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5 social media red flags to avoid
Let's keep it classy and customer-centric
Ashton Henry
July 22, 2024
🚩 Let's talk social media red flags—seemingly little things that can damage your rep in a big way. As the owner of a social media agency, I've seen firsthand how a brand's online behavior can make or break their business. My absolute biggest no-no is publicly shaming clients, but there are a few others that may surprise you!
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QUICK BITES
Remember these social media missteps by major brands? Yikes!
🚲 Peloton's "Holiday Husband" Ad (2021): Peloton released a holiday ad featuring a woman receiving a Peloton bike as a gift from her husband. The ad was criticized for being sexist and reinforcing the stereotype of women needing to "work off" holiday indulgences.
🥑 Chipotle and the "Guac is Extra" Tweet (2020): During a period of avocado shortages, Chipotle responded to a customer tweet complaining about the higher price of guacamole with a dismissive "Guac is extra" reply. Many social media users criticized the brand for being out of touch and prioritizing profits over customer satisfaction.
🧼 Dove and the "Body Wash" Fiasco (2017): Dove posted a video ad on Facebook where a black woman removes a brown shirt to reveal a white woman. The ad was widely criticized for being racist and perpetuating the idea that cleanliness is associated with whiteness. The brand faced significant backlash online, with many consumers vowing to boycott their products.
BRAND BUILDING
🙅♀️ Shaming Clients
Publicly shaming clients is a MAJOR red flag. It's unprofessional, damages a brand's reputation, and erodes trust—both with the clients that were shamed and followers that witnessed the cringe behavior.
Businesses should never make fun of their clients. If you are trying to be relatable or funny by showcasing different client types, it's important to do so in a way that doesn't alienate or mock your clients or single anyone out.
For example, a beauty educator with an audience of hairstylists can find common ground by sharing paint points about clients who read during their appointment or those who bring gossip. However, keep it lighthearted and avoid blatantly calling out specific clients for behavior that's perceived as wrong or gauche.
🤥 Over-Promising and Under-Delivering:
Promising more than what can be delivered leads to disappointment and mistrust. If you're running a contest or giveaway, follow through on announcing the winners and delivering the goods. Always set realistic expectations and communicate with your audience if something unexpected comes up.
🎭 Using Irrelevant Trends
Hopping on trends can be really good for your business. It can help with reach and exposure, and there's definitely a time to do them. But doing things that don't align with what you do, what you say, and what you stand for as a business makes your brand appear inconsistent.
🗑️ Posting Low-Quality Content
Posting low-quality content can reflect poorly on a brand. While it's tempting to get videos up quickly, take the time to adjust your media settings to the highest quality. High-quality visuals and well-thought-out captions are essential for maintaining a professional image.
🥊 Attacking the Competition
If you need to address an issue with a competitor, focus on highlighting your own positive practices rather than directly attacking them.
For example, if a competitor is getting a bad rap for increasing prices without notifying clients, your messaging could highlight your brand's commitment to transparency and communication—without directly calling out the competition.
We’ve all seen it 👀
A hairstylist posts a picture of a client's "unrealistic" expectations alongside the final result, with a snarky comment. While it might seem funny, this behavior can seriously damage the stylist’s reputation. It erodes trust, spreads negative word of mouth, and makes the stylist look unprofessional.
A better approach is to discuss expectations in private, use social media as a platform for education (without singling out individuals), and share success stories and positive experiences.
TIP TIME
10 quick-hitting tips for keeping it classy and customer-centric and creating positive interactions on social media.
Respond promptly: Aim for a 24-hour turnaround on comments and messages.
Stay cool under pressure: Never engage in public arguments with clients or followers.
Be authentic: Share genuine content that reflects your brand's true voice.
Proofread everything: Typos and grammar errors are unprofessional.
Engage, don't just broadcast: Ask questions and encourage discussions.
Show appreciation: Regularly thank your followers and clients for their support.
Keep it balanced: Mix promotional content with valuable, non-sales posts.
Be consistent: Maintain a regular posting schedule to stay top-of-mind.
Listen actively: Pay attention to feedback and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Add value: Share insights, tips, or resources that genuinely help your audience.
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With daily prompts and custom captions written out for you, we make it easy for you to keep your social positive and professional 🫶
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PS — If you’d rather full-service social media management, let’s chat! Book a discovery call today ☎️
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