3 Tips on Dealing With Bad PR

If your company comes under fire in the press it may seem like an emergency situation. Whether you deserve it or not, the negativity reflects badly on the company image and could discourage consumers from using your services in the future. There are some ways to combat bad PR however, three of which are suggested below.

Hope It All Dies Down

Sometimes bad press isn't quite as bad as you think. Before you take any action you should consider the following points - has the bad press been widely syndicated? Is it being seen by your customers or potential customers? If the answer to these questions is 'no' then it might be that you don't actually have to do anything. If no-one who matters is actually seeing the story, then it's almost as if it doesn't exist.

In cases like these, if you shoot off a reply you could end up making the situation worse by adding fuel to the flames. If your reply gets picked up then the original bad piece may get dragged along with it - making a small situation into a big one. A bad story about your company that floats on the outskirts of the news for a few weeks before sinking into oblivion doesn't damage your reputation - just don't poke it with a metaphorical stick or it might bite.

Create A Response To The Accusations

If the story has reached your customers and looks like doing some damage, a good way to counter is to compose your own response. Try not to get emotionally involved - this is unprofessional and you might say something you later regret. The media likes objective facts and statements, so they're also more likely to take on something calm and to the point.

Stick to all the facts involved and address each negative point of the original bad PR piece. Explain why your company made mistakes (if they did) and how you're going to put them right - give the customer a reason to trust you.

Circulate Some Good PR

PR stories can get picked up by powerful publications. What if you search for your company name on the internet and the bad story comes up top? When you're faced with a situation like this you have to try and shift it off the front page and away from consumers' eyes, and the best way to do this is to circulate some stories of your own.

Submit your positive pieces through press release newswires and, if they're of a high quality and they go to the right places, you could knock your adversary off the front page of a search engine within days.

Whatever strategy you choose to counter bad PR stories, be prepared to answer some questions about the performance of your company. Customers may want to know how the issues raised in the bad press affects them, and your employees may feel unsure of their positions. Good communication is always the key, so prepare your answers and deliver them in a timely, reassuring manner.

16 Nov 2008 10:28:24

Notebook | WSU was doomed by three bad plays - Seattle Times

The Spokesman Review Notebook WSU was doomed by three bad plays Seattle Times, United States - When Washington State looks at what happened in Saturday's loss to Arizona State, it will see three plays that proved particularly costly. ... Boivin: Win over WSU hardly exciting

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