Can Your Brand Survive Elon Musk’s Twitter Takeover?

By now we’ve all heard about Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover, and there’s been no shortage of speculation about how this will change the way people use the platform. While some are leaving Twitter, afraid of what may follow, others are looking forward to watching how Musk switches things up. Of course, with this promise of free speech comes a flurry of new concerns for brands and creators – especially with the recent announcement of Musk potentially charging a fee for commercial and government use of the site.

If you use Twitter to communicate with customers and fans, your approach to the platform may need to be updated as Musk takes over and grows the platform to suit his vision. Here are three things you may want to consider as a brand in the new age of Twitter:

1. Set clear community guidelines. While Musk says the platform will allow all speech protected under the first amendment, you still have some control over what happens in your community. Lay out community guidelines that detail what types of interactions are and are not welcome, and make this guide accessible for your audience. You’ll need a clear and actionable plan for upholding these rules, and how you’ll proceed should they be violated.
   
2. Step up your community management. Community management is probably already a key part of your social media strategy, but it will become even more important as guidelines for the use of social platforms like Twitter evolve. Community managers may need more time to manage questions and comments, especially if political and social issues are a key part of your brand identity. This is a good time to reevaluate your standard responses to be sure that they are clear and in alignment with your brand values. It’s also a good time to emphasize your brand’s commitment to open communication – it won’t be easy to shy away from difficult questions.
   
3. Reevaluate your presence on the platform. A presence across multiple social networks is a great way to solidify your brand voice and reach new audiences, but it isn’t necessary to exist on every platform. If you feel your target audience has moved away from twitter, you’re being overrun by trolls, or it’s taking up too much time, it may be time to step away. You can then dedicate those hours and resources to growing your presence on other platforms that are better aligned with your brand and your message.

The digital landscape changes daily, and being able to evaluate and adapt quickly is the key to lasting success. If you ‘re looking to create a strategy that can grow alongside you, send an email to info@ruckusdigital.ca to learn how we can help!