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Crisis Communications Question: What’s the Best Piece of Crisis Communication Advice You Were Ever Given?

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Crisis communications advice can come from industry professionals, online articles such as Huffington Post or PR Newswire, or it may come from your former or current educators. Crisis communication tips can be spread across social media from consultants and crisis management professionals. So, how do you sort through all of the daily influx of information? What is that one tip that was the most memorable and most impactful on your career?

To help out our corporate communications professionals, and our public relations community, this week’s crisis management discussion question is, “What’s the best piece of crisis management advice you were ever given?”

We would love to hear your thoughts this week. Comment here and on our social media pages to join the discussion. Your answers may be featured in our follow-up video!

This question is one of a series of debates in the media relations, crisis communications, public relations, and social media industries where you and your colleagues can share observations with each other. Yes, YOU are invited to share your bite size bits of best practices. Here is how:

Step 1: Subscribe to The BraudCast on YouTube

Step 2: You will see a short video that poses a new question every Monday. You then post your best practices and observations on The BraudCast YouTube channel.

Step 3: Once your opinion is shared, you can follow the discussion online so you can compare your best practices to those of your professional colleagues.

Step 4: Watch the follow-up Friday Video where you will see a short YouTube video outlining some of the most interesting observations. Yes…your comments may actually show up on our BraudCast video, bringing you world-wide fame, fortune, a big raise, glory, street parades, and more.

Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge. Please take 2 seconds now to subscribe to The BraudCast.

Rethink Social Media Crisis Communications

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By Gerard Braud

Do you follow the herd or do you set your own course?

The “herd” mentality of social media is finally changing.

  • Which herd were you originally in?
  • Which herd are you in now?
Vimeo Gerard Braud

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In public relations and marketing, the headline could have read, “Gerard Braud Is the Social Media Lone Wolf.”

It started in 2008 with a conference presentation called, “Social Media When ‘It’ Hits the Fan.”

Facebook had opened to the public in 2006 and the herd didn’t want to hear about the negative side of social media. Booking agents and meeting planners would ask me to speak about how to use social media as a wonderful marketing tool. Being the lone wolf, I’d explain how social media would lead to an online crisis and that no expert worth his salt should talk about social media marketing without combining it with a crisis communications element.smart-watch-821559_1920

I turned down a lot of paid speaking engagements because the herd only wanted to hear about the pretty online world where customers would beat a path to your door on Facebook. Being the maverick, I saw the potential for those same customers to become an angry mob at your door, using social media as their virtual torches and pitchforks.

Today, demand for knowledge about social media and crisis communications as a combined topic is going through the roof. “Social Media When ‘It’ Hits the Fan” is the most requested topic I’m asked to speak about at conferences and conventions.

Here are some takeaways you should consider if your employer uses social media:

1. Replying to a negative online post might make things worse. Conventional wisdom says to show your concern for a customer by posting a reply. But taking a negative discussion offline is a better option. A direct message that is less public can be more personal. A public online reply on Facebook raises the negative comment to the top of everyone’s newsfeed. This opens the door for more negative comments from those with a similar negative point of view who missed the original post.

2. Tried and true still beats shiny and new. In other words, a tried and true crisis communications plan and response strategy is still needed. It should define all of your audiences and the best communication strategies for reaching your audiences. A social media crisis will likely still require you to talk with the media, communicate to your employees, and to publish a news release statement on your corporate website. A Tweet might get you into a crisis, but it takes more than 140 characters to message your way out of a crisis.

3. Establish a clear social media policy for your employees. Have each employee sign the agreement and place it in their personnel file. Be ready to enforce it. Some of the policies I write for clients prohibit employees from listing their place of employment on their personal social media profiles. You’d be surprised to learn all of things I can’t share with you because of the confidentiality agreements that I’ve signed. But, an ounce of prevention on social media is more than a pound of cure.

The herd is giving you permission to acknowledge that what was once the shiny and new world of social media is now tarnished. If you are not prepared, it will also tarnish the reputation of your company.

 

 

 

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The Best Way to Write a Crisis Communications Plan: Tips from Followers

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This week’s PR discussion question was, “What’s the best way to write a crisis communications plan?” Writing a crisis communications plan can be daunting, and look like a task too big to tackle. Even the best public relations professionals and corporate communications professionals can really struggle to write an effective crisis communication plan. That’s why we often see so many companies using a plan that they found online. We have seen these crisis plans fail, or even worsen the crisis, in some of the most tragic events in our history, such as in school shootings. The problem is, these plans are not nearly thorough enough to protect your brand, reputation, and revenue in a crisis.

Now that the experts have weighed in on social media, we want to hear if you agree with their tips. Comment here and on our social media pages to join the discussion. Your colleagues and companies across the globe could benefit.

