How do best PR agencies in India handle Crisis

Best PR agency in India need to be on its toes to respond to PR crisis.

It is very unlikely that a business never faces a public relations crisis in its entire lifespan. And when one does face a crisis, it is of utmost importance how one deals with it and how one responds to it. It can either build a positive image for the business or tarnish the existing reputation. Especially in a time when anything can go viral, almost instantly. This is precisely why even a best PR agency in India need to be on its toes to respond to PR crisis.

Here are a few pointers from the best PR agency in India on efficiently handling PR crisis:

1. Be responsible, accountable and proactive

To start with, do not deny the crisis or turn a blind eye to it. PR agencies need to take complete responsibility for the situation. Avoid arguments with the public and media. Be proactive when it comes to answering questions or giving feedback. PR agencies train their clients’ spokespeople to answer the questions thrown by the media.

With social media at its peak, reputation management is crucial. Writing an apology press release on social media, and continuously talking to your audience is one of the best ways to put your side across.

2. Ensure constant communication

Don’t wait till you have a strategy figured out. The PR agency is working on it. But be out there, get ahead of the story. Ensure constant communication is happening – via emails to clients, to audience on social media etc.

3. Social media can be brutal

Sure, you have put your story out there. Sure, you have issued an apology. Sure, you sent that press release out. But not everyone is going to side with your story. And that’s a fact. Social media is brutal and the faster we understand that the easier it gets. And that’s regardless how much of a presence you have on social media.

4. Be human and genuine

Honestly, that’s it. The corporate jargon and business-suit-attitude won’t cut it. “We are working on it.” “We are waiting on the report.” “Our teams are trying to get to the roots of it.” No matter how true it is, it does not solve the issue. The issue that you made a mess. So, apologize and reassure the folks that you’re genuinely sorry about whatever happened. And do that before they stop believing in your brand. Not apologizing is just delaying the problem. First apologize and then work on re-correction.

5. Monitor, Plan And Communicate

Get your social and media team on alert. 24x7 monitoring on who said what. This helps in keeping a check on negative news, planning and deploying strategies before fire spreads.