Avoiding A Social Media PR Crisis

My number one rule for other publicists is to align yourself with the right thinking and the right brands from the get-go. It doesn't matter how broke you are, aligning with the wrong client can harm you financially in the long-run. I say this because promotions sync with social media, which syncs with you - the brand. Poorly executed launches for clients or clients that will not listen can reflect on your social media accounts and lead to your very own social media crisis!

Before you line up your brand with anther creative team, or a client, you should understand that there are real laws in place to help protect the public from brand bending, which can also harm you and cause you a social media crisis.

For example;

• Did you know employees and clients have the right to bash their employer on social media? Yep, if it is a money issue or a conditions issue, it is legal. And the current or former employee or client can discuss wages, hours and working conditions.
• Did you know that if a public relations persons Tweets on behalf of their employer without disclosing their "employee" status, your client can be fined up to $11,000 per incident?
• Did you know it’s illegal to buy fake reviews and/or fake followers on social networks and plenty of companies have been fined upwards of $250,000 for this?

The list goes on and on........

Don't sit around and allow clients to misalign your brand causing a social media PR crisis. At the same time, don't get caught up in a client's social media game, either. If you know they are buying fake reviews, walk away from the contract. If you know they are posting issues that can cause both you and themselves harm, walk away from the contract.

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham