Are you hesitant to use a Blog or Twitter or Facebook for business marketing because you’re concerned about the idea that whatever information you put “out there” online is permanent? If so, you’re not alone. If you’ve carefully built your offline brand, this can be a very real concern. But don’t let it paralyze you into total avoidance of online promotion.
You may have heard by now about the two restaurant employees who got fired for talking smack about their boss in a private MySpace chat group. The news media are making this out to be a warning to users of social networks, and the point is well taken: user beware. The same actually goes for businesses, too: be careful what you put online.
Yes, you should be careful what you put “out there” online, but avoiding the internet for marketing purposes altogether? Probably not the right prescription. Any business kicking off an internet marketing campaign is going to make a mistake at one time or another. But the biggest mistake will be made by the company that avoids promoting itself online. They’re going to be left in the dust.
Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC) Ann Cavoukian recently said “Posting … information on a social networking website without considering your privacy options is like crossing the street without looking both ways. Neither is advisable.”
Cavoukian’s comment is directed at consumers, but there are similar risks for businesses. My question to you is, “how do you interpret this message?” Is your business the kind that will avoid crossing any streets – or the kind that will proceed with caution? I hope it’s the latter, because if you’re not crossing the street, you’re missing some real opportunities. Likewise, if your business isn’t dipping its toes in the water of internet marketing, you’re severely limiting the potential of your brand.
So, cross the street! Just be sure to look both ways. If you want help timing the street lights, just drop us a line.
Facebook
RSS
Twitter