Our guide to avoiding a marketing mishap
Spot the mistake, we’ll give you a minute…
(Source: Gavin Peters on Twitter)
Did you get it?
Allow us to explain. Not long ago, Pringles made headlines for a seriously entertaining typo.
When announcing their new multi-GRAIN edition of the beloved snack, they mistakenly promoted… on a 12 ft high billboard… for all the world to see… a multi-GRAN edition 👵
As you can imagine, Twitter had a field day!!
They’ve since hilariously responded with an ad poking fun at their mishap, which you can watch here.
Luckily for the Pringles team, typos are often the least of our worries when it comes to marketing mistakes.
We’re all under the microscope when it comes to releasing content atm. So, in the process, we have to be extra careful that what we’re putting out there won’t offend our customers.
As 2023 draws closer, here’s the internal checklist you should be ticking off to ensure you’re releasing pitch-perfect material in the new year…
✅ Stay up to date with the news
You’ve got to be sensitive to the current climate. Take for example, the death of HM the Queen earlier this year, where lots of brands got it SO wrong when paying their condolences. Being aware of stories and struggles that may be affecting your audiences is a VITAL part of compassionate marketing.
✅ An internal approval process
Everyone’s different. Something you think is hilarious could be a big sore spot for someone else. A simple approvals process like this could save you A LOT of future hassle. So, run it past a pair of knowing eyes and absorb that second opinion before you hit post.
✅ Keep up Communication
Often half the problem with a crisis is that somewhere along the line, the messaging of your brand has fallen out of alignment with the expectations your customers have of you. Monitor what they say in their comments and reviews, and use this to inform your future moves appropriately.
✅ Fine-tune your social strategy
In that same vein, make sure you set out some clear policies and guidelines when it comes to posting on your socials. If multiple people control your business’s socials, they should all be encouraged to keep on top of and know these rules inside out!
✅ Make sure your security is WATERTIGHT
The last thing you want is a crisis happening because an unwanted troll has hacked into your accounts. Using software, like Lastpass, is a great way of ensuring your precious details don’t fall into the wrong hands.
Think you need a bit more help perfecting your marketing strategy? Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for loads of handy tips ❤️🔥