Rehabilitating a damaged public image. This is one of the most popular topics that I am asked to address. From time to time, whenever controversy arises (and that seems to be more frequently, doesn’t it!) the question is presented: how does one rehabilitate or repair a damaged image? How can someone rebuild his or her reputation? Given such popularity, I am reposting this article from last year with the hope that you’ll again find it useful.
It takes time to rehabilitate one’s image: such a matter does not lend itself to a quick fix.
Many people hope that if they say the right thing at the critical moment all will be made good. That’s just not how the world works.
We, as human beings, form perceptions about other humans over time. This is the basis of reputation. If a person has made a major blunder, it equates to a big, negative hit against his or her reputation. This cannot be overcome with one press conference. No, the perfect statement at the perfect time will not wipe the slate clean. Instead, those in the audience will watch and observe, most likely in a cautious manner at first. Some will be inclined to forgive; others may become embittered permanently toward the person who made the major mistake. Over time, most people in the audience will adjust their assessments of the person in question.
So if the perfect words will not do the trick, what can rebuild a tarnished reputation? One word: actions.
Continue reading ‘Repairing a Damaged Reputation’
Post from: Direct Online Marketing Blog
Update – WVU President Mike Garrison Emails Employees
In the last post, I talked about ways to respond to a pr crisis. In fairness that he is responding to the crisis with a statement – and using email to do it! although nothing further on his blog so far – I wanted to post an email WVU President Mike Garrison just forwarded to WVU employees (MOUNTAINEER E-NEWS). Full text follows:
Continue reading ‘Update – WVU President Mike Garrison Emails Employees’
Post from: Direct Online Marketing Blog
In getting ready for the Next Generation Marketing series across West Virginia this spring, I began thinking about my presentation on Engagement and Dialogue. In it, I will go over the premise and some recommendations for online reputation management. The last time I spoke about that publicly was at the Online Marketing: Innovations that Work marketing conference in Southpointe, PA when I delivered They Said What? Protect Your Reputation with Search Engine Marketing.
I really want to do a post on the subject – if only there were some really big public scandal involving reputations being changed on the internet that involved West Virginia and the Pittsburgh, PA area. Hmmm. Let’s see. [shuffles through piles of old newspapers by desk - who needs the internet?]
Oh that’s right – how about Heather Bresch? Do a search on her name, particularly a news search, and see what you come up with. For those readers either too lazy to do the search or too enthralled with my hypnotic musings (read: put you in a catatonic state), it comes down to the following:
Continue reading ‘Extreme Online Reputation Management: WVU, Mylan, & Governor’s Office Edition’
Jason Keeling and I will present “Business for Breakfast” at the Charleston Marriott’s Whitewater Grille tomorrow morning. That’s Friday, April 25, from 7:30-8:30 a.m. We surely hope to see you there!
Our focus will be Web 2.0: Blogs, Pods and Twitters — How Emerging Internet Technologies Can Enhance Business Communications.
We’ll be discussing the growing importance of blogs, podcasts, and social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. We will discuss the significance of these technologies to West Virginia businesses and organizations.
In a bit of an unconventional twist, we utilized a Web 2.0 tool, a Zoomerang survey application, to poll our audience in advance of the presentation to assess their familiarity, needs and expectations. Here’s what we learned:
Continue reading ‘Using a Web 2.0 Tool to Prepare a Web 2.0 Seminar’
It is always a pleasure to speak with the talented and energetic folks who are West Virginia’s ambassadors and leaders in travel and tourism. If you are visiting by way of our meeting at the West Virginia Association of Convention and Vistors Bureaus Annual Conference, I welcome you. And I cannot wait to hear about the launch of your own travel/promotion blog.
Here’s a link to my presentation slides. They are uploaded to Slideshare, and you can view them online or download them. [Please be sure to attribute quotes to appropriate authors. Thanks.]
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