This question is one of a series of debates in the media relations, crisis communications, public relations, and social media industries where you and your colleagues can share observations with each other. Yes, YOU are invited to share your bite size bits of best practices. Here is how:

Step 1: Subscribe to The BraudCast on YouTube

Step 2: You will see a short video that poses a new question every Monday. You then post your best practices and observations on The BraudCast YouTube channel.

Step 3: Once your opinion is shared, you can follow the discussion online so you can compare your best practices to those of your professional colleagues.

Step 4: Watch the follow-up Friday Video where you will see a short YouTube video outlining some of the most interesting observations. Yes…your comments may actually show up on our BraudCast video, bringing you world-wide fame, fortune, a big raise, glory, street parades, and more.

Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge. Please take 2 seconds now to subscribe to The BraudCast.

Sharing Your Tips: How long should a crisis communications plan be?

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By Gerard Braud –

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How long should a crisis communication plan be? We posed the question earlier this week for corporate communications, public relations, and crisis communications professionals to answer. Watch today’s BraudCast video to hear what the pros had to say, as well as some of my crisis expert tips.

Some experts commented on our social media that a crisis plan doesn’t need to be “long,” but just long enough to cover the basic questions, such as,”who, what, where, when, and how?” Others answered that crisis plans need to present potential positive outcomes for all the possible crises an organization might face.

Please join our weekly public relations discussion questions by posting here on the blog, on social media or on today’s YouTube video. Next week I’m posting another question for you to answer. Don’t forget to subscribe to the weekly question on the BraudCast YouTube Channel to participate.

This question is one of a series of discussion questions about media relations, crisis communications, public relations, and social media. Yes, YOU are invited to share your bite size bits of best practices each week. Here is how:

Step 1: Subscribe to The BraudCast on YouTube

Step 2: You will see a short video that poses a new question every Monday. You then post your best practices and observations on The BraudCast YouTube channel.

3: Once your opinion is shared, you can follow the discussion online so you can compare your best practices to those of your professional colleagues.

Step 4: Watch the Follow up Friday Video where you will see a short YouTube video outlining some of the most interesting observations. Yes…your comments may actually show up on our BraudCast video, bringing you world-wide fame, fortune, a big raise, glory, street parades, and more.

Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge. Please take 2 seconds now to subscribe to The BraudCast.

Please comment: How long should a crisis communications plan be?

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By Gerard Braud –

Is a five page crisis communications plan long enough to communicate effectively on your darkest day? What about 12 pages? How can corporate communications professionals or crisis experts tell if a plan is detailed and thorough enough to walk you through the steps of managing your crisis? There are plenty of crisis plans available on the internet. Would you trust your organization with one of them?

This week and every week on the BraudCast we are posing a discussion question for corporate communications, public relations, and crisis communications experts. The question is, “How long should a crisis communication plan be?”

Please weigh in and join our weekly discussions by posting your answer here on the blog, on social media or on today’s YouTube video. Later this week I am sharing your expert tips as well as my own opinion in a follow-up video. Don’t forget to subscribe to the weekly question on the BraudCast YouTube Channel to participate.

Click here to watch video & Subscribe to the BraudCast

This question is one of a series of discussion questions about media relations, crisis communications, public relations, and social media. Yes, YOU are invited to share your bite size bits of best practices each week. Here is how:

Step 1: Subscribe to The BraudCast on YouTube

Step 2: You will see a short video that poses a new question every Monday. You then post your best practices and observations on The BraudCast YouTube channel.

3: Once your opinion is shared, you can follow the discussion online so you can compare your best practices to those of your professional colleagues.

Step 4: Watch the Follow up Friday Video where you will see a short YouTube video outlining some of the most interesting observations. Yes…your comments may actually show up on our BraudCast video, bringing you world-wide fame, fortune, a big raise, glory, street parades, and more.

Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge. Please take 2 seconds now to subscribe to The BraudCast.

Please Share Your Thoughts: Does the CEO Need to be the Spokesperson Each Time in a Crisis?

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By Gerard Braud –

Click here to watch & subscribe to the BraudCast

Click here to watch & subscribe to the BraudCast

Does the CEO need to be the spokesperson each time in a crisis? Should they be the face of the company in each media interview or public statement? When should a media trained professional or public relations representative step in front of the camera? This week I am asking you for your bite-sized bits of best practices for this media relations issue.  Please share your opinion on our social media and subscribe to the weekly question on the BraudCast YouTube Channel to participate each week.

This question is one of a series of discussion questions about media relations, crisis communications, public relations, and social media. Yes, YOU are invited to share your bite size bits of best practices each week. Here is how:

Step 1: Subscribe to The BraudCast on YouTube

Step 2: You will see a short video that poses a new question every Monday. You then post your best practices and observations on The BraudCast YouTube channel.

