Joining the Social Media Fray Could Backfire on Your Business

Posted on January 25, 2017

Even the most passive among us have an opinion about politics, religion, the best NFL team-well, virtually everything. But beware! Even a seemingly benign comment on your social network page could backfire on your business.

We tell our children (hopefully!) to be cognizant of what they include on their public pages, because at some point, a university, job, or other aspiration might be stymied due to some unfortunate post. So, why not take our own advice?

The 2016 elections were, and continue to be, a mine field of highly charged, vehemently vocal clash of opinions. Facebook, once dominated by cute puppies, Pinterest recipes, and humorous videos has become a war zone where people are not just expressing their very strong opinions but in combative, sometimes obnoxious ways.

Certainly, I believe in open forum and the exchange of ideas, but when you are a business owner you should tread lightly. Can you really afford to alienate even one client simply because in a moment of weakness, or raging fury, you respond to some inane Facebook comment, or a salacious Tweet?
At the risk of engendering my own parcel of angry rebuttals, I’d like to share one of my favorite lines from the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton”-when Aaron Burr advises a young Hamilton to, “Talk less, smile more…never let them know what you’re against or what you’re for.”

When did diplomacy become a dirty word? Remember, a little restraint goes a long way. The client you save may be you own! Now where are those puppy videos? LOL