A significantly large number of companies are ignoring negative comments posted in either company websites or social networking media sites.

Theo Thomas, the former owner of listings site Dlook.com.au, discovered that most businesses stayed away from negative comments because these average about 78 percent against 22 percent positive or favorable comments.

Despite selling his listings site in 2009, Thomas continues to encourage listed businesses to respond and for the public to leave comments.

Thomas explained that “the biggest problem was that more than half the businesses that had negative comments insisted that their listings be removed from the site... People get very intimidated -- small business particularly -- by negative feedback.”

Mocks founder Lara Solomon has proven Thomas advice to be highly beneficial to business. Solomon let go of a public relations firm to settle for social media as the main marketing method for her business.

The mobile sock manufacturer focused on a Facebook page and started engaging with more than 15,000 customers on social media sites. Sales doubled in the final quarter of 2009.

In 2004, the Australian entrepreneur left a high-profile career to start her new business, Laroo, and launched once unknown product, Mock. In a span of five years, Laroo brought Australia and the world the original mobile phone sock or “Mock”.

Mock is an iconic brand today with over a million already sold in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.