Image

2:15 AM / Friday March 29, 2024

14 Jul 2016

Social media posts hurting your business? Why some PR professionals lose out on potential customers

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
July 14, 2016 Category: Color Of Money, Commentary Posted by:
Photo: Monica Peters

Photo: Monica Peters

How social media posts can hurt your business

By Monica Peters

Social media etiquette is a subject needed not only for students but also for established professionals.  Everyday, I see posts by public relations professionals that are a liability, costing them a potential job or partnership.  Only thing is–they don’t realize it.

First, let’s get an understanding. There is no such thing as a private Facebook profile.  Although your privacy settings may be to your liking, it doesn’t mean that your posts are not seen by others outside your “friends network.”

Additionally, posting from your personal profile does not mean you are not obligated to be responsible and refrain from being offensive.

With that being said, there are some partnerships that I never consider with some peers because they have already proven themselves to be a liability from their social media posts alone. 

It would be hard to justify to a potential client why I selected an individual to be on the team when their social media posts are indefensible.

Companies are leery to work with individuals who demonstrate “loose cannon” qualities.  These “loose cannon” individual’s posts are often a display of unnecessary outbursts.  We often see this around holiday time, for example, when individuals will demonize Black mothers because their children (or adult children) wish to acknowledge them on Father’s Day.   Not only is judging families on how they should acknowledge their parent inappropriate, but the arrogance that an individual feels that they have the right to publicly bash or be a self appointed authority shaming others into how to honor their parent is offensive—not only to some Black women, but to persons whose family structures may differ or they may identify differently from the gender that they were born.

To be clear, this also means you do not have the right to publicly degrade or make irresponsible comments about a group because you may be member of that same ethnic or gender group.

Same goes for social media; you do not have the right to make publicly irresponsible comments because it’s your “personal” Facebook account. 

Let’s just say if a PR professional hired this type of colleague (or loose cannon) to work on a family values campaign, it would be hard to justify to a corporation why “loose cannon” should be kept on the team.

Your social media use demonstrates in real time your judgment or lack thereof.

Think before you post and ask yourself, “Is it absolutely necessary for me to post something offensive in the name of harvesting comments and likes?”

More importantly, ask yourself, “How much business did I unknowingly lose because of it?

Monica Peters is public relations professional and President of the Philadelphia Black Public Relations Society

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Leave a Comment

Recent News

Philly NAACP

March 24, 2024

March 17, 2024

Tweet Email Tweet Email Related Posts Philadelphia Judicial Primary Candidates At A Glance Guide Philadelphia Judicial Candidates...

Commentary

cj speaks…The call to order

March 23, 2024

Tweet Email Philadelphia’s recent travesties continue to be highlighted in the news: the ongoing shooting incidents, train...

Health

Combatting loneliness in older adults

March 17, 2024

Tweet Email FAMILY FEATURES The bonds found in friendships and other relationships are an important factor in...

Home and Garden

So, You want to build a retaining wall: 6 things to know before you start

March 3, 2024

Tweet Email BPT When you want to enhance your outdoor living space, consider building with retaining wall...

Fur Babies Rule!

Dog grooming advice to keep pets clean and healthy

March 2, 2024

Tweet Email FAMILY FEATURESRegular grooming can keep your dog looking and smelling his or her best, but...

Seniors

‘Soaring’ over hills or ‘playing’ with puppies, study finds seniors enjoy virtual reality

February 23, 2024

Tweet Email By Terry Spencerassociated press POMPANO BEACH, Fla. — Retired Army Col. Farrell Patrick taught computer...

The Philadelphia Sunday Sun Staff