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Why is reputation everything?
According to Merriam-Webster, reputation is defined as the “overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general.”
A 2017 study conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 72 percent of people receive news from friends and family by word of mouth. This means how a business is judged and what’s being said about it is pretty darn important. Reputation management is just one of the services that falls under the public relations umbrella. But, it is one of the most crucial considering a sway in public opinion can make or a brand or the people that comprise it.
Everyone remembers the infamous Wendy’s finger-in-the-chili debacle that demonstrated a horrible rumor. Even if something is proven to be untrue, it can have an adverse impact. Wendy’s was able to survive by acting quickly with a strategic crisis plan and strong reputation management. But, it still took the brand some time to recover.
Maintaining your reputation
A good reputation is an asset while a bad one will make it difficult to keep a business above water.
Maintaining or improving a reputation may involve taking a long look in the mirror and being open to constructive criticism from consumers. Not every single reputation ding needs to equate to a company overhaul, but every realistic grievance should at least be heard, and some may require larger changes. This helps to ensure that company standards exceed expectations and public perception about the brand remains positive. Assessing the situation at hand and having a plan are just some of the things that need to be considered.
The Firm’s Senior Vice President, Jasen Woehrle, takes a deeper dive into how reputation management and public relations are linked in his recent interview with Reputation Rhino. Check out more from the public relations and crisis communications expert interview series here.
The pros at The Firm Public Relations & Marketing can help keep your reputation squeaky clean. Contact our PR professionals today at 702-739-9933 or newbusiness@thefirmpr.com.
