Social Media and Recall Management

By Mike Rozembajgier

A recent Social Times article discusses some important trends regarding product recall management and the modern consumer experience.

The article notes that as both manufacturing capacity and product demand increase over time, the growing use of social media platforms is contributing to the transparency, accountability and communications processes related to product recall logistics and management.

The business world is already incorporating social media into its marketing and customer relations business models in order to reach and inform consumers quickly and efficiently. Although the benefits that social media platforms offer to the product recall management process are obvious, Social Times notes that “SEO cannibalization” may deter companies from using them. More specifically, having web portals and links dedicated to a particular product recall could prove damaging to a company’s overall reputation .

According to the article, “Part of the issue is for companies themselves, if they are successful in building a separate portal for their recall they will experience SEO cannibalization, which is when SEO related to their company or product will be filled with links related to the recalls offsetting huge budgets set aside to controlling online image.”

There are already several websites meeting the need for streamlined recall notification and offering various kinds of third party support. SafetyBook.org, for example, allows consumers to upload their household items and opt to receive notification of any future recalls. WeMakeItSafer.com offers several Web applications for recall tracking and safety information, including services that can tell you if a particular product has ever been recalled. In addition, Safelist.com has created an online marketplace that seeks to ensure that only “safe” products are sold and traded on its platform.

The Social Times article goes on to point out that while we at ExpertRECALL provide logistical recall management services, organizations such as ConsumerBell focus on the social media and Web application side of things. Their services include helping companies quickly set up sub-domains and other Web pages for recalled products and working to ensure that these new recall related links won’t interfere with a existing Web initiatives.

As new trends continue to emerge on this front, manufacturers and retailers should remain aware of their best options for communicating with consumers in the event of a product recall. Distributors and consumers should also keep current on the third party platforms that can offer support for tracking and keeping abreast of the latest news involving product recalls.

Stericycle ExpertRECALL™ is the industry leader in recall logistics and regulatory compliance for consumer product, pharmaceutical, medical device, juvenile product, and food and beverage recalls. ExpertRECALL’s professionals are experts in recall management who can help you streamline the entire product recall process.