Image via Complex Original
Intro
Twitter allows companies and brands to connect with its customers and fans like never before. On top timely updates, brands can develop what appear to be more personal relationships with its followers which in turn help bolster its image. It's a great tool, one like we've never seen. In the wrong hands, however—like, say, an intern—it can dangerous. Recently we saw Microsoft's UK PR team attempt to promote sales of Amy Winehouse's final album from its Zune store a day after the British singer passed away. Fans and non-fans alike were incensed, thinking the company was trying to cash-in on a tragedy. But Microsoft isn't the only company to have Twitter fumble. Check out the 8 Worst Corporate Twitter Fails.
Habitat
Habitat Abuses Hash(tags)
Date: 6/09
Tweet: N/A
When UK-based furniture store, Habitat, joined Twitter, it thought it unlocked the secret to getting its tweets in front of as many eyes as possible. Too bad all it did was find a new way to spam the Twitterverse. How? With hastags. As seen in the above image, for a short period of time every tweet that came from the @HabitatUK account contained one of the day's top-searched, or trending hashtags that had nothing to do with the message of the tweet, placing the company's tweets high in Twitter's search results. All that resulted in was people crying foul and Habitat changing its ways.
Vodafone
Homophobic Vodafone Employee Goes Crazy
Date: 2/4/10
Tweet: VodafoneUK is fed up of dirty homo's and is going after beaver
Seemingly apropos of nothing, a Vodafone UK employee tasked with handling the telecommunication comany's Twitter account let loose an attack on homosexuals. The tweet was immediately removed and the guy was found and fired. All we want to know, though, is: #WhoHurtYou?
Denny's
Denny's Serves Up Wrong Twitter Account
Date: 2/19/10
Tweet: N/A
In an attempt to bolster its social media precense, Denny's told customers to visit its Twitter page via its menu. Only problem? It gave them the wrong address. Instead of directing them towards its official Twitter account at twitter.com/DennysAllnightr, it sent to them to twitter.com/dennys, an account owned by a Tawainese man named Denny Hseih.
American Red Cross
Red Cross Worker Uses Wrong Twitter Account
Date: 2/5/11
Tweet: Ryan found two more bottle packs of Dogfish Head's Midas Touch beer… when we drink we do it right #gettingslizzerd
Simultaneously managing two Twitter accounts could have dire consequences. Case in point: Instead of Tweeting from her personal account, American Red Cross worker Gloria Huang told the nation's premier humanitarian organization's 400,000 followers that she was about to get twisted. It was eventually taken down—no harm, no foul.
Kenneth Cole
Kenneth Cole Makes Light Of Cairo Protests
Date: 2/3/11
Tweet: Millions are in uproar in #Cairo. Rumor has it they heard our new spring collection is in now available online
You know what's not funny? Revolution. While people in Cairo were protesting and risking their lives for their freedom, Kenneth Cole decided to not only use the heavily searched #Cairo hashtag to prop up his results standings, but made light of the uprising with an off-colored joke. He later apologized for not being funny. Word of advice: Stick to making square-toe shoes, my dude.
Chrysler
Chrysler Drops The F Bomb
Date: 3/9/11
Tweet: I find it Ironic that Detroit is known as the #motorcity and yet no one here knows how to fucking drive
Twitter is a great place to vent. Well, it as long as it's through your own personal account. An employee of New Media Strategies, the company that handles Chrysler's social media efforts, saw fit to voice his oppinion of D-Town's drivers to all of Chrysler's followers. Chrysler immediately had the guy fired and issued an apology. We don't know what the big deal is, that tweet made us start following Chrysler on Twitter.
Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Intern Has a Meltdown
Date: 3/25/11
Tweet: You guys and gals have no idea how difficult Robert is. I am only an intern. My last day is tomorrow. I wouldn't be tweeting this if not! Good luck! I pray for you all. If you get the job! I'm out of here. See ya! Son't want to be ya! Roberts a tyrant! Seriously! He is tough! I can call him out! I'm out! Won't work in this town again! I know that! Learned a lot. But, I don't have the energy for what is expected! Yea, walk in my MJ shoes! Don't judge me! I'm alone in this office having to try and entertain you all. This isn't easy. I have tried. Done!
While the company looked for someone to manage its Twitter account full time, Marc Jacobs CEO Robert Duffy thought it wise to put an intern in charge and solicit resumes. When the job proved too difficult the intern cracked. And this is what happened.
Microsoft
Microsoft's Posthumous Amy Winehouse Tribute-cum-Advertisement
Date: 7/24/11
Tweet: Remember Amy Winehouse by downloading the ground-breaking 'Back to Black' over at Zune: social.zune.net/album/Amy-Wine...
A day after Amy Winehouse's tragic untimely passing, Microsoft's U.K. PR team thought it'd be a good idea to encourage fans of the British superstar to pay tribute by going to its Zune store and buying her last album. You stay classy, Microsoft.
