The sheer volume of online feedback means it’s almost impossible for companies to act on every complaint. Most brands are playing catch-up: in 2013 only 30% of brands had a dedicated customer service handle on Twitter, and only 10% of those brands with customer service handles reply to more than 70% of their mentions. Most brands do invest in “social listening” programs, from monitoring software to teams of analysts who scan the feeds in the hopes of muffling bad feedback and amplifying positive feedback. But what’s the real impact of such programs?
As a consultant in PR and social media, I thought I knew. But a recent experience made me question some of my assumptions about consumers, “influencers,” and the companies who can make a difference....
Morra Aarons-Mele wonders if negative social media really matters, if it's a missed opportunity or whether it's just more noise? Good read.