Share this article:

Now who’s going to fire the PR department?

Posted by: TheAgency

Date added: Thu 14 Jul 2011

We know social media has exposed us, Max Clifford’s hide and leak approach is weak, and MumsNet can bring down News of the World. So what’s the answer for effective brand management in this social media era?

As in-house marketers and agency mad men we spend the majority of our time assessing different ways our brands get noticed, become relevant, engage an audience and trigger a sale, all whilst protecting them from negativity along the way. Fairly standard fodder for most of us today.

We know social media has exposed us, Max Clifford’s hide and leak approach is weak, and MumsNet can bring down News of the World. So what’s the answer for effective brand management in this social media era?

Well, I just read a blog by Paul Adams, ex Googelista and newly appointed Facebook man. The title, “Why negative comments are good for your brand”. Adam makes a very interesting point, that for brands to achieve success today they have to be believable, and for anything to be believable, it simply can’t be perfect.

Social media is the recommendation behind brand power. As marketers we’re already “buying” word of mouth and incentivising likes. It isn’t working, and our credibility is diminishing.

So what’s the answer? Well, honest and open discussion is the last hiding place for any brand, and probably the only way forward.

Brands! Be open about negative comments, share them along with your answers. People will remember you not for what you get right, but how you deal with what you get wrong. Now who’s going to fire the PR department?

Other articles by TheAgency:

BSM.co.uk go mobile with @TheAgencyUK

BSM launch new mobile optimised site for 16 to 24 year old learner drivers.

Tue 19 Mar 2013

The Agency shortlisted for two SPARKies Awards

Nominated in two categories, Totally Killing It, for their international client work and Best Digital Design Award.

Mon 04 Mar 2013

Does 4G free brand advertising?

The dust has settled on the bidding process for the new 4G network in the UK with the main protagonists, Everything Everywhere, Vodafone, O2, Hutchinson 3G and Niche Spectrum Ventures (BT), shelling out a combined £2.34 billion for access rights. Not an insignificant sum you might say, but still only around 10% of the auction of the 3G network in 2000 and over £1 billion less than the Treasury had forecast.

Wed 27 Feb 2013

The Agency appointed to launch inward investment service by Bristol and Bath

The Agency appointed to brand and launch South West of UK at Cannes festival

Thu 21 Feb 2013

I sold out to Big Data by Ian Young @TheAgencyUK

There’s a lot of talk about ‘Big Data’, it’s certainly the 2013 buzz with firms EMC2, IBM, Oracle even Adobe speaking louder than most. But what does it actually mean?

Fri 15 Feb 2013