3: Once your opinion is shared, you can follow the discussion online so you can compare your best practices to those of your professional colleagues.

Step 4: Watch the Follow up Friday Video where you will see a short YouTube video outlining some of the most interesting observations. Yes…your comments may actually show up on our BraudCast video, bringing you world-wide fame, fortune, a big raise, glory, street parades, and more.

Thanks in advance for sharing your contributions. Please take 2 seconds now to subscribe to The BraudCast.

Should social media be a part of your crisis communications plan and strategy?

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By Gerard Braud –

It is time for you to voice your opinion on crisis communications plans and strategy. Each week we seek your best PR practices on the BraudCast. Your discussion question is, “Should social media be a part of your crisis communications strategy?” Social media has changed the way that media relations and public relations professionals must communicate to effectively manage a crisis. That is why I am asking you to contribute by sharing your best advice with your colleagues.

Thumbnail BraudCast

Click image to watch and subscribe to The BraudCast

This question is one of a series of discussions about media relations, crisis communications, public relations, and social media. Yes, YOU are invited to share your bite size bits of best practices each week. Here is how:

Step 1: Subscribe to The BraudCast on YouTube

Step 2: You will see a short video that poses a new question every Monday. You then post your best practices and observations on The BraudCast YouTube channel.

3: Once your opinion is shared, you can follow the discussion online so you can compare your best practices to those of your professional colleagues.

Step 4: Watch the Follow up Friday Video where you will see a short YouTube video outlining some of the most interesting observations. Yes…your comments may actually show up on our BraudCast video, bringing you world-wide fame, fortune, a big raise, glory, street parades, and more.

Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge. Please take 2 seconds now to subscribe to The BraudCast.

Budgeting for 2016

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Plan-to-FailBy Gerard Braud –

For many of you it is budgeting season. You either ask for it now or you don’t get to do what you want a year from now. For others, it is that time of year where you have to spend unspent funds or lose them.

That being said, I’m standing by to assist you with your needs. If media training or a crisis communications plan is on your 2015 or 2016 wish list, please send an e-mail to me at gerard@braudcommunications.com

In short order you can have a quote. Plus, if you need assistance to make a business case for media training or crisis communications planning, I am happy to give you the best expert advice possible.

And don’t forget, if you need a speaker on either of these topics for an association meeting, conference, or convention, I’m happy to help you plan a program. Many of my program titles can be viewed at https://braudcommunications.com/keynotes/

BraudCast Answer: How quickly do you need to issue a public statement when a crisis happens?

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Companies, schools, and various organizations often spend hours writing press releases from scratch and reviewing them with their public relations managers and legal teams before they are ever presented to the media or to their employees. This slow process causes the media to become impatient and begin interviewing speculating eyewitnesses on the street, who may only make your crisis appear worse than it really is.  For effective crisis management and internal communications, how fast should a company release a public statement in a crisis?

Braudcast public statement

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This question is one of a series of debates in the media relations, crisis communications, public relations, and social media industries where you and your colleagues can share observations with each other. Yes, YOU are invited to share your bite size bits of best practices. Here is how:

Step 1: Subscribe to The BraudCast on YouTube

Step 2: You will see a short video that poses a new question every Monday. You then post your best practices and observations on The BraudCast YouTube channel.

3: Once your opinion is shared, you can follow the discussion online so you can compare your best practices to those of your professional colleagues.

Step 4: Watch the Follow up Friday Video where you will see a short YouTube video outlining some of the most interesting observations. Yes…your comments may actually show up on our BraudCast video, bringing you world-wide fame, fortune, a big raise, glory, street parades, and more.

Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge. Please take 2 seconds now to subscribe to The BraudCast.

BraudCast Question: How quickly do you need to issue a public statement when a crisis happens?

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Organizations often spend hours writing press releases and public statements and reviewing them with their public relations professionals and legal teams before they are ever presented to the media. This only allows the media to become impatient and frustrated and eyewitnesses to begin speculating.  For effective crisis communications and employee communications, how fast should a company release a public statement in a crisis?

Braudcast public statement

Click image to play

This question is one of a series of debates in the media relations, crisis communications, public relations, and social media industries where you and your colleagues can share observations with each other. Yes, YOU are invited to share your bite size bits of best practices. Here is how:

Step 1: Subscribe to The BraudCast on YouTube

Step 2: You will see a short video that poses a new question every Monday. You then post your best practices and observations on The BraudCast YouTube channel.

3: Once your opinion is shared, you can follow the discussion online so you can compare your best practices to those of your professional colleagues.

Step 4: Watch the Follow up Friday Video where you will see a short YouTube video outlining some of the most interesting observations. Yes…your comments may actually show up on our BraudCast video, bringing you world-wide fame, fortune, a big raise, glory, street parades, and more.

Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge. Please take 2 seconds now to subscribe to The BraudCast.