With online and social media marketing becoming the norm, it’s so important for all companies to have a crisis communication plan in place. We never know when we will be placed in a crisis situation that threatens the integrity or the reputation of a company that we represent. It’s important to be prepared. How do you prepare?
- Plan Ahead of Time and Create Your Crisis Communication Plan
We never want to think that a crisis can hit our organizations, but it can. Anticipate it, be prepared. Don’t wait until the last minute. - Put your Crisis Communication Team in Place
Your crisis communication team should include at a minimum the CEO/President, Public Relations Representative, Vice President. It is the job of this team to come up with a plan of action and decide who the spokesperson should be. - Manage the Message and the Media
What is the problem? What is the nature of the crisis? Develop the message and keep it clear and consistent. You are at the mercy of the media meet their needs and their requirements. - Communicate Early and Often
It’s important in this situation to be proactive. If you hide, it’s not going away. It will only make it worse. Determine what communication methods will be used. Distribute prepared statements to media outlets. - Prioritize Your Audiences and Cater the Message
This includes externally as well as internally. You must address both audiences with specific information regarding the crisis and the plan of action that is being put into place.