The term reputation management is most often associated with a company as an entity of its own. What most people fail to realize is that your reputation management strategy will fall short if this is all it includes. Understand that you, as a business owner, must effectively manage your reputation because you are essentially selling yourself right alongside the company.
Prime Examples
Think about it like this – how many times have you heard of customers boycotting a store because of something their owners did? For example, a boycott of pizza chain Papa Johns because their CEO spoke out against health care reform. The Red Hen Restaurant, a small fine dining establishment, was boycotted for refusing to serve someone who worked for Donald Trump. Chick-fil-a has been the victim of boycotts and harassment due to the owner’s outspoken religious beliefs.
How To Avoid Personal Scandal
Knowing the dangers personal scandal hold for your company, the question becomes how to avoid it. As we can see from the above examples the most important thing is to avoid speaking publicly about taboo topics. This includes religion, politics, minority rights, etc. Also avoid anything which might be considered rude or unruly, such as getting arrested, being excessively drunk in public, fighting, etc.
Managing Misunderstandings
Sometimes misunderstandings can happen no matter how hard we try to stay above reproach, and those can simply be managed appropriately. When this happens there are just two things to remember.
First, every statement you make should be 100% truthful. Lying will only make it appear as though you were originally in the wrong and more bad press is not what you need.
Second, act quickly. All bad press should be handled as quickly as possible. Within 24 hours of any misunderstandings, you (or your press team, if applicable) should have a statement ready. Remember to always be apologetic, not indignant.
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