‘Lost Password’ nightmares

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In the digital age, social media is a cornerstone of business success.

Josh Moore

Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn and Google Business help you connect with your audience, showcase your brand, and drive sales. But what happens when the person managing your accounts leaves and takes the keys to your social media kingdom with them?

It’s an all-too-common scenario that can cause headaches, lost revenue, and reputational damage. And it happens more often that you might think.

So even though it feels boring, knowing your passwords and securing access to your social media pages is a must for every business owner.

The Risk of Being Locked Out

Imagine this: a staff member who managed your social media or Google Business Profile leaves your company. You’ve trusted them to handle everything, so you didn’t bother to get involved. Months later, you realise that your business’s Facebook page hasn’t been updated. Worse still, you discover that they were the only person with admin access. Or worse yet, you might not even know which previous staff member had the access!

You’re locked out, unable to post updates, respond to messages, or even regain control.

This nightmare doesn’t just halt your marketing efforts — it damages your credibility. Customers may assume your business is inactive, leading to lost opportunities and a tarnished reputation.

The Solution: Shared Responsibility

To prevent this scenario, it’s vital to have multiple administrators on all your business’s social media accounts. Most platforms allow you to assign different levels of access, from admin to editor roles.

By having at least two administrators—preferably the business owner and another trusted team member—you ensure continuous access. Even if one person leaves or becomes unavailable, the other can maintain control.

Fortify Your Accounts with Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Even if you have multiple administrators, your social media accounts remain vulnerable to hackers. If one of your administrator accounts gets hacked, the hackers can lock you out of your pages, holding your account hostage or using it to post inappropriate content.

Setting up two-factor authentication (2FA) is a simple yet powerful way to protect your accounts. With 2FA, even if someone guesses your password, they’ll need a secondary code sent to your phone or email to gain access. This extra layer of security drastically reduces the risk of unauthorised access. (And while you’re at it, please use a good level of complexity in your passwords to make it harder for hackers to crack).

Don’t Risk Your Digital Presence

Your businesses social media profiles are too valuable to leave to chance. By securing your accounts with shared responsibility, robust passwords, and 2FA, you can avoid the stress of losing access and protect your business from disruptions. Even though it may feel boring, take action today to safeguard your digital presence and keep your business thriving.

Website. Photo: Christina Morillo. Pexels.com

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About Author

Josh Moore is the managing director at Duoplus - a Hamilton-based digital marketing agency that specialises in helping businesses get more leads and sales by getting found online through SEO, Google Ads and Facebook campaigns. www.duoplus.nz