Our reputation management agency has seen our fair share of sticky situations. What’s more, we have also seen just how easy it is to find yourselves in them. Although press can work their magic in many ways, they also have the power to rip a reputation to shreds. The best way to protect yourself from this, you ask? Crisis management.
Here at VerriBerri, we are a multi-service, reputation management agency. We work with a vast array of clients to help protect their brand from crisis. Our team have specialised in this area for over 12 years. During this time, we have built some strong connections within the industry. With us by your side, you can be sure your brand will be protected should a problem occur.
What a Reputation Management Agency Does
As a reputation management agency, it’s our job to identify any threats to your business. For example, this could be weaknesses in an upcoming campaign or issues with existing or prior staff members. Once we find these potential crises, we can then work on preventing them from happening. If a crisis has already occurred however, then our job switches to minimising the fallout caused by the media itself, or social media users. Overall, we encourage the clients we help to see our work as an insurance policy for your reputation. Crisis management isn’t just an added cost, this is a necessity.
The Brands That Never Recovered
In order for you to recognise just how easy it is for a crisis to happen, let’s look at some key examples of brands who never recovered. Starting big, let’s take a look at the scandal that followed SeaWorld around for years.
Most of us remember the Blackfish documentary. In case you don’t know, this movie was based around a famous Orca that was housed in SeaWorld. The film goes into detail over the controversy surrounding imprisonment of animals and their welfare. After being released, it very quickly spiralled in popularity and this led to people boycotting the brand. Before SeaWorld knew it, their reputation was ruined beyond repair.
Next, let’s look at a more recent case. Although this brand has been able to recover somewhat, fashion retailer Oh Polly ran into issues last year with a competition they were running. The giveaway was open to NHS workers and aimed to give back for all their work during the pandemic. Winners would receive a care package, new outfit from the site, and also, an invite to a virtual event. One of the winners caused chaos for the brand after telling them she wouldn’t be able to attend the event. This was, ironically, due to work commitments. In reply, Oh Polly made the nurse aware that she wouldn’t be able to win if she couldn’t attend the event. Taking to Twitter, the business of course saw lots of negativity. In retaliation, competitor, Pretty Little Thing waded in to make the most out of the situation. In order to steal the limelight, they offered the nurse some of their own products to make up for the ordeal. Of course, Oh Polly have really suffered after this whole situation. Had they had a crisis management team on board, this could have been avoided.
Things You Can Do To Avoid a Crisis
Now, we’re well aware that not every company has the budget to employ a reputation management team. Therefore, our reputation management agency thought it might be useful to share some of our top tips for upholding your reputation.
Avoid Speaking Out on Controversial Topics
Although this one may seem trivial, you’d be surprised just how often this occurs. One of the very easiest ways to avoid controversy is to simply just stay away from it. Of course, we understand that it’s not always that easy. However, not commenting on topics such as politics, can be the best way to play it safe until you do have representation.
It is also important to also note that not speaking out over certain topics, such as the BLM movement, could backfire. It’s important you offer your support where you need too. We know it’s a thin line to tread however; it’s vital if you want your brand to survive.
Go Over Campaigns With a Fine-Tooth Comb
This is a rule we live by and encourage every company to do. When producing a campaign you’re proud of, it’s easy to overlook potential things that could go wrong. Make sure you look out for weaknesses in your plan. If you can, ask for a fresh set of eyes too. Second opinions are almost always valuable.
Take Time Over Responses
Finally, take your time. If you are commenting on topics such as feminism or, a crisis that has already happened, you need to make sure your responses are carefully considered. Spend time understanding the topic or why a crisis has happened. Before posting, ask yourself, could this cause offence in any way?
Other Ways to Solidify Your Reputation
As well as helping you in a crisis, our reputation management agency also specialises in other areas of PR and marketing. These include:
- Social Media Management
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- Event Management
- Pay Per Click (PPC)
- Graphic Design
- Internal Communications
Many of the marketing methods we offer are also ways you can build yourself a strong reputation. For instance, showcasing your work on social media helps your brand in proving your ability. Meanwhile, areas such as graphic design can help you to portray your company in whatever way suits.
As well as crisis management, we highly recommend solidifying your reputation by also putting time into your marketing strategy. If this is something you need guidance with, our team would be more than happy to chat.
Contact Our Reputation Management Agency
We love helping the businesses around us in any way we can. With this in mind, you can be rest assured you’re in good hands with us. If you are looking to bring onboard a team to help, why not get in touch? To contact our reputation management agency, you can do so by clicking here. Alternatively, call our office on 01376 386 850.