Unless you are living under a rock, you will be fully aware of the Trump VS Hillary battle for the US presidency, the attacks on character and the rather quick deterioration of both parties’ reputation, fueled by the likes of Twitter. According to Wired, a staggering 7.4 million individuals watched the CNN Facebook Live stream of the presidential debate!

The quote, “reputation is hard won and easily lost” is exemplified by Trump and Hillary. The slugging backwards and forwards, the attacks and incriminating data leaks further prove that regardless of your politics, the old saying has never been truer!

PR – Reputation Management

People often ask what differentiates PR from the rest of the marketing mix. A key differentiator, when done well, is that PR is all about reputation management. Your PR representative is effectively the guardian of your company reputation. However, every team member is a brand champion; thus, everyone has to be clear of the messages conveyed, be open, but also wary of all forms of communication.

This can be challenging. It’s easy for the lines of communication to become blurred, taking into account the sudden rise of digital influencers, Social Media and the fact virtually everyone is able to voice their opinions on the internet. This can lead to information becoming diluted or misunderstood if you are not careful. Even off the cuff comments on private social media accounts can sometimes have detrimental consequences, tarnishing your image.

So how can you have your voice heard over the noise and remain the champion of your reputation?

Here are some reputation management tips from Mandy:

1. Have a good integrated communications plan
2. Make sure everyone knows what everyone else is saying to the world and how and when
3. Make sure everyone is on message – run a simple messaging workshop with your team to align your thinking regarding the benefits and talking points of your business
4. Invest in some media training for all spokespeople
5. Make your customers brand advocates, but don’t over promise – it’s easy to try to be all things to all customers but better to promise less, be realistic and always deliver
6. Ensure you communicate in a timely manner, especially responding to any issues, queries or complaints against your brand. In a world where we can access a live stream of global news, at our fingertips whilst on the go; every minute of silence could be more detrimental. Always issue a statement and communicate updates frequently.

At brookscomm we have over 20 years’ experience of enhancing great reputations, efficiently and successfully. We can aid you and your business, call us on 01483 537 890 or, alternatively, email us info@brookscomm.com

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