The Social Media Marketer

Are You Using Social Media For Good? Or Evil?

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Whatever happened to simple, common courtesy?

In a perfect world, companies wishing to promote their business and its practices would tell potential customers what great services they offer.

They would tell their prices and their sales, and they would explain how their products are just what a customer needs. And most of all, companies would never, ever use deceptive practices to lure in customers, or to gather their personal information.

But this isn't a perfect world, and so many businesses are using social media connections to not only better their businesses, but to gain customers and information in ways that are not only unethical, but immoral at the same time.

So you need to ask yourself, are you using social media for good or evil?

Here's some signs that you're using it for evil:

• Making promises you can't keep. Are you promising free samples for “liking” your Facebook page, or are you lying about what you offer?
• Telling lies about other companies. It's one thing to claim that your product is better than the other company's; we all do that. But when you claim that the competitor's product is harmful, or that they are committing illegal activities, then you're probably lying, or at least stretching the truth.
• Starting false rumors. If you're tweeting that the your competitor has broken a law, or that their stock rates are down because they're about to be sued, then you're using social media unethically.

Want to keep your social media use good, instead of evil?

• Be honest. Don't tell lies about other companies to build yourself up, but tell customers what you can do for them.
• Promise what you can back up. If you promise free samples, be ready to deliver them. If you have a contest, be ready to pay the winner.
• Don't use their information for spamming. If you collect their email name, use it to send out mailings of your own. Don't sell it to the highest bidder. After all, it's all a matter of trust. If you want to build trust, you have to be trustworthy in all you do, and that includes in the way you're using social media to promote your business.