Public Relations & Social Marketing Insight

The last thing Chipotle Mexican Grill needed was more bad news after its food-safety problems generated headlines across all media. But that’s what happened earlier this year following a huge social media faux pas. It was not the kind of mistake you’re probably imagining — an ill-considered tweet or risqué Snap. Instead, Chipotle’s Social Media Code of Conduct was found to be in violation of the National Labor Relations Act.

The chain had terminated an employee who, among other things, took to Twitter to complain about working conditions and wages at an outlet in Havertown, Pa. By prohibiting employees from making “disparaging, false, misleading … statements about or relating to Chipotle, our employees, suppliers, customers, competition, or investors” in its social media policy,  the company was violating rights granted all workers under the NLRA, the NLRB ruled.

Although Chipotle last week filed an appeal in U.S. District Court in New Orleans, the case is indicative of the type of legal or ethical jam many companies find themselves facing as they open new doors to customers and promote their products and services on social media, according to John Delaney, a partner at Morrison & Foerster and founder and co-editor of the law firm’s Socially Awareblog....

At Econsultancy, we publish a huge amount of content related to digital marketing and ecommerce. One particular area that gets a lot of attention (and rightly so) is social media, which has had a profound impact on the way that consumers and businesses interact with each other.

To help you keep up to speed with what’s going on in the field, we’ve assembled some of our case studies, statistics, infographics, opinion and best practice blog content all in one place for you to digest at your leisure. You could even bookmark and share this page to add to your ninja toolset....

Read below for more…

Excellent case study on how a Napa Valley winery hit on a winning social media formula that pays dividends in both increased sales and brand loyalty.How can wineries use social media to increase sales when the law prohibits them from giving away product samples?Whitehall Lane, a 20-year-old Napa Valley winery run by the Leonardini family, has hit on a winning social media formula that pays dividends in both increased sales and brand loyalty....

Just over three months ago, Brian Clark reached out to me for some extra help on the page.

He thought that, given the success I have with my own Facebook page, several others I’ve managed for clients over the years, and the rapidly growing Your Boulder Facebook page I manage for him, maybe I’d be able to bring some life to Copyblogger’s Facebook presence.

Yep, I said. Let me at it.

Well, today I’m here to tell you that we’re deleting the account. This is the last day you’ll see the Copyblogger Facebook page.

If you’ve ever been frustrated with an aspect of your social brand presence, you’ll want to keep reading — because there are countless reasons why Copyblogger is killing its Facebook page....