Hypothetical situation: Let’s say you own your own business. Maybe it’s a public relations and marketing agency with a rebellious side and a deep understanding of social media. Maybe it’s not. Like we said, this is fiction.

Not only does your company have a stellar reputation and eye-catching website, but it’s got the social media presence to match. It’s no surprise, social media is your “thing.” You were, like, the second Twitter user or whatever. You’re convinced that Klout can’t even handle all of the topics you’re influential about and you understand how big of a faux pas it is to “like” your own Facebook status (even though you’re hilarious). Seriously, you really know what’s up. Hypothetically.

But there’s one problem with your social media: YOUR MOM.

She likes every Facebook update your company posts. Every. Single. One.

Don’t get us wrong, you love your mom in this “imaginary situation.” She’s basically a badass. She makes the best grilled cheese sandwiches and has great taste in movies. On a busy day, she brings you lunch from one of your favorite hypothetical restaurants. She even gave you your light blond locks. Or whatever color your hair is. This is about you, after all.

You like your mom’s liking. Sure. But you have a professional reputation to uphold. It was cute the first time and supportive the few times after that. But now it just looks silly. Something has to be done.

You could start deleting all the posts with the Mom Likes (official term), but after a while, people might notice that too. So, you decide to be direct instead. You sit your mom down and have a talk with her. The kind of talk you see on an episode of Full House. You explain that while you appreciate her support and enthusiasm, she’s making you look a teeny bit unprofessional. It’s similar to how she often reminded you to say “thank you” before you had a chance, even though you were 16 years old and perfectly well-mannered.

And that’s it. Like the boss that you are, you’ve prevented a social media crisis. You’re a hypothetical genius, and you deserve a hypothetical drink. Or a real drink. No one wants a hypothetical drink.

Facebook Mom Issues are easy to manage - and other social media crises can be too, if you’re prepared. So, allow us for a second to offer up some [motherly] advice.

Act fast. 
While it’s often a perk that social media posts are made in real time, sometimes it can backfire. Set up alerts so you know when someone mentions you on social platforms. If you own a company, train and enable your team to respond to negative posts. You can quickly minimize the situation before it escalates if you’re on your game.

Repair. 
How you respond to negative media says a lot about your business. Don’t delete an angry user’s post. Instead, use your customer service skills and apologize for the situation. Be genuine. Be transparent. Be the bigger person! Use creativity and your resources to rebuild that relationship. Turn the negative situation into a positive opportunity.

Prepare.
Plan AHEAD for potential social media crises. The first step when plunging into social media is to determine your strategy (in writing!). That strategy should include a section dedicated to crisis management, including potential crisis scenarios, protocol for response and a breakdown of responsibilities for responding. Most often, a post on social media escalates to a full-fledged crisis because companies don’t handle it well and word travels fast. It’s not too late. If you’re active on social media and don’t have a documented strategy, do it NOW. You’ll be happy you did.

People are going to talk about you whether you’re there or not, so kudos to you for understanding the importance of an online presence. Obviously, you can’t control what others have to say on the Internet, but you can handle these situations in a professional manner. See what happens? No matter how hard we try, our moms (or hypothetical moms, as the case may be) are always teaching us lessons.

Help! My mom won’t quit liking my Facebook posts and other social media crises

Regular

Growing up as black sheep, the last thing we wanted to do was listen to our dads. They were wearing aviators in the 90s. What did they know? Well, apparently they knew a thing or two since we’re wearing those shades today. With the wisdom of old age (and even older age for some of us), we’re all saying something we’d never thought we’d say: Dad was right.

Not only was he right about style, he had some pretty fantastic points about public relations, marketing and the career world in general. It’s all too good to keep to ourselves, so we thought we’d share them with you.

-Stay up-to-date on the latest news. Kellie’s dad has started every morning since the beginning of time by reading a newspaper. On family vacations, he’d go on long journeys in search of the nearest paper. The paperboys knew that they’d better show up… Or else. But Kellie’s dad (or T.Bram, as we like to call him), had a point.

It’s important to know what’s going on in the world. (Duh!) And for those of us in PR, it’s even more crucial to get to know what your reporters are writing about. It lets them know that you know your stuff and won’t be clogging up inboxes with irrelevant emails. Plus, that shows you have mad respect. So, listen to T. Bram. You – and your clients – will start to see stronger results from those pitches.

-Make them notice you. Jo’s dad is an inventor. He often had to market his creations to get them the attention they needed to really take off. A bit of a Black Sheep himself, Jo’s dad refused to bring business cards to meetings with company directors. If a secretary turned him away, he’d leave his latest invention as a calling card. Seven patented inventions later, he still swears by this method.

Whether she’s designing an infographic, Twitter background or newsletter, Jo never forgets her dad’s recommendation to stand out in the crowd. And you shouldn’t either. We all see hundreds of tweets, blogs, Facebook posts, articles and TV posts everyday. Don’t be afraid to do something different, and make yours memorable.

-Take a break. Joelle’s dad has a strict policy against answering his phone after 5. At least when it comes to work related calls. (He’s always there when Joelle needs to know where the washer fluid is located in her truck.) It’s tough though. With email and social media, it seems like the work never stops. But Mr. Eid is serious about it.

He knows that clearing your head and walking away from work can help you return with a fresh outlook. And, as a social media strategist, Joelle backs this up 100 percent. Why do you think she hangs out on patios so much? Trust us, sometimes, your best ideas come when you disconnect.

-Work hard, and take care of the people you love. Aimee’s dad is a bit of a workaholic. (Wonder where she gets it…) But he’s always put his family first.

No matter how much you have going on at the office, remember what inspired you in the first place. For Aimee’s dad, that was always his family. Whatever it is that keeps you energized, make sure you make time for it. Never forget what’s most important.

There’s nothing quite like fatherly advice. And in honor of Father’s Day, we want to keep the conversation going. So let us know! What’s the most valuable career lesson your dad taught you?

Father knows best: PR lessons from our dads