The social web is a beautiful thing, it brings so much to so many of us, from new friends to vital information. It can be massively important, but oh so frivolous at the same time. But it isn't all fluffy little bunnies out there, especially when it comes to brands and their use of social media.
The Trolls Cometh
When a brand/business/organisation does something wrong, the fallout can often extend way beyond the 'real-life'. Negativity spills out across the web on forums, Twitter, Facebook and so on. It can be a real nightmare to deal with and even when the correct processes have been followed, there can still be people who will not let the issue go and carry on baiting and attacking the business in question. Often they aren't even customers of said business. You can class these people as trolls. What are the habits, activities and tell-tale signs of a troll?
1 - The ability to post across social platforms at an incredible frequency - one that would tell you that they have no job (or life) or a clueless boss
2 - An often brutal use of harsh language and personal attacks on those behind the social media accounts
3 - A lack of will to listen to any reasoning or solutions to the problem
4 - No personal picture in their profile images
5 - Bad breath, poor fashion sense, multiple failed relationships and zero ability to communicate in the real world Don't feed the trolls
When the social media heat is on, you have a responsibility to communicate with those using social media to convey their issues etc, however this can only go so far. You must try your hardest to fix the issue, converse with those who put genuine questions to you and seek to help them as much as possible. Be seen to be helpful and to be trying very hard to put things right - you'll see things improving.
When a pack of trolls come hunting, don't feel the need to answer them. This may sound crazy, but once you engage with them, the floodgates will open. They are baiting you into an argument. It can very easily get to a point where you are spending more time battling trolls than serving genuine customers. This helps nobody other then the sad people hiding behind their keyboards. It can be hard to ignore, and it will make you angry and frustrated, but don't rise to the bait. Never stoop to their level. Not their nasty, low-intelligence level, but perhaps it is time for a change?
Social media has changed behaviour expectations
If somebody repeatedly came into a retail store, using harsh language and abusing the staff, what would happen? Customers in the store may step in and stand-up to the abuser. This can happen on social, when non-trolls interject and tell the trolls to 'jog on', however those brave souls are often pounced on by trolls and righty flee. What is more likely is that store security would eject them from the premises or even involve the police. These actions are taken in response to socially unacceptable behaviour. So why should brands put up with it on social media? It is time to get tough? Fight back in a dignified way? Yes, more support is needed from the platforms (to protect individuals, not just brans of course), but why should brands put up with this sort of abuse, just to conform to the idealistic social media approach of 'being nice'. Fight fire with fire? Or is that too dangerous?