How to Amplify Your Mistakes on Social Media

Image via Facebook

Image via Facebook

Social media and reality television is a terrible combination for those who hope to fly under the radar. This is a lesson that the “stars” of the latest episode of “Kitchen Nightmares” have yet to learn. The show featured Arizona restaurant Amy’s Baking Company, the premise was that their failing restaurant would bring in celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay to critique and aide in its recovery.  During the episode the owners yelled at customers and Ramsay alike refusing to  take his advice. After the episode, users of the social networking site Reddit flocked to the restaurants’ Facebook page leaving negative comments. It’s no surprise that the internet can bite back and that ignoring trolls can be easier said than done. The owners of Amy’s Baking Company exacerbated the situation by sharing their frustration by behaving unprofessional in multiple posts on Facebook.  On May 14th, the restaurants’ page went from 600 to 30,000 likes as the story went viral. The explosion of negative press steaming from their negative reactions over social media reached a much larger audience than the original episode of the show. The story has since been featured in Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, Forbes and many other news organizations.

Forbes has compiled a list of seven “lessons” from Amy’s social media disaster. These include telling the truth, not responding to every comment and learning when to walk away.  Social media gives everyone the opportunity broadcast their thoughts and opinions to the world. The trick is organizing your online presence in a positive and productive manner. Amy’s Baking Company could have used its facebook to defend and rebuild brand identity. Instead they took the low road resulting in a public relations nightmare.

What would have suggested to Amy’s Baking Company to avoid this backlash? Is it ever better to hide out than defend your online persona?

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