Addressing the press when you should pipe low and observe the progression of issues, could be the beginning of your downfall in business. Public approach has continued to be a strong determinant of a company’s success or failure. As humans, we consider making mistakes as inevitable but PR nightmares can be intentionally avoided.
What is PR Nightmare?
The term “PR nightmare” is used to make reference to the negative public outcomes of a company’s action/inaction. It is embarrassing and could have a huge adverse impact on the reputation of an individual or a business.
In this age of social media, too much or less indulgence could pose a threat to the growth of a business or company. The last thing on the list of a company owner is “bad reviews”. Even though it is the negative reviews that give rise to positive changes, it is the consistent or viral negatives that is the PR nightmare.
Some times, companies and businesses engage so many people’s opinion by the way they have presented their services to the public. The truth is, there is no venture without flaw and flaunting a ‘perfect’ human institution is an open check to making severe mistakes.
Effects of PR Nightmares
As a business owner, you should not struggle to impress the public. Marketing could be a business term but it is not for robots to consume. It is HUMANS that will buy what you market. Never forget that. So, ignoring the impact of negative reviews will only aggravate the public’s resentment towards your business style and strategies.
Once a public mistake has been made, the reputation of that business or company is at stake. It is best to tackle that “PR Nightmare” with a close observation instead of a continuous fight at fruitless remedy. Remember, a viral negative can only be managed. Once the trust people have on your company is broken, it becomes a nightmare to deal with.
The world thrives on emotions. It is the same emotions that could be our undoing. Aggressive comments and statements, cyber-bulling, humiliating and defamatory statements all components of a bruised human emotion.
How to handle a PR Nightmare
PR nightmares are not just impulsive occurances There is always a lead to it. Most times, these leads are considered inconsequential until they escalate.
There is a need to make your business vulnerable to the public (a strategy that ignites people’s emotions) but there should always be an immunity against viral criticisms.
How can a business be immune to PR nightmares?
- This brings the concept of consistency and to mind: The moment the standard of a business or company is compromised on, things begin to fill apart. You don’t want your business to be found wanting at the field of scrutiny. Stay consistent to the values that kept you on the rise.
- Play by the rules that gives: The government is no joke when it comes to business standards. There is an adage that says “he who comes to equity must come with clean hands”. This is the basis of trust and integrity – identifying with the authorities that be. Not haphazardly, but at all levels of your business operation.
- Have a professional Media Strategy: The waves of PR nightmares are fanned by media circulations. To this end, there should be an in-house system on ground to keep open a civil communication channel, while reducing the pressures of the public’s “sudden” interest in the company’s affairs.
A nightmare is a miserable situation to experience. A PR nightmare is even worse because reputation here, is at stake. However, there is always a method of avoidance : REVIEW YOUR ERRORS.
Businesses are not supernatural. There is a huge gap that should be consistently filled with the right approach, the right people and the right standards.
If your business currently suffers a PR nightmare, you might consider taking responsibility for your errors publicly while placing a plan for restructuring on its side. This is tacky because it may further ignite people’s emotions against you or create a sympathy towards you. Either ways, be certain, with a workable system, to make it right.
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