610.409.2522
dani@mac4comm.com
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
  • Home
  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • Who We Work With
  • Blog
  • How to Reach Us

Think Before You Tweet: (And Other Ways to Protect Your Corporate Reputation On Social Media)

October 26, 2016Lori Rohrbach

on_phone-2-680x1024-3

Social media is a powerful, pervasive outlet that drives information on both personal and corporate levels.  Platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are no longer just for sharing your children’s baby pictures or last night’s dinner.  Today, they are sources of personal updates, global and local news as well as political commentary.

In recent weeks, the United States has been flooded with political tweets and links to articles supporting all points of view, which is the beauty of the First Amendment at work.  However, outlets like Twitter and Facebook are designed for immediate response for users to share opinions in real time.  While fun for sharing a cartoon or funny meme, this power poses a serious risk to companies who do not have a social media strategy.

A corporate leader does not have the luxury to get on Twitter and spew individual opinions without first aligning his or her message to the company’s strategy.  One “shoot from the hip” Tweet will go viral in minutes.  And today, the message never goes away.  That means, damage control for years to come; that one Tweet will come back to haunt your corporate communications team over and over again.

With power comes responsibility, and executives must remember that when facing a keyboard and the overwhelming desire to “just send out this one Tweet,” to step back.  Savvy corporations today have social media experts as part of their corporate communications team.   These are the people executives need to work with when engaging social media.  There is a right way and wrong way to get your message out – and these are the people who will make sure your company is getting the right kind of attention on the Internet.

In terms of social media wins recently, no one nailed it better than Denise Young, Vice President of Corporate affairs at Wm. Wrigley, Jr. Company, the manufacturer of Skittles candy, following a Tweet made by Donald Trump, Jr. comparing refugees to Skittles. “Skittles are candy. Refugees are people. We don’t feel it’s an appropriate analogy. We will respectfully refrain from further commentary as anything we say could be misinterpreted as marketing.”

This is social media strategy at its best: short, simple, respectful and it takes the company out of the fray.  The same can be said for Tic Tac’s response to being mentioned in the Trump bus scandal:
“Tic Tac respects all women.  We find the recent statements and behavior completely inappropriate and unacceptable.”

You can be sure the corporate communications and social media teams at Wrigley and Tic Tac monitored the situation and recommended the path to take: address the issue, state the company’s position, and remove the company from the fray.  In doing so, they solidified their reputations as mature, professional and compassionate corporate entities.

Corporate communications professionals are needed and valuable allies in facing the barrage of information sources available today.  Work with them to reinforce your corporate message and keep your reputation as a company impeccable.  And remember: Think before you Tweet.

 

Author: Robin Imbesi

Previous post A Tangled Web Next post Think you know the No-Brainers for Presenting to your Leaders and Peers? Think Again.

Eight Work-From-Home Etiquette Tips

Eight Work-From-Home Etiquette Tips

 

Whether telecommuting is old hat or something you’ve been forced into as part of the COVID-19 shutdown, here are a few tips to make the experience run smoothly for both employers and employees.

 

Managing expectations

Successful work-from-home strategies always begin with clearly communicated expectations. Make sure your employees have any necessary equipment, tools and resources.  Will they need to track their time? Participate in regularly scheduled meetings? Be available at certain times of day? For employees, know what you’re accountable for and clearly communicate any challenges you’re having.

 

Constant communication

Keep the lines of communication open and be accessible. Check in with employees regularly through apps like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts and Skype, or even an old-fashioned email or phone call. Be genuinely interested in how they’re doing but don’t overdo it. Foster a feeling of trust by not micromanaging.

 

Nine to five…ish

While having a daily schedule is ideal, it may not always be practical right now. Make sure your people know when you need them to be available and try to offer flexibility at other times. They may be juggling school schedules as well as work schedules and working at “off-shift” times may be necessary. Be mindful of employees in different time zones as well.

 

For employees, try to work when you’re at your best, and not when you’re exhausted by kindergarten playtime and fourth grade math. Make sure people know if you will be unavailable at certain times.

 

Taking a break

Getting up and moving clears the head and helps with creativity and problem-solving. Whether it’s a walk around the block or a break for lunch, make time to get away from your desk throughout the day.

 

Signing off

Working from home does not mean being available 24/7. Set an actual end to the workday if possible. Don’t send and respond to messages at all hours. Sign out of messaging apps and close work programs. Understand and respect these boundaries.

 

Location, location, location

When setting up a home office, think about where you will have the fewest distractions – for yourself and for those who may be seeing you and your background on a video conferencing platform. Try to avoid busy spots that may include semi-clad people walking behind you, barking dogs and kids vying for your attention.

 

Conferencing and calls

Be clear about whether you expect people to turn on their cameras during meetings. If so, be clear about how they should be dressed. During calls, mute your phone when you’re not talking to avoid background noise. Headphones can also help with call quality. When speaking, pause frequently so others can participate in the conversation.

 

Social engagement

It’s ok for managers and employees to have some down time together, which may help ward off feelings of isolation. Keep up your normal level of interaction, perhaps with a virtual coffee break or happy hour. Managers should set the tone for how casual to be. Let employees choose what they would like to share, and never pry into areas that were off-limits before.

 

 

Author: Erin Alderfer

HomeWho We AreWhat We DoWho We Work WithBlogHow to Reach Us
Copyright © 2016 MAC4 Communications, LLC.