Spitted On: How to Rebound from Negative PR and Protect Your Reputation

In the digital age, negative publicity can spread like wildfire, leaving businesses with a damaged reputation and lost revenue. If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of being spitted on, it's essential to take swift and decisive action to mitigate the damage and rebuild your brand's image.

Understanding the Impact of Negative Publicity

According to the Pew Research Center, 64% of Americans believe that fake news is a major problem. This means that any negative publicity your business receives, whether true or not, has the potential to have a significant impact on your reputation.

6 Effective Strategies to Rebound from Negative PR

1. Acknowledge the Issue: The first step is to acknowledge the negative publicity and take ownership of the situation. Avoid making excuses or trying to downplay the issue.
2. Apologize If Necessary: If your business made a mistake, apologize sincerely. A genuine apology can go a long way in restoring goodwill with your customers.
3. Provide Transparency: Be open and honest about the situation. Explain what happened and what steps you are taking to address the issue.
4. Control the Narrative: Take control of the narrative by issuing a statement and posting updates on your website and social media channels.
5. Engage with Your Audience: Respond to customer inquiries and comments promptly and professionally. Use social listening tools to monitor conversations about your brand.
6. Build Positive Relationships: Reach out to journalists, influencers, and other key stakeholders to build positive relationships. These relationships can help you get your side of the story out and prevent negative publicity from spreading.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ignoring the Issue: Ignoring negative publicity will only make the situation worse.
• Being Defensive: Getting defensive or blaming others will only alienate your audience.
• Overreacting: Don't overreact or make hasty decisions. Take the time to assess the situation and develop a thoughtful response.
• Trying to Control the Message: You can't control everything that is said about your business online. Focus on providing accurate information and engaging with your audience.
• Giving Up: Rebuilding your reputation takes time and effort. Don't give up if you don't see immediate results.

Spitted On: Stories of Success

Story 1: Domino's Pizza

In 2009, Domino's Pizza was the victim of a viral video that showed employees tampering with food. The company's stock price plummeted, and its reputation was in shambles. However, Domino's responded quickly and decisively, apologizing for the incident and launching a series of initiatives to improve food safety and customer service. Within a few years, Domino's had regained its market share and rebuilt its reputation.

Story 2: H&M

In 2018, H&M was criticized for using a black child model to advertise a hoodie with the slogan "Coolest Monkey in the Jungle." The company was accused of racism and its sales declined. H&M apologized for the incident and removed the ad. The company also launched a diversity and inclusion initiative to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

Story 3: Wells Fargo

In 2016, Wells Fargo was hit with a massive fine for creating millions of unauthorized accounts. The scandal damaged the company's reputation and led to the departure of its CEO. However, Wells Fargo implemented a series of reforms to improve its compliance and ethics programs. The company is now on the path to rebuilding its reputation and regaining customer trust.