Publisher Channel Content by InternetReputation.com
Most adults own a smartphone. For small business owners, these tiny beeping, buzzing bits of technology can provide almost constant contact with suppliers, clients and competitors. But, tapping into (or on) that resource 24/7 could lead to some nasty side effects that could hinder, or even kill, the most successful business. In fact, I think it’s safe to say that the tiny little piece of technology sitting in your pocket right now could be the most dangerous tool you own, in terms of your online reputation.
A Constant Companion
If you’re like most people, your smartphone is your security blanket. From the time you get up in the morning until the moment you lie your head down on your pillow at night, you’re actively using your cell phone, or it’s sitting beside you just waiting for the moment that it’s needed.
Consider this: Just 15 minutes after waking, 4 in 5 smartphone users have looked at the glowing screen of their devices, according to research conducted by IDC. After showering, shaving and otherwise preparing for the workday, that little phone can slide into a pocket or a purse for easy transport, but it rarely stays stashed away. In fact, a study commissioned by Nokia suggests that the average user checks his/her smartphone a whopping 150 times during a 16-hour period.
As a small business owner, there are some benefits to this constant connectedness. In fact, some consumers demand 24/7 access to the businesses they patronize, particularly if they have some sort of problem. For example, Edison Research suggests that 25 percent of consumers expect a response from a company within the same day, if they’ve contacted that company via social media. More disturbingly, 11 percent expect a response within 15 minutes.
This kind of rapid reaction just isn’t possible without a smartphone, and those executives that choose not to react with such speed might also see their client lists dwindle, as Marketing Charts suggests that 38 percent of consumers will develop negative feelings about a company if their rapid response demands aren’t met, and 60 percent of these people will express that unhappiness publically.
Stats like this can keep a small business owner up at night, glued to the glowing screen while tapping away furiously in response to tweets, pings and messages. The response times might be great, but the costs might be intense.
High Price to Pay
Most freelancers and small business owners go into the realm of self-employment because they love the work, and few regret that decision. For example, a study cited by the Freelancers Union suggests that some 90 percent of freelancers are happier now than they were when they worked for someone else. It’s a rewarding gig.
But, staying plugged in all the time, day after day, can mean spending an estimated 18.5 hours engaged in work tasks, each and every day. That leaves little time for vital, soul-feeding activities like cooking, exercising, spending time with pets or nurturing children. All that’s left is work, and that tight focus might even lead to a dip in creativity and a lack of motivation to keep on innovating.
In addition, there are countless examples of small business owners who have made terrible late-night decisions with their cell phones that have haunted them in the days that follow.
Good Solutions
If constant connectedness can lead to mental distress and reputation disaster, it’s reasonable to use any sort of technology available to break these bad habits and move forward in a reasonable manner.
Ironically, some small business owners lean on technology in order to reduce their dependence on… technology. Apps like Eternity Time Log Lite, for example, can help you to identify the moments that you’re spending on work when you’re (technically) off the clock for the day. This app also comes with distraction-busting features, so you can limit the amount of time you spend peering at your phone while you’re not doing work.
Choosing to go unplugged during social outings is another well-cited cell phone limiting task. By turning off your phone and tuning in to the rest of your life, you might gain some needed perspective.
If turning off the phone during dinner seems hard, leaving the device behind during a long-term vacation might seem downright impossible. But, research suggests that vacations have the ability to boost both physical health and emotional well-being, both of which are vital for any small business owner. Stepping away and limiting social media contact during that time to a few hours might not be ideal, but it’s certainly better than setting no limits at all.
From a reputation management perspective, it’s smart to use these techniques in order to limit online exposure. After all, if people play it smart online, there’s less cleanup to do and smaller heartaches to live with. But, if something horrid has happened online, things can go from bad to worse in a hurry.
When a reputation problem erupts online, it’s common for people to obsessively check their phones and monitor the situation as it unfolds. They respond to each and every comment that appears, fight back against all comers who choose to attack them and rant and rave about the treatment they’re getting online (The Arizona restaurant Amy’s Baking Company remains the best example of this phenomenon.). But, each little zinger of a response tends to make the problem all the more visible. A tiny problem can explode to gigantic proportions, when you’re using your cell phone as a weapon.
The best option might very well be to hire an expert. If you simply can’t keep your fingers away from your phone, making the damage worse with each tap you make, an expert might provide you with a form of self-control. You won’t need to draw attention to the issue or check progress. The team will do that for you. And, in some cases, the team can even block you from responding, so you can’t make things worse as you try to help.
Any survivors out there that care to share a success story? No need to give details, of course, but it would be lovely to hear about how you cut back on cell use in the face of a crisis. Did it help? And how?
Images: “Man using smartphone, close-up, coffee and planning book on the background/Shutterstock.com“
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