Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Erik Bernstein”
Identifying the biggest threat to financial firms’ reputations Reputation is your most valuable asset, and today there are more threats to reputation than ever before. One of the fastest-growing and most impactful issues is information security, and the results of the 2015 Makovsky Wall Street Reputation Study show why. According …
The time to prepare for a cyber attack is before it happens, not while you’re picking up the pieces A recent poll from the cybersecurity experts at CyberEdge returned some startling stats. A full 71% of respondents’ networks were breached in 2014, 59% saw a rise in mobile device threats, …
A situation that begs the question, “what were they thinking?” Austin, Texas has been making a name for itself as a hip and progressive city in recent years. While you would expect city officials to be celebrating their new majority female City Council, the first in Austin’s history, their reaction …
Customer service is often the first line of defense when it comes to reputation We’ve all had an awful customer service experience. Whether it was in person, over the phone, or now through email and social media, it never leaves you feeling eager to do business with the entity responsible. …
Dragging your feet is an easy way to make a bad situation worse Air bag manufacturer Takata has been dragging its feet when it comes to a widespread recall despite agreeing that a defect does exist which causes potentially deadly ruptures in its product. Used in cars from a variety …
Another easily preventable crisis creates financial loss In a perfect example of the type of crisis that would have been averted had those responsible thought to use the just-launched AvoidTheApology.com, UK-based New Adventure Travel Limited thought it would be brilliant if there were images of half-naked folk holding signs that …
You need backup plans in place for when technology fails Many organizations have looked to technology to lower costs and lighten the load, but they often seem surprised when that very technology encounters issues or just plain stops working. This was the case when iPad software used by American Airlines …
Don’t let a sudden spike in workload worsen an ongoing crisis When you’re running an organization you staff for day-to-day operations because keeping extra bodies on the clock is a waste of resources. What happens, however, when a crisis suddenly ups the volume of work far beyond what you’re able …
Flipping out is not an option Composure is everything, and whether you’re a public figure or an ordinary Joe, blowing up in front of anyone with a recording device can quickly make you headline material. The Cincinnati Reds have been having a tough time recently, and manager Bryan Price finally lost …
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 …
Stats and info that will improve your communication capabilities Nonprofits typically have a mission of doing good, but unfortunately that doesn’t mean they don’t have their fair share of sticky communication situations. We think you’ll find this infographic, from the 2015 Nonprofit Communications Trends Report, useful for any organization’s communication …
Staying on top of changes in media is a must Knowing how to work and optimize contact with the media is crucial in any type of public relations. This isn’t like riding a bike, however. You need to constantly be educating yourself on the latest changes if you want to …
[Editor’s note: This post, originally published in Jeff Chatterton’s Winning Reputations newsletter, provides a perfect example of how using the wrong language can completely disrupt the message you’re trying to get across.] Brussels Airlines has launched an international ‘image makeover’ campaign in an effort to disassociate Africa from the horrible …
Whether you’re doing crisis management or pumping out ads, a solid online reputation is a must If you’re not already putting effort into managing your organization’s online reputation you’re well behind the curve. The Internet, and what people say about you there, is perhaps THE largest single influence in how …
Helping stakeholders to see things as you do is a core aspect of all public relations Stuart Ewen is a man of many hats, including historian, author, professor, and artist. Ewen is also a highly esteemed expert on that ever-present factor we know as the media, and it’s that knowledge …
