Marketing InfographicsSocial Media & Influencer Marketing

The 8 Types of Social Media Villains and How You Should Respond To Them

We’ve all had them – the villain that growls and snarls all over your comments – angering your other visitors and generally producing mayhem. It’s pretty stressful, but there is a way to thwart the evil social media villain.

In the dynamic realm of social media, where conversations are rapid, opinions are shared freely, and information travels at the speed of a click, how companies respond—or choose not to—can significantly impact their reputation, customer relationships, and overall success.

Responding effectively to social media interactions has become an indispensable aspect of modern business. In this digital age, where online technology and marketing strategies intertwine, understanding when, how, and when not to respond on social media is crucial for companies aiming to thrive in the digital landscape.

Jason Falls is a digital marketing thought leader and has always been in the fray – working with clients to develop their social media strategies. One chunk of advice that I share with everyone is Jason’s methodology for dealing with detractors online:

  • Acknowledge their right to complain.
  • Apologize, if warranted.
  • Assert, if warranted.
  • Assess what will help them feel better.
  • Act accordingly, if possible.
  • Abdicate – sometimes a jerk is a jerk.

This methodology encompasses everything you need with dealing with people that simply lack any manners online! And here are 8 types of them:

Social Media Villains

This is a great infographic that Search Engine Journal put out based on the 8 Villains of Social Media.

  1. The Troll: Trolls are users who aim to offend others with provocative comments, often using profanity, racism, and direct attacks. The best defense is to ignore them.
  2. The Disrupter: Disrupters contribute little to conversations, often due to not fully engaging with the content. Ignore them to maintain the flow of meaningful discussion.
  3. The Skeptic: Skeptics doubt the authenticity of online content, labeling everything as fake. Engaging with them is generally futile; it’s better to move on.
  4. The Shameless Link Dropper: These users insert irrelevant links for traffic and SEO benefits, often using generic compliments. Strong comment moderation and clear policies are effective defenses.
  5. The Bury Brigade: The Bury Brigade’s goal is to bury submissions they deem unworthy, often targeting power users. Becoming a power user can deter them.
  6. The Whistleblower: Whistleblowers call out content produced for profit, such as advertising or SEO tactics. Exceptional content can overshadow their complaints.
  7. The Know-it-all: Know-it-alls correct and disagree with others, especially on factual matters. Engaging with well-reasoned arguments can highlight their arrogance.
  8. The Emo: Emos react emotionally to comments or criticism and may respond strongly. Caution is advised, and sometimes, it’s best to let issues settle.

Responding appropriately on social media is a multifaceted skill that can make or break a company’s reputation and success. Whether addressing positive feedback, mitigating negative comments, or engaging with questions and concerns, the ability to respond effectively is vital to modern business strategy.

By knowing when to respond, how to respond, and when to exercise restraint, companies can harness the power of social media to build stronger relationships with their audience, foster brand loyalty, and ultimately achieve their sales and marketing objectives in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

8 villains4
Source: SEJ

Douglas Karr

Douglas Karr is CMO of OpenINSIGHTS and the founder of the Martech Zone. Douglas has helped dozens of successful MarTech startups, has assisted in the due diligence of over $5 bil in Martech acquisitions and investments, and continues to assist companies in implementing and automating their sales and marketing strategies. Douglas is an internationally recognized digital transformation and MarTech expert and speaker. Douglas is also a published author of a Dummie's guide and a business leadership book.

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