SALES LOST FOR LGBTQ POST

Overnight we noticed we lost some followers and had some very negative comments from people I had come to respect and in some instances had thought of as intelligent, from a post we made on social media. One said person happened to be a personal stylist in the fashion industry (go figure) which took me completely by surprise, others were religious, rednecks and trollers who just took advantage of the situation.

No doubts the social media algorithm loved the post and created plenty of attention by ranking it high, but for all the wrong reasons.

The post was to celebrate our JG3 family and the people who day in day out show love and respect for our craft some just happened to be same sex couples.

The negative comments towards this couple was fuelling yet more negative comments from people with the same views.

Fear quickly took over as no one wants to see all this negative attention brought to their business and Brand.

Should we take it down and stop all those followers from leaving and having negative on our brand?

I'm of the school that you can never understand someone unless you understand their point of view, climb into their skin, or stand in that persons shoes.

But lets face it, empathy is not comfortable. Far easier and less onerous than to climb into another's skin is to distant ourselves from those emotions all together, retreat and focus on numbers and profits. Yes, be a leader who acts decisively. and think rationally.

But I'm not that kind of leader, I believe a great leader not only thinks from the head, but they also need to be connected to the emotional landscape as well, be able to speak those unspoken truths but also be able to fuel optimism.

In effect treat people just like their own not just costs on a balance sheet.

So it was no surprise and without flinging or having second thoughts that little button that says "BLOCK"and REPORT was pressed many a times, irrespective of their social status friends, family or business clients. Those hard earned followers that fuel our SALES and LIKES machine were gone.

Did we just loose some very lucrative customers and followers?

Yes, without a doubt.

But in times of uncertainty and when fear is high, if people don't feel you care about them when the chips are down, they'll know you don't care any other time.

How you treat people today will have a larger impact on your business and Brand in future years.

Ask yourself, What really is at stake here?

Make crystal clear that what you're trying to achieve matters in a Human level, not just a commercial one.