Political Tweets--Bad For Business?

(Clapping on the sidelines)

I wanted to toss my $0.02 in here. As someone who is passionate about using social networking sites PROPERLY, I always have a hard time convincing marketers to sometimes stop being marketers and be SOCIAL on the SOCIAL networking site.

It's important that you not just use these platforms as selling tools, but let your peers get to know you a little bit. It forms connections, as Alice wisely shared.

Now I agree also with Michael Oksa who said it all depends on how you share your beliefs. If I'm going to chat politics on Twitter (which I have), I'm not going to turn into a 4th grader and be riduculous, which is what many grown men and women do when election time nears - it brings out the worst in some.

But I LIKE to Tweet back and forth about a wide variety of topics with my followers and those I follow. I like getting personal Tweets that someone dear to me on my list is enduring a battle with her daughter's health because then I can extend my prayers and well wishes.

I like discovering the Dr. Woo Ming was flirting with Jason Moffat. It's silly - it's not stuffy professional marketing. It lets you know what Moffat and Ming are like and it's FUN.

We don't have a water cooler here to chat. We don't all go out after work for a drink at Cheers. Twitter is a little outlet where we can be ourselves. Yes, I share marketing tips, writing tips, etc. But if I don't share some of ME, well then I'd just be a social network spammer IMO

Tiff <---who is undecided for the first time in her life and can't wait to watch the Tivo'd debate and Twitter my opinions about it.

After reading Alice's reply, I realize mine was a bit cultural-centric (as in coming from an American perspective and assuming certain potential consequences when viewed by other Americans).

Otherwise, I completely stand by what I said. I say this because I've specifically seen it play out on Twitter over the last several weeks - in a negative way.

Yes, it is indeed important to cultivate relationships with folks on social networking sites, but topics like politics are an absolute minefield.

Cindy

Heh, just a little attempt at humor there.

I was just trying to say that it sounded like the original poster was discussing a different situation than you were talking about:

He was saying that he thought it was dangerous to suddenly start Twittering really strong political opinions IF his Twitter followers were business related (customers, potential customers). I agree with that observation, because you run the risk of offending your own customers if you say something that's wildly outside of their own view.

He wasn't talking about bland political observations, he said, "Some are down right nasty", so I'm picturing comments like, "Can you believe this race is so close? Anyone who'd vote for (insert name) is too stupid to deserve to breathe". -Maybe not quite that strong, but "nasty" means the comments are harsh enough to offend. That's bad for business.

The same thing applies to sending partisan emails to your subscriber list, sending out political literature with your product fulfillment, etc... All things being equal, you run the risk of turning off customers and potential customers, and losing future sales.

Your response to the post was about free speech, and constitutionally protected free speech is an important topic, but not what the issue is when it comes to what you should say/not say to your customers and business associates.

Sorry if my analogy in my previous post didn't hold up. :-)

PS - Chris, clever idea adding sharks to your moat, you're way ahead of me, I just started digging my moat, more work than I thought. You're way ahead of me. (random reply from a different thread, just ignore...)