Dear Social Media Mangers,
Let’s have a heart-to-heart about today (September 11). I get it. We’re in an industry where our work is extremely public and any mistakes we make are mistakes made in front of thousands, possibly millions of other people. We’re scrutinized when there’s a typo, told we need to learn where spellcheck is and anything and everything can be taken out of context. And, there’s no erasing it.
But this is the work we’ve decided to embark on. We know that one simple tweet can have a negative ripple effect- not just on you, your team or department- but also on the entire brand.
So while I get it, I have a plea to you and me and all of us in the industry. Please treat the platforms we’ve been given with a little more tender, loving care. A simple, thoughtful message is okay; product placement, logos everywhere, self-promotion & tackiness is not. Even more, companies need to learn the power of silence. Brands don’t need to stretch their relevance and interject into every conversation. On days like today, it’s up to us to put away our social media hats and focus on being genuine and human. Today is not about adding noise to the conversation, being relevant or about the number of likes. The message should be about the voice of your employees… real, genuine and heartfelt.
I know we’re all human, and yes, mistakes happen. But I’m begging you, let’s be a little more thoughtful with the power we’ve been given. The more we make the platforms about us, the less we’ll get in return. Let’s get back to what social media is all about. That’s a real, genuine connection with the consumer… it’s not about you.
Jessica
