Have you ever heard about a Kansas City businessman who faced unfair competition and ended up changing the way we dial numbers?
Meet Almon Brown Strowger, a funeral home owner whose business was thriving — until an unexpected turn of events. The spark for change came when the wife of one of his main rivals took a position of operator at the local telephone switchboard. The lady started directing all the clients straight to her husband, leaving Strowger out in the cold.
This could have been the end of everything, but the man decided to take matters into his own hands. To save business, he invented a method to connect calls without needing an operator. Now known as the "no dames 'n' damns" telephone!
Things are a bit more complicated today. With social media at our fingertips, anyone can share negative information about a product or service in a click, catching business owners off guard and making managing their reputations way harder.
Good news is that there are still ways to win the game.
Read up to find out how to turn a bitter experience into a positive opportunity!
Don't Work Against Each Other, Work Together
Golloria George, a TikTok beauty content creator, shared a slashing review of Hailey Bieber’s makeup brand.
The influencer uses the platform to test the way different makeup brands' shade ranges accommodate her unique complexion. As a black woman Golloria started the page to find the best-working beauty products that complement her complexion. Over time, the idea has evolved from being just a valuable resource for those seeking beauty solutions for a wide array of skin tones to a voice struggling for more inclusivity in the beauty industry.
In one of her videos, Golloria tests a new line of Rhode's pocket blushes. Since all three shades seem to have a nice palette, the video starts with a sweet message that those "would be three shades that would work on dark skin."
Yet, things get bitter with every stroke of a makeup brush. ‘Now, the ash was really serious’ was a disappointing summary. Golloria concludes, ‘I just feel like in 2024, if you're going to drop anything complexion, that it should be able to work for any skin tone and complexion’.
Soon after, there came with exciting news that the influencer was invited by Haily’s team to update the blush drop. This led to another TikTok video where she showcased the latest and greatest from Rhode! With enthusiasm, Golloria says, "This is why I 'complain,'" as she applies what we assume are the new Rhode Pocket Blush shades to her cheeks
"You see how beautifully flushed I am without looking ashy," she continues. "Oh, and you thought we were done? This is another one."
As she blends the blush seamlessly, she beams, "You see how beautifully flushed I am without looking ashy!" The product gives her that lovely natural glow, and you can really see how great it looks.
“That’s what we call redemption,” Golloria continues. “Hailey, thank you for reaching out to me, listening, and treating me like a human being.” While some brands continue to lag in inclusivity, Rhode and Hailey’s behavior is a shining example of how to address shortcomings.
The brand is mindful of any feedback from its diverse customer base and is willing to make thoughtful adjustments to ensure that everyone can find a product that works for them. Their ability to take constructive criticism with poise and understanding highlights a strong commitment to customer satisfaction. It’s certainly a strong example of how brands can grow and improve when they prioritize the needs of all consumers.
Listen to Your Audience and Adapt the Product at an Early Stage
Disney had doubts about this project 10 years ago but went ahead with it anyway. The idea of turning the beloved fairy tale into a movie faced a lot of backlash from many fans. Critics were saying Disney should focus on creating original stories instead of churning out lackluster remakes every year. This was a growing sentiment among audiences who wanted innovative storytelling instead of reboots of classic tales.
Things got even worse when Rachel Zegler was announced as the lead for Snow White. A new wave of hate flooded the internet as many were confused about the casting. A Colombian girl with dark skin as Snow White? It seems weird. It was later explained though. The new movie doesn’t tailor the name to the skin but rather to her childhood experience of surviving a snowstorm.
The actress has been making headlines for her controversial comments. She openly hated the original animated film and even called the prince a “stalker” saying his behavior was creepy and disturbing. And on top of that she said Walt Disney’s creation was weird.
Her comments caused a lot of outrage among people (and there are many!) who were strongly attached to the classical version and seemed to get a grudge against her interpretation.
It’s clear the film won’t make much at the box office. With a $250 million budget it’s poised to become one of Disney’s biggest flops in recent years and could lose Disney $150-200 million. The blame is to be laid at everyone's door here since the wrong idea from the start has been made even worse by an unprofessional cast behaviour.
This is a big reminder to understand and respect your audience. You can follow your vision but you have to know that backlash is inevitable if your approach doesn’t resonate with others. Prioritize your audience’s preferences and you’ll get more product acceptance.
A success story and a failure one have different endings. Still there is one thing in common: it is almost impossible to guess when things will go wrong. Being able to catch issues early you can prevent them from snowballing into bigger problems.
That’s why keeping an eye on your Instagram profile is such a smart move!
Why Tracking IG Profile is a Smart Strategy for Managing Reputational Risks
The Profile Tracker by Inflact is hands down the tool you may find useful for keeping a close eye on what is going on with your Instagram. The service collects in-depth analytics including follower counts, like & comment fluctuations, etc. and is even the best part maintains the posting calendar.
Even though follower count is publicly available in-app, it is a crucial metric to monitor for understanding your IG audience potential. Yes, we all know that the number of followers isn’t the key parameter the algorithm considers. Yet, it is the prominent one to check how effective your content strategies are.
It is like putting two and two together, people see your account, and if they find you catchy, they follow you. So, this is still the most reliable way to measure your success on the platform, despite that the main focus is on other metrics.
With a user-friendly followers’ chart interface, you can easily find the following dynamics. Check up the drops and the picks to find out what content was posted and the way it performed. This clear representation of data can help you understand what’s working and what might need some improvement
A long-term tracking enables you to recognize patterns in subscriber behavior, such as seasonal spikes in interest or declines during certain periods. This insight can be invaluable for planning content and marketing strategies that resonate with your audience.
Still, the leading role is taken by the engagement rate metrics. The more reactions your posts and Reels receive the higher the chances to grow on the platform.
So, make the most of the Likes&Comments tab. There are blue and red curves displayed for likes and comments respectively. As long as you see the indicator rising for both or at least holding permanent top positions, the content handles it. The same is true when likes outperform comments.
When you see the opposite results it’s a big red flag. Such dynamics means there’s an issue that needs to be addressed. A drop in following or an unexpected surge in comments should be approached with caution. Question or validate your initial assumption to make better decisions moving forward. It’s good to dive into the post-calendar to find out what’s going on.
The Bottom-Line
Whether you are running your business in the nineteenth century or right now, thinking one step ahead is a good practice. Good news, you don’t have to come up with something the world hasn't seen yet. The IG automation service is probably the best thing since sliced bread, so cut it in for your social media endeavours.
