Latest news with #brandreputation
Fast Company
11-07-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
20 strategies to manage your brand's reputation in uncertain times
In an unpredictable market, your brand's reputation can feel simultaneously more fragile and more important than ever. A single misstep, a poorly handled crisis, or a lack of clear communication can erode trust faster than it's built. To help you avoid a PR crisis, 20 Fast Company Executive Board members each share their best practices for managing brand reputation. Follow their advice to strengthen and protect your brand, no matter the external circumstances. 1. BE AUTHENTIC AND TRANSPARENT. Authenticity and transparency are key during uncertain times. Companies that communicate honestly about challenges and demonstrate consistent action aligned with values maintain brand reputation. Double down on your values and communicate them through actions, not just messaging. Your customers and communities can see through corporate-speak. – Joynicole Martinez, The Alchemist Agency 2. IDENTIFY AND FOSTER THE BELIEFS YOU WANT OTHERS TO HAVE ABOUT YOU. Be intentional. Answer: What beliefs do you want people to have about you, and why? What new information and experiences do you need to provide to shape these beliefs? What are your key responsibilities in creating these beliefs? How will you track whether you're fostering the desired beliefs, and how will you prevent negative slippage? – Shawn Galloway, ProAct Safety, Inc. 3. FOCUS DEEPLY ON YOUR CUSTOMERS' NEEDS. Stay steadfastly focused on the needs of your customers. In today's world, uncertain times are a constant. Resist chasing shiny objects and avoid reactive decision-making. Always listen to your clients and act deliberately, keeping long-term value instead of short-term noise as your organization's North Star. – Kurt Donnell, Freestar 4. STAY VISIBLE BY SHARING YOUR OPINIONS. Be visible, engage in debate, and have an opinion on the future of your industry. Those who lead with a willingness to be wrong are appreciated by others and are rewarded with advocacy in the long run. – Richard Swain, DesignStudio 5. PRIORITIZE PLANNING, POLICY, AND MITIGATION. A three-step practice of planning, policy, and mitigation is key to brand reputation management. Ensure that your company has ethical and robust communications policies in place, with a mechanism to respond quickly to any negative issues. – Deborah Collier, Digital Skills Authority 6. PROVE YOUR ROI CLEARLY. Focus on clearly demonstrating how your solutions drive measurable value for your clients to strengthen trust and reputation in uncertain markets. During uncertain times, businesses double down on value and prioritize partners who can prove ROI. – Brad Rosenfeld, Allvue Systems 7. COMMUNICATE LIKE A HUMAN, NOT A CORPORATION. Don't mince words. Lead with facts and say it like a human. Your brand reputation is what you do consistently and how you make people feel when uncertainty strikes. – Pooja Vijay Kumar, Autodesk 8. GENUINELY LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR 'PEOPLE' HAVE TO SAY. Stay close to your 'people' (customers, employees, and partners) and really listen to what they have to say. In uncertain markets, your reputation is built on how well you reflect their needs and values in real time. Consistent, honest communication builds trust faster than perfection ever will. – Kristin Russel, symplr 9. POSITION UNIQUENESS AS ADVANTAGE. Position what makes your company unique as a strategic advantage. When we entered the competitive U.S. market, we showcased our European experience managing complex, multi-country operations as a differentiator that domestic players couldn't match. We transformed our foreign background from a potential weakness into one of our strongest selling points for customers seeking global expertise. – Dan Amzallag, Ivalua 10. STAY GROUNDED IN YOUR MISSION. In uncertain markets, consistency and clarity are your strongest assets. We focus on communicating our core purpose, who we serve, and how we deliver value across every channel. Whether through personalized in-store messaging, thought leadership, or direct customer interaction, staying grounded in your brand's mission builds trust. – Jaime Bettencourt, Mood Media 11. BUILD AN EMOTIONAL CONNECTION WITH CONSUMERS. The first question is: Do you have one (a brand reputation)? Have you established a unique and distinctive brand that evokes emotional attachment with your customers and employees? If not, it may be time to engage in a deep brand refresh, because, in an uncertain marketplace, cautious consumers will place even more stock in the brands that resonate with them the loudest. – Bob Sprague, Yes& 12. OWN THE NARRATIVE (BEFORE OTHERS DO). Get in front of the story and tell the truth—fast. People don't need perfection—they need honesty. I've learned the hard way that silence is a vacuum that gets filled with doubt. The best thing you can do is own the narrative. Be real about where you are, what you're doing, and why it matters. Trust isn't built in good times—it's built when everything's sideways. That's how brands earn loyalty. – Gregory Vetter, Alta Fresh Foods 13. MITIGATE BIASES BY QUESTIONING ASSUMPTIONS. Manage the biases inherent in critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision making. In uncertain marketplaces, being overly certain is a liability. Question assumptions. – Jay Steven