Oops...What a Careless Tweet Can Lead To

In a very public display of careless mini-blogging, Ketchum VP James Andrews did what all social marketers avoid first and foremost...insulting a client, or anyone for that matter on his Twitter account. There is a very fine line to voicing your opinion socially which is what this social phenomenon is about and causing a press circus by writing one sentence of pure careless thought. 

http://industry.bnet.com/advertising/1000525/worst-twitter-post-ever-ketchum-exec-insults-fedex-client-on-mini-blog/

Social marketing is THE form of marketing this year that has already taken the online marketing industry by storm. Organizations around the world are chomping at the bit to understand how they get themselves socially interactive. As an agency that markets socially everyday, we see common mistakes in being too candid and forgetting that in being brutally honest, you may not only be hurting yourself but hurting the business and brand you represent. Just as we say "think before you speak"..."think before you post".  Didn't his mama ever tell him if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all?? Of course, for consumers it's a completely different story. We look for the negative, what to watch out for, what hotels to avoid...this is where those negative comments belong. Where they are considered useful peices of information to other consumers. So if you happen to be a social marketer and socially active consumer, our suggestion would be to save the negative destination posts for sites that cater to consumer ratings and testimonials. Because in the end, we are all consumers too, right?? Please don't mix business with pleasure unless it's NICE, friends.