How Can You Make Social Media a One-Way Communication Street?

I hear this often from new and prospective clients:

“We’re launching a Facebook page, but we’re going to make it only a one-way communication platform so no worries, we don’t need a crisis and issues plan. We’ve got it covered!”

Unfortunately these executives have a mini heart jolt when I kindly explain to them that all of their one-way communication planning has been for nothing. Fortunately, I’m there to help them better prepare and protect their brand from the risks that they thought they could avoid.

In today’s post I’d just like to set the record straight and put the truth out there (once again):

No matter what or how you prepare, nothing on social media is ever one-way, and it can very possibly be used against you in the attempt of making it so.

Social media is about interactions, communications and engagement. Even if you disable the ability for others to post comments to your timeline, that doesn’t stop them from posting comments to your existing posts and pictures. Trying to muffle their voice will get you nowhere good. But this reality doesn’t have to be such a scary one either. Once you understand the expectations of your audience on social media, develop a “social media mindset” and evaluate the risk and prepare for it, there isn’t much left to fear.

Social media is a place for you and your audience to come together, get to know each other, have some good times and connect. Even if you’re in an industry with high regulatory restrictions, there are ways to plan and prepare your team to engage and interact on social media, while both complying to those strict regulations and preventing and preparing for negative online issues.

In other words: When it comes to social media, don’t be scared, be prepared!