This past December, I celebrated my one-year anniversary sober. That means no alcohol, no drugs – not even pot or a sleeping pill – and I’m 25 years old.
Getting clean was the most difficult thing I have done so far. And I continue to work on this on a daily basis.
It’s ironic how people who work in public relations are sometimes faced with a PR crisis of their own, which requires immediate attention. Major corporations and businesses also have to address certain issues by utilizing key PR strategies.
Working in startup PR seems pretty similar to getting sober in certain ways. There’s a lot of energy, speed, and intensity involved to achieve success and recognition. When I go to meetups and events, it’s interesting to see the balance between work and play. Sometimes, mishaps occur when you throw a lot of entrepreneurs and young people together. Large brands can also experience incidents and mistakes that result in setbacks.
One example is sports clothing brand Under Armour during the Sochi Winter Olympic Games. They rolled out an “innovative, technologically advanced” speed skating suit that received less than glowing reviews. Instead of bragging about their solid track record, Under Armour stuck around in Sochi and only worked harder to prove that they are a leader in sports apparel and tech. Their PR approach focused on honesty, transparency, and communication – all things that every PR strategy should include.
After recovering from my personal addiction, as well as studying other PR fiascos, I have uncovered some key tips to weathering any crisis. A startup can also take the following tips into consideration when they deal with some of their own negative publicity – even without a PR agency.
1. Virality will pass and the dust will settle
Some sites simply focus on gossip to drive more traffic to their pages.
Articles on these sites usually pick up a bunch of traction and tons of social shares, but really, this stuff is just tabloid fodder. The posts that can potentially hurt your brand will eventually go away. Remember, everyone moves on to the next “scandal”, PR blunder, or pseudo-celebrity mishap. Just give it some time. Breathe through it and avoid looking at the news.
2. Don’t avoid social media (unless it’s all about you)
If the crisis is focused on you as a personal brand, take yourself off the grid 100%. If you remain on the Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, you increase the chance of rage blackouts and public outbursts of anger and insanity. Delete your accounts.
However, if your company or startup is hit with some negative press, I think it’s crucial to maintain a social presence. Continue to be transparent, and even offer a mea culpa. Come out of hiding and own whatever may have gone down. It’s important for startups to respond to all negative and positive feedback and maintain a sense of confidence in their company values and mission.
3. Get out there!
Once the dust has settled and things start to feel normal again, it’s time to get back out there. Go to networking events. Meet with people face-to-face. Show the industry that you’re resilient and focused on the job. That’s all that really matters when it comes to client-facing and media relations. Clear your side of the street and make sure your behavior and actions align with the perception you want people to see.
4. Make a comeback
Take the time to write for blogs and websites. Let reporters, influencers, peers, co-workers, clients see that you are able to separate emotion from work. Keep the drama and feelings at home. When a PR crisis pops up, it’s important to prove that you have what it takes to kick some serious ass. If you can, host events to get some positive press on your startup.
5. Plan a company retreat
In the midst of the storm, sometimes it’s a good idea just to get out of dodge. If that’s the case, I highly recommend a quick trip to Tulum, Mexico. You and your team should get some sunshine and guacamole. Again, disconnect from social media and all forms of communication if possible. If you’re a startup, try Instagramming positive pictures and show the world that your team is growing stronger. Allow yourself to breathe and accept that everything else will work itself out if you handled the initial blow correctly and maturely.
From experience, I’ve learned that time is the only thing that can really make a situation better. Inevitably, storms do pass and you will absolutely come out with better PR skills beyond any college education could ever teach you.