We tell clients to get an outside perspective on things like new products or services whenever possible. When you’ve been close to a project you tend to only see what you want to see, and not what the savage eyes …
The Case of the Swastika’d Soles
Mistake steps on profits for footwear distributor Score another one for sharp-eyed Redditors, and another financial loss for a company that failed to spot an issue before it created public problems. California-based Conal Footwear found itself in bad spot after a Reddit …
Learning from Cinnabon’s Carrie Fisher Tweet
Don’t point outrage in your own direction with an inappropriate “tribute” share Cinnabon’s Carrie Fisher tweet is the latest in a long string of inappropriate social media shares following the death of public figures. One concerning trend is that the …
Infographic: Preparing for Crisis Communications
Plan ahead and reduce the impact of negative situations We’ve had the pleasure of guest lecturing classes at the USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism, and we can tell you first-hand there are some brilliant minds at work there. With …
Crisis Management Alert: Wireless Keyboards Vulnerable to Attack
Could hackers be stealing your data from hundreds of feet away? With just under $100 in equipment, attackers with the right knowhow can see every keystroke you enter on wireless keyboards from a number of major manufacturers. Not only that, …
Prepare and Prevent: Violence Impacting the Workplace
Reducing the impact of sudden attacks Violence impacting the workplace, including terrorism, is on the rise. Though it’s not pleasant to think about, working to prevent and preparing to handle active situations in advance can protect human life and reduce …
Data Breach Crisis Management: The Costs Are Rising
Average breach now costs $4 million Data breaches are more than just a reputation threat, they’re expensive. And that expense is rising. According to new research from IBM’s security division, the cost of a data breach has risen 29% since …
Could a Social Media Crisis Land You in Court?
Virtual issues bring real-world ramifications The consequences of crises with a significant social media component are growing. Today you can expect to take a reputation hit, you shouldn’t be surprised if financial loss enters the equation, and more and more …
Crisis Management Quotables…on Learning from Others
Take notes from others before it’s your turn to go on stage The playwright Terence, also known as Publius Terentius Afer, was brought to Rome as a slave, educated, and later freed because of his writing ability. So impressive were …
Workplace Conflict is Costly
Clashes are inevitable, but they don’t have to result in lasting damage People are emotional beings, and some conflict is only natural. Conflict run amok is dangerous though, not only because it harms your reputation, spooking potential new hires, investors and …
Tay AI, or Why Interactive Content is a Crisis Minefield
Predict misuse before your launch or pay with reputation after the fact Microsoft’s Tay AI was supposed to be a cute publicity tool and experiment in one. “Tay” was supposed to communicate with users via Twitter, Kik, and GroupMe in …
5 Common Workplace Safety Hazards
Ignoring these workplace dangers could cost you Accidents in the workplace are a threat to your organization. They cost you in a number of ways, from direct cash payouts to lost productivity, damaged files, and more. Yet, when we conduct vulnerability …
Managing Your Online Reputation in 2016
Looking at a common cause of personal crisis Over the past several years we’ve seen a massive increase in clients seeking to resolve not major corporate reputation threats, but those to their own reputations. Although these threats come from a …
Forever 21 Left Apologizing for Inappropriate T-Shirt
Honest mistake or trolling for media coverage? It may seem obvious that a t-shirt emblazoned with the message, “Don’t say maybe if you want to say no.” is a major no-no, especially with heightened sensitivity to the issue of consent …
Chipotle Needs to Worry About Procedure Before PR
Chipotle has brought on a new PR firm to help it navigate its way out of its foodborne illness crisis, but until it hammers out apparent issues with procedure in its locations around the country no amount of effort will …