Today I was confronted with an embarrassing post made by a brand that seemed as if they were either A) uneducated B) unaware or C) not paying attention. While I’m sure we can all understand that mistakes happen – in the social media space, as with most public domains, you are going to be called out instantly and since social media is fairly anonymous or at least gives that shield, it will be harsh.
While I’m sure we could all get a chuckle out of naming the brand, it’s not really necessary for the purpose of this article. And frankly, I’m not in the business of being a jerk. We all understand the importance of clarity, responsible writing and strategy, however here are a few tips to make sure you don’t make any of those “dumb mistakes” that hurt a little more because they’re the kind of thing we would make fun of someone else for doing.
1. Edit
Editing content takes time, and sometimes you just don’t have it. However, in all my years of education and now in the professional field editing makes a huge difference between the people that care and the people that don’t. If you’re online, your posts are your reputation.
2. Share
Even though you have been working on a project or idea for weeks, and know everything there is to know about it, two heads – and especially sets of eyes – are always better than one. Get a different opinion or someone with fresh eyes to look at your work.
3. Test
Focus groups and test markets are wonderful. However they are time consuming and sometimes costly. It doesn’t always have to be that complicated. If you are sending a direct mail, expecting people to navigate a website, or posting something online – find a friend to look at it and see if they react the way you’re hoping your audience will.
These are definitely not the only ways to ensure success with your marketing, advertising, public relations and communication tactics. Share your ideas below in the comments section.
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Couldn’t agree with you more!