The saying that “all press is good press” isn’t true, especially when consumer safety is at risk. Fortunately, it’s possible to repair a damaged brand reputation with the right public relations strategy. It takes more than just responding to unsatisfied customers, and a PR company has the expertise to help your brand out of the crisis.
Issue a Statement Promptly
It’s challenging to stop bad news from reaching the masses in this digital era because the consumers report it themselves on social media. The more a brand tries to hide negative coverage or ignore it, the more speculations that people make. As a result, the brand’s reputation suffers more damage.
Instead, the brand needs to address the issues head-on and provide a statement within 24 to 48 hours if possible. The statement should outline what the brand plans to do to rectify customer dissatisfaction and avoid repeat situations.
A PR company can help your brand write a statement that addresses the right audience with the right standpoint. Such experts understand that approaching customers as people with real concerns and emotions is a better way to repair the problem than using legal and corporate jargon.
Deal With Media Attention
Even with a statement, negative comments about your brand are inevitable. In the public’s eyes, it could be more credible than advertising. In general, people trust news sources more than ads.
A PR company will take a reactive approach to the negative press. It may offer advice on how to address media coverage as it develops. For example, PR professionals can draft statements and other support materials for your brand to publish. This makes you ready to answer questions from journalists and customers alike.
PR professionals may even take over making statements on your brand’s behalf. The staff can schedule interviews with the right journalists to secure positive coverage. Meanwhile, they provide insight on how to maintain customer, investor, and shareholder loyalty.
Address the Damage
Even after you address the initial crisis, you’ll still have cleaning up to do to regain your reputation. At this point, a PR company can help you develop a strategy that draws attention to the positive elements of your brand. It can also set up further interviews, write news releases, and assist your company with returning to normal operations. In addition, PR professionals can develop a backup strategy in case a similar situation occurs again.
Enhance Your Brand Image
It’s essential that you manage your online reputation after the dust settles. Reach out to your customers to inspire favorable stories and mentions about your brand. Doing so will enhance your brand image. However, it’s impossible to control everything that people post about your brand online. A PR company can help you devise a plan to manage this harmful content.
Do you need public relations in Las Vegas to deal with a brand crisis? GYC Vegas is a Las Vegas public relations firm with years of experience. You can rely on GYC Vegas to rebuild your brand reputation.