What Businesses Get Wrong on Social Media

Common Mistakes Businesses Make on Social Media (and How to Avoid Them)

At What’s Up Rincón, we work every day to highlight and share the local offerings of Puerto Rico’s West Coast — from new products and events to hours, services, jobs, and news. But too often, we notice that the information businesses post on social media is incomplete, confusing, or not very strategic. Here are the most common mistakes we (lovingly) notice — and the do’s and don’ts of how to avoid them so more people can find you, understand you and choose to visit.

❌ Don’t assume everyone knows where you’re located

Not everyone who follows you is local. Many are visiting or have just moved to the area.
Make sure your exact location is in your Instagram bio and your Facebook “About” section — and mention it in every post.
✔️ Town + business name = real visibility.

❌ Not posting your hours (or hiding them)

Customers shouldn’t have to dig through photos or guess whether you’re open.
✔️ Add your hours to your bio and pin them in a post.
✔️ If you post without mentioning them, at least say if you’re open that day.

❌ Posting delicious food… when you’re closed!

Sharing mouthwatering photos on days you’re closed can frustrate customers.
Always consider that people might see your post a day later. Post with your opening schedule in mind.

❌ Not making your menu (or service list) easy to find

Whether you’re a restaurant, salon, therapist, or workshop, your menu or services should be:

• In your bio or on your website
  
• In a pinned post
  
• In Story highlights
  
• Or ready to send digitally if someone DMs you
  

❌ Not clearly explaining promotions

Is it only this Tuesday? Every Tuesday this month? Just this weekend?
✔️ Clarify in the post text and artwork. Always include dates and specific days.

❌ Not tagging musicians, artists, or collaborating businesses

✔️ Tag the artist or business you’re collaborating with — it helps them share your post and widens your reach.

❌ Not tagging @whatsuprincon in your stories

If you don’t tag us, we can’t help amplify your event! Tag us (and your collaborators) so we can share it.

❌ Promoting products that aren’t available anymore

If something is sold out or unavailable, don’t promote it.
Outdated promotions can lead to customer frustration and hurt trust.

❌ Using generic, pixelated, or watermarked photos

Avoid using Google images, blurry photos, or stock photos that don’t represent your real products.
✔️ Take your own photos or use official images from suppliers.

❌ Using the same image across all platforms

Each platform has different image sizes. Adapt your posts or use templates so nothing important gets cut off. f you use the same image on all of them; it might get cropped and lose important info. Customize your images or use platform-specific templates.

❌ Posting only once about an event or promotion

One post isn’t enough.
✔️ Remember:

• Not everyone sees your post the same day
  
• The algorithm doesn’t show it to all your followers. Repeat your message with variations. Use posts, stories, reels, and, if possible, run a paid promotion. Repetition is key.

❌ “Sharing” old posts

Don’t share a post from years ago. Instead, download the photo, create new artwork or copy, and post it again. Just resharing old content can make you look inactive.

❌ Lacking a clear brand identity

Use the same logo and username across all your platforms. That makes you easier to recognize. And if possible, link your accounts so that what you post on Instagram also shows on Facebook.

❌ No clear call to action

Every post should have a purpose. What do you want the customer to do? Make a reservation? Message you? Visit you? Try something new? Tell them clearly.

✔️ Inform — don’t just show off

Remember: your social media isn’t just to show off what you do—it’s to explain it well and attract new customers. Even if you know everything about your business, your audience doesn’t. Don’t assume. Tell them. Guide them.

Got an event, announcement, or promo?

You can add it for free to our event calendar. We’ll include it on our website, social media, and weekly newsletter. (Subscribe here.)

You can also: 

✔️ Add your business to our local directory.                                                                                               

✔️ Promote yourself with us and reach more people living in or visiting the West Coast:                         

At What’s Up Rincón, we want to help you go further.
Use your social media wisely — and count on us to help amplify your message.