Reporters uncover stats the search giant’s been reluctant to share European courts have determined that the ability to remove Google search results is a matter of privacy, and although it’s been firmly contested in the U.S., the “right to be forgotten” has become a regular part of European law. While …
Crisis Management Risk: .sucks Domains
Don’t let nasty new domains create trouble for your org We often caution clients to snap up URL’s like yournamesucks.com or yournamescam.com in order to protect themselves, but a newly approved domain is taking that issue to a whole new level. Starting in June, .sucks domains will go on sale …
UCLA Using ‘Net for Superbug Outbreak Crisis Comms
Becoming a go-to the source for information is a proven crisis management tactic The deadly “superbug” outbreak at UCLA Medical Center that left seven sick, two dead, and 179 potentially exposed to bacterial infection has made headlines across the country. Several news stories we reviewed referred to statements from Medical …
What the Google-Twitter Deal Means to Crisis Management
Social media’s impact on search position gets another boost Twitter Inc. has struck a deal with Google Inc. to make its 140-character updates more searchable online. In the first half of this year, tweets will start to be visible in Google’s search results as soon as they’re posted, thanks to …
Hotels, Reviews, and Reputation
Proof that reviews and the reputation they create have an impact on your bottom line Although it’s widely accepted today that positive reviews are important, for many businesses spending time and money on managing those reviews is an afterthought. To illustrate just how important managing your online reputation really is, …
Disarming Social Media Attacks
[Editor’s note: The following is a great example of real-life crisis management methods used by PR pro Karl Robe to cope with an unrelenting upset customer that took her complaints to social media and beyond.] Dealing with problem stakeholders on social media A national retailer client of Karl James & …
Search Engines and PR Success
If nobody can see your content, what good is it doing? Let’s face it, nobody is scrolling through pages and pages of a search for anything. These days, not being on the front page of a Google search is almost as good as not being there. Whether you’re doing traditional …
Crisis Management Implications for Female Donald Sterling
Will major Indy Colts sponsor face repercussions for racially insensitive Facebook post? We saw Donald Sterling cost the Clippers sponsorships (and eventually lose his team) due to racially offensive comments, but will that precedent apply to Lucas Oil co-founder Charlotte Lucas as well? Lucas landed herself in the midst of …
CeeLo Green Tweets a Crisis Management #Fail
Just because a court of law has made its decision doesn’t mean you can’t be tried in the court of public opinion Heavy legal maneuvering helped singer CeeLo Green avoid a possible rape case, settling for a plea of no contest to charges of slipping a woman ecstasy in her …
Infographic: Help Monitoring Your Online Reputation
Why online reputation management is a core component of crisis management, and how to do it right Monitoring your online reputation is an essential crisis management skill, yet it’s still viewed by many as something beyond their reach. Truth is, while it does take some practice to get it down …
UK Embassy’s Twitter Gaffe
Proof of the need to constantly keep your image, your mission, and your audience in mind when posting to social media It’s not entirely surprising to see brands getting too edgy or controversial as they compete to grab attention on social media, but one would hope for the folks running …
Harry Reid Inserts Foot in Mouth, Flunks Crisis Management
Insensitive remarks and a flop of an apology Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) is no stranger to criticism regarding public comments, especially when it comes to race, and he’s getting another lesson in why you should watch what you say after dropping a couple of doozies at the Asian …
OKCupid – PR Genius or Crisis Management Mess?
Dating site seems to be applying the dubious principle of “any publicity is good publicity” Move over Facebook, because OKCupid just hopped on the user experimentation train! In a blog post published Monday, one of the dating site’s founders, Christian Rudder, proudly proclaims “We Experiment On Human Beings!” From the …
Lessons from American Apparel’s 4th of July Social Media Fail
Major mistake highlights importance of experienced guidance for social media managers Why is it that organizations feel perfectly comfortable handing full control of their social media accounts over to employees barely old enough to drive, or outsourcing to someone who doesn’t even live in the same country as their audience? …
Social Media Crisis Management: Setting Clear Policies
When everyone knows the rules there’s a lot less room for trouble Setting specific policies, and making said policies highly visible, is one of the most neglected aspects of social media crisis management. Whether it’s telling employees what’s safe to share or letting stakeholders know what type of behavior will …