Social Media Crisis Communications: Preparing for, Preventing, and Surviving a Public Relations #Fail

Introduction

Crisis is part of doing business. Being prepared to communicate during a crisis is part of business, too.

For most organizations it is not a question whether a crisis is going to happen but when a crisis will happen. A crisis can strike any small business, nonprofit, corporate giant, or governmental agency. Bad things happen to organizations, and how an organization communicates during a crisis can enhance its reputation and often save it. The response often has more impact on the organization’s reputation than the event that caused the crisis.

Many businesses do not have crisis communications plans, thinking they will rarely need such plans. Yet, when asked, 79% say they are only 12 months away from a potential public relations ...