Tricky Blog Comments, Crisis Communications, and Other PR Blog Jots
BL Ochman
BL links to a story reporting that political bloggers fear that campaigns will set up fake bloggers and commenters to take advantage of social media for their own purposes. The practice of faking grassroots support, known as astroturfing, is a major concern among bloggers of all stripes. “Many bloggers care very much when commenters mis-represent their affiliations. We insist that commenters have a valid email address, and many of us check IP address origins. The risk of getting caught astroturfing has grown exponentially because of blogs. In fact, candidates who try to stuff partisan comments are playing with fire.”
Turning Negative Comments into Positive Results
Altyrian View
In response to Kami Huyse’s Top 10 Risks for Corporate Blogs, John Mims points to the number one risk she notes, negative comments, and argues that it can actually be a good thing for the company. In making the case for negative comments, Mims astutely points out that they are the perfect opportunity to respond to problems raised by a company’s consumers. He also notes that if one commenter has a negative remark, it is possible that others are thinking it as well—including the mainstream media. “I’d much rather respond to a negative comment on a blog than a “surprise” question from a reporter. Again, other people are probably thinking it. I’d much rather had a heads-up on an issue from a negative comment than from a reporter who springs the question on my CEO.”
Crisis Management Tips from the Best
Bulldog Reporter Daily Dog
With PR crises dominating the news lately, from the JetBlue incident to Taco Bell’s "rats gone wild" YouTube video, the Bulldog Reporter gets advice from the best crisis communicators for weathering a PR nightmare and rebuilding brand image. The advice includes mostly tips on preparing for a crisis and accepting that in all likelihood, a crisis will indeed occur at some point. Experts recommend installing a crisis plan beforehand, and implementing it when a crisis hits. “The bottom line: It's not enough to plan ahead and talk about what you might do during a crisis. As every athlete knows, you must practice, practice, practice to achieve the results you need during a crisis. Arrange weekly or monthly crisis drills with employees, including meetings with key executives and spokespeople to rehearse messages.”
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