Levin, WinThinking 14. MONITOR MARKET TRENDS. Keep a watchful eye on market trends, and consider the behavior of other organizations, both competitors and customers. Talk to analysts, advisors, and influencers to see what they're hearing and compare this with your own team's insights. – Caitlin MacGregor, Plum 15. STAY CONFIDENT AND CONSISTENT IN YOUR MESSAGING. In uncertain times, people seek stability, so focus on the consistency of your brand experience and the ongoing optimism of your brand message. Don't lose yourself by mimicking marketplace anxiety or chasing social trends, be confident in who you are—and why you matter—to your best customers. – Tim Maleeny, Quad 16. SHARE BOTH WINS AND CHALLENGES OPENLY. In an uncertain marketplace, the brands that thrive are the ones that communicate openly, even when the news isn't perfect. Share not just your wins, but your challenges, decisions, and what you're doing to adapt. In times of change, trust becomes your brand's currency. Transparency shows you're human, builds credibility, and turns your audience into long-term advocates, not just fair-weather fans. – Alexander Kwapis 17. CREATE STRONG CUSTOMER FEEDBACK LOOPS. Staying closely attuned to customers is essential. We actively listen via surveys, sales conversations, community forums, and review platforms to understand shifting needs and evolve our offerings. We see ourselves as guardians of their success. A strong feedback loop with service and fulfillment teams ensures quick issue resolution and continuous improvement. – Daniel Lysaught, LegalZoom 18. ACT WITH INTEGRITY AND COHERENCE. Amid uncertainty, your brand's reputation isn't managed—it's lived. Practice radical coherence. When markets shake, people crave what's real. They smell the gap between who you say you are and who you actually are. Let your actions be your brand. When chaos hits, don't polish your image—deepen your integrity. Trust flows toward truth, especially when everything else wobbles. – Dr. Camille Preston, AIM Leadership, LLC 19. BUILD WITH YOUR COMMUNITY. Lead with a community-first mindset. Track cultural shifts, social chatter, and unmet needs to spot emerging narratives. Host ideation sessions to co-create, critique, and prioritize. Use feedback loops, beta drops, and storytelling. Rapidly test ideas with your community. Build with them; trust, innovation, and brand fandom will follow. – Val Vacante, dentsu
Entrepreneur
11-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
The PR Playbook Every Startup Needs — But No One Talks About
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Emerging brands often misunderstand public relations (PR). Many assume PR is just about press releases or hiring a big agency to land major media coverage. In reality, PR is one of the most effective tools for shaping a brand's reputation, building trust and standing out in a crowded market. The challenge? Most startups and small brands don't know where to begin. So they go to an agency. Cue the horror story. That's why many agencies don't lead with what it really takes to get the ball rolling. Yes, their work can get results — but do you know what those results should be or why they matter for your business? Are you ready for the follow-up and the increased scrutiny that new and intense visibility might generate? Do you have the internal bandwidth to manage an agency relationship and justify the spend? These questions often get skipped in the rush to "do PR," but the answers will make all the difference. Most agencies won't help you figure this part out — because it's not their job. It's yours. Related: Mastering Public Relations — A Comprehensive Guide to Boosting Your Brand's Reputation Ditch the old press release and media kit So let's start with the OG of public relations planning: the press release and media kit. The traditional press release isn't dead, but it shouldn't be the tactic overwhelming all of your other communications activities. The media gets hundreds of press releases and another couple of hundred pitches each day. The same is true for the kits. Unless your announcement is truly groundbreaking, it's unlikely to grab attention on its own. Instead, focus on crafting a story that resonates with your audience, solves a problem or taps into a broader trend. Rather than leading with, "We just launched a new product," frame the story around an industry shift, customer pain point or unique innovation. Journalists care about narratives, not announcements. Once you get it right, it will make it easy to see where your audience will eat up the story. It will also make it easier to understand which materials you'll need to share with reporters in a media kit. Indulge a small exception: I do use frequent press releases laden with keywords and company or product info in digital PR pushes in advance of company events. These can help prop up any online marketing you're doing, and they'll live online as a lasting page full of good information. You just need to eliminate from your mind any expectation that a press release will get you a cover story. Related: 5 Secrets Your PR Team Won't Tell You Create your own distribution network One of the biggest mistakes brands make, especially emerging brands, is waiting for external validation before telling their own story. In today's digital age, a brand can and should own its own communication channels. Start by building credibility through your website, blog, LinkedIn and