Crisis & Reputation Management

CRISIS & REPUTATION MANAGEMENT

Warren Buffet said it best: It takes 20 years to build a reputation, and five minutes to ruin it.

How you Respond to a Crisis Will Affect Your Reputation for Years to Come

Without proper preparation, public and private organizations of any size can be blindsided by a long list of possible crises: data breach, internal or external theft, fire, misuse of funds, employee harassment, product recalls, injury to employees or customers, etc.

The evidence is irrefutable. How an organization responds to a crisis can dramatically affect reputation, revenues and even share price. Thus, how an organization communicates to media and key audiences (employees, customers, citizens, shareholders, etc.) following a crisis situation is as important as how it responds, operationally.

Management must act quickly and prudently to: understand and communicate the facts, control the story, restore stakeholder confidence, protect the organization’s reputation and determine if, when and how to respond to requests for media comments.

Build and position your brand in the most compelling way.

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Craft stories that reflect the character of your company and break through the clutter.

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Attract influencers, engage customers, build communities of fans.

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Earn implied third-party endorsement that motivates buyers.

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Create compelling stories that showcase the best of your organization.

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Learn to convert press interviews into marketing opportunities.

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Don’t let a good crisis go to waste. It could be a great opportunity.

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Maximize your new product’s chances for success.

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PREPARE TODAY FOR TOMORROW’S CRISIS

No one can predict when a crisis will occur. But Sikich can work with organization leaders to determine areas of risk. Then, we prepare and maintain a crisis communications toolkit to ensure total preparedness, should a crisis strike.

Sikich will work with management to:

  • Develop baseline messages
  • Formulate a media and communications strategy
  • Manage media relations (incoming inquiries and outreach)
  • Train authorized spokespeople to speak to press
  • Create a communications chain-of-command
  • Draft copy for all platforms (social media, traditional media)
  • Craft communication materials for internal and external audiences
  • Conduct “fire drills” to test messages and our methods

As a multi-discipline, professional services firm, Sikich can also provide expertise in other areas should they be required during a crisis, including marketing, technology, forensics accounting and human resources.

SIKICH’S PR TEAM IS ADEPT AT HELPING ORGANIZATIONS PREPARE FOR CRISES AND SPRING TO ACTION. AMONG THOSE WE’VE COUNSELLED:

  • A juvenile products company using heavy metal-based fire retardants in its fabrics;
  • A high-profile hotel dealing with the theft of one million credit card numbers;
  • A large public pension missing its monthly payment to pensioners;
  • Healthcare case management company linked to the wrongful death of a patient;
  • A prominent private club handling a food-borne illness.

INTERESTED IN TAKING THE NEXT STEP?

Contact us to see how we can create a results-driven PR and social media programs to meet your specific needs.