On the danger of misinterpretation

A social media campaign is a great way of getting users interested in a site and what it has to offer. Whether using Facebook or Twitter or another social networking site, it is possible to identify a segment of a target audience. The subsequent task is to build productive relationships with these individuals. However, the processes are never straightforward and if care is not taken then setbacks may occur.

At SEO Consult we have a lot of expertise when it comes to social media management. We have built up plenty of experience and have kept in touch with the latest trends. We can easily combine social media optimisation with conventional optimisation. At the same time, we have the skill to perform the necessary tasks with the delicacy required. This means that our updates are never misinterpreted.

One of the things one soon discovers when using ‘the social media’ for social purposes is that any careless messages can be misinterpreted. This is in part because there is no tone on a tweet, for example. This means that it can be read in different ways. One should always be careful about the contents of a tweet. If tweeting for commercial purposes the imperative to be sensitive in communication is obviously much more critical.

A host of individuals have got into trouble on social networks. People can get into conversations and forget that everyone can see what is being written. The difficulty of communicating in 140 characters simply compounds the problem of being precise for those unversed in interaction on the platform.

When a campaign is being run by a reputable consultancy this can take some of the danger of reputation damage out of the equation. Nonetheless, it is essential to have a policy for employees of the firm. Any Twitter accounts they use should be in their personal capacity unless they refrain from airing their personal opinions. Their bios should clearly establish the company’s position on the issue.

It may also help if a bio says that a retweet is not necessarily an endorsement of a tweet. It is so easy to retweet something without spotting something about it which makes it a good idea to leave it alone.

It is not just Twitter which is a potential minefield. If an employee expresses personal views on Facebook then they can get the image of their firm into trouble. This is especially the case if they do not set their privacy settings properly. Other people can tag them in a photo or write something on their wall. If these actions are not helpful to the reputation of the person at the receiving end then this can be a real blow. Hence workers need tips on how to use Facebook safely. It is not enough to simply ban the use of networking sites during working hours.

Avoiding misinterpretation is something which comes with practice. That is why a campaign should be left to skilled professionals. Ordinary employees may need a little coaching to ensure that all behave with caution.

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