Let’s face it: crises happen and $hi! hits the fan every now and then. For brands that runs the gamut from product recalls to scandals, how a brand communicates during a crisis can make or break its reputation and customer loyalty. With social media amplifying both positive and negative messages, it is crucial for brands to have a well-thought-out communication strategy in place to navigate the storm. In this blog post, we will explore key principles for brands to effectively communicate during a crisis, ensuring transparency, trust, and long-term brand resilience.
A poor crisis response from a brand can have significant negative impacts on the brand's reputation, customer loyalty, and financial performance. It can cause damage to a brand’s reputation, leading to negative publicity, loss of trust, and a decrease in the brand's perceived value. As a result, companies can face a loss of customers, decrease in sales, damage to employee morale, and a loss in investor confidence. There could also be legal and regulatory consequences.
The potential impacts of a poor crisis response can be significant and long-lasting, making it essential for brands to have a well-prepared crisis management plan in place.
How to Manage a Crisis
Swift and Transparent Response
When a crisis strikes, the worst thing a brand can do is remain silent or slow to respond. Time is of the essence, and customers expect prompt acknowledgement and updates. Craft a clear and concise statement addressing the issue, accepting responsibility, and expressing empathy towards affected individuals. Transparency should be the guiding principle, providing accurate information without withholding critical details. By taking ownership of the situation, brands can demonstrate their commitment to resolving the crisis.
Consistent Messaging Across Channels
Consistency is vital during a crisis, as contradictory statements or mixed messages can further erode trust. Ensure that the messaging aligns across all communication channels, including press releases, social media, and customer support. Establish a core team to coordinate messaging efforts and centralize the flow of information to maintain coherence and avoid confusion. The brand's voice should be empathetic, calm, and focused on addressing the concerns of those affected.
Active Listening and Engagement
In the age of social media, brands must actively listen to customer feedback and engage in two-way communication. Monitor social media platforms, online forums, and review websites to gauge public sentiment and address concerns promptly. Responding to customer queries and complaints, even if the answers are not immediately available, shows that the brand is attentive and committed to finding solutions. Demonstrating genuine empathy and understanding can go a long way in rebuilding trust.
Offer Solutions and Take Action
Mere apologies and promises of improvement are not enough during a crisis. Brands must outline concrete steps they are taking to rectify the situation and prevent similar incidents in the future. This could involve product recalls, policy changes, enhanced quality control measures, or collaboration with industry experts. By demonstrating proactive measures, brands can exhibit their commitment to learning from the crisis and ensuring it does not recur.
Leverage Influencers and Brand Advocates
During challenging times, the support of influential individuals and brand advocates can play a crucial role in rebuilding trust and credibility. Engage with key stakeholders, influencers, and loyal customers who can help amplify positive messages and vouch for the brand's integrity. These advocates can provide testimonials, share personal experiences, and reassure others about the steps being taken to address the crisis. Their authentic support can help restore faith in the brand.
Navigating a crisis requires strategic and empathetic communication. By promptly acknowledging the issue, maintaining consistent messaging, actively engaging with customers, offering solutions, and leveraging influential advocates, brands can effectively weather the storm and emerge stronger. Remember, a crisis presents an opportunity for a brand to demonstrate resilience, transparency, and a genuine commitment to its customers' well-being. How a brand handles a crisis can define its reputation for years to come, so it is essential to approach communication during these challenging times with utmost care and thoughtfulness.
What Not to Do
Photo credit: The Gainesville Sun
The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill was one of the largest industrial disasters in recent memory and one of the largest environmental disasters in history. There’s no denying that the spill was no easy situation to manage, but British Petroleum’s (BP) public relations response (or lack thereof) created even more of a firestorm. Here’s why:
Lack of Preparedness
BP did not have a well-prepared crisis management plan in place for such a catastrophic event, which meant that its initial response was slow and inadequate.
Failure to take responsibility
BP initially tried to shift the blame for the disaster to others, including its partners and contractors. This undermined the public's trust in the company and made it appear as if it was not taking responsibility for its actions.
Poor communication
BP's communication with the public was seen as poor, with the company providing conflicting information, downplaying the severity of the spill, and failing to provide regular updates on the situation.
Insensitive tone
BP's response was perceived as insensitive and lacking empathy towards those affected by the disaster, particularly the families of the 11 workers who died in the initial explosion.
Inadequate response efforts
BP's efforts to contain the spill were seen as inadequate, particularly in the early stages of the crisis. This led to a perception that the company was not doing enough to mitigate the environmental damage caused by the spill.
BP's response to the Gulf oil spill was widely criticized for its lack of preparedness, failure to take responsibility, poor communication, insensitive tone, and inadequate response efforts. These issues damaged the company's reputation and led to a significant loss of public trust, which took years to rebuild.
Crises aren’t easy to manage. It’s not realistic to expect that they won’t have negative impacts on branding, and ultimately a company’s bottom line. ONWRD can help your company plan ahead to mitigate the effects of crises with a communications plan that is a key part of limiting reputational damage and hastening your brand’s recovery.