot or some twisted skeleton hanging in your closet.

Or maybe, just maybe – could it be something even scarier – like social media?

For most filmmakers and screenwriters, the thing we fear most is losing all the fans we have worked so hard to get. Getting a fan (or follower on Twitter) takes a lot of hard work. You spend a heap of energy attracting a fan, then even more effort into getting them to watch a trailer for your movie and yet even more to get them to buy, rent or see your movie (or to attend a festival screening). To lose even one fan is disheartening.

In keeping with the Hallowe’en season, here are the 13 ghoulish mistakes you can make to scare fans away from your Facebook page or Twitter profile: Boo!

1. Being a stranger

You might welcome a total stranger to your front door on Hallowe’en – especially if they have the right costume on. That doesn’t mean you will like or follow a total stranger on your social media profiles.

Want to know the surefire way to be seen as a stranger on social media? Irrelevant content, of course. Post stuff that doesn’t click with your fan base will make sure you look like a total stranger, and people will run away as quickly as you can say “Unlike”.

Remedy: Pay attention to your followers. Give them the kind of content they want. Is it advice and tips? Or is it your own unique look at the film industry? Listen to your fan base, to your audience. It will make you less scary and soon they will trust you."

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