Bank of America has learned the hard way that their lack of a social media presence could work against them. Someone has set up a parody Google Plus page in the absence of a real one as reported by Reuters social media editor Anthony DeRosa on Twitter Monday night. The page looked official enough until you noticed the series of mocking photos, images and other posts. For the largest bank in the U.S. that doesn’t even have a Facebook page (doh!), that makes them a big moving target.
The moral of this story is that if you choose not to engage, someone else will and not necessarily on your terms. The page has since been taken down by Google but not before a large number of comments, screen captures and embarrassing press. Just a thought but we’re wondering if BofA might need our help coming up with a strategy to deal with this odd notion that a big bank doesn’t need social? Here’s our phone number guys: 415-738-0738. Ask for Lance or Matt…
– Lance Shields
Love it! I’m at BofA as I write this to close my account and transfer to Chase. Right before the banker meets with me I read your article. The banker asks me, “why are you closing your account”…. Ohhh BofA when will you do something right? Showed him your article and even he found humor in it.
Thanks for that terrifically timed story, Aaron! It’s hard to believe. I like that the BofA banker saw the humor in it too. BofA could certainly do a better job when it comes to social media and it takes things like this to happen to wake them up to the reality that people will bring them into the conversation whether they want to or not. If anything, now is the time.
As legendary designer David Carson said in a presentation long ago, “You can’t not not communicate.”