While there is a delete button to get rid of rogue tweets, it can take a bit of time to update in the feed.
However, keen twitter users have been known to take screen shot of offending tweets with their phones.
Chances are someone will see an offensive tweet before it disappears.
So how can one undo damage done in mere seconds? Own it and apologize.
One thing drastically changes how the Twittersphere reacts to these insensitive tweets—a sincere apology.
Denying just digs a deep hole and excuses will put a target on your back. Anthony Wiener knows that all to
well. He’s the U.S. Congressman who accidentally tweeted evidence of his internet affairs. After denying it and
blaming hackers, Wiener finally resigned. The American public dubbed the incident “wienergate.”
Both the U.S. Secret Service and Kitchen Aide issued formal apologies, but another company handled their
Twitter snafu so well that they received donations after the incident.
This tweet appeared on the official Red Cross account:
Ryan found two more 4 bottle packs of Dogfish Head’s Midas
Touch beer… when we drink we do it right #gettingslizzar.
Brilliantly, the company followed up with some humor.
We’ve deleted the rogue tweet but rest assured the Red
Cross is sober and we’ve confiscated the keys.
A few donations followed, including one from Hootsuite, the social media dashboard that the Red Cross
employee was using when she accidentally tweeted from the company account instead of her personal one.
Twitter is a great way to directly communicate with people about your brand. Consumers expect brands to
be relatable, and twitter allows that interaction. Take advantage of it! Be present by actively using your Twitter
account and responding to people who tweet you. But one word of caution, think before you tweet because
that delete button won’t always undo a twitter fiasco.
Lindsay Bodkin is the Director of Brand Management at the International Coach Federation. She joined the staff in July 2012
and has since helped strengthen ICF’s content development. She has worked to create new and relevant material for brochures and
has helped create a new content strategy for Coaching World. If you’re interested in writing for Coaching World email her at
[email protected].
Coaching World |
February 2013
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