The Public Relations Blog

Ask most people who the "public" in public relations refers to and they'll likely say it refers to the general population, or a company's customers and potential customers. But the publics most companies need to reach may include investors or government regulators. One public that is essential to almost every company's success is its own employees.

Sometimes an online reputation management problem can explode into a major crisis for a company.

"Any man who must say 'I am the king' is no true king at all." — Tyrion Lannister, Game of Thrones

If your first impulse upon reading a negative online review is to respond with questions about the reviewer's intelligence and family lineage, you're human. If you actually do it, you're playing with fire and your business is likely to get burned - possibly to the ground. Make it a habit and you'll need professional help to douse the flames and start rebuilding.

Gaining positive coverage is great news and certainly a morale boost in that someone thinks you are doing a good job, but why leave it there? Just because you had a story published, does not mean everyone has had a chance to see it.

SEO: If your company has a website (what company doesn't?), you've undoubtedly wondered how to make it more effective at attracting leads and/or customers and growing your business.

For more information why you shouldn't hire an advertising firm to do PR, see Signs you’re working with an ad agency instead of a PR firm

Never let an advertising agency do your PR.

The other night I saw a commercial from Apple, in which it claimed that the iPhone is now the most-used camera on earth. Not the most-used camera phone, the most-used camera, which would mean its integrated digital camera has surpassed stand-alone photo giants like Nikon, Canon and Fuji. Added to the number of Google searches, emails and Facebook updates performed every day on smartphones, the popularity of cell-phone cameras is a powerful testament to just how much you and I love and depend on integrated technologies. (Remember when you had to remember your camera, film and batteries? I do.)

Quick PR Response Averts Reputational Crisis and Returns Company to Profitability

Background

Considered to be the definitive sports drink for all major athletes, Gatorade’s march to international brand recognition saw it begin its life in Florida as a regionally based drink, with little of the scientific research backing its claims that it enjoys today. The product’s launch came at a time when general public belief was that any liquid ingestion during physical activity caused cramps and nausea. Despite this common misconception, a growing number – including University of Florida Gator football coach Ray Graves – began to recognize the need to somehow replenish energy and endurance lost through an athlete’s perfusing sweat. The answer, an electrolyte-infused concoction developed by UF’s College of Medicine, showed promising results in restoring the body’s chemical balance. The challenge, however, as with all new ideas, would be to gain wider public recognition and acceptance.

Background

Billed as the world’s first supersonic plane that could cut travel times in half, the history of Concorde’s beginning was disappointingly marked by exorbitant costs, design complications and a 1973 oil crisis that saw airlines seeking ways to drastically decrease expenditures. The result was large-scale order cancellations that threatened to cripple production and subsequent success of the project. Making matters worse, public opinion began to sour against the airliner, citing concerns over noise and other environmental issues caused by the jet’s sonic booms. Such voices culminated in a crushing setback for Concorde’s backers as governments around the world, including the United States, banned operation of the plane within their respective airspaces. Knowing the continued existence of Concorde rested on winning international public approval, the airplane’s financiers understood the urgency of getting to work on repairing Concorde’s image.

Background

Billed as the sports car for people who dislike driving sports cars, the creators of the Ford Mustang opted for a slow and strategic approach when it came to promoting its latest concept. Rather than solely relying on an expensive advertising budget, Ford instead began focusing its efforts on a media relations campaign. Understanding the power and influence a public buzz could generate, the carmaker starting leaking information to the media almost a year prior to the vehicle’s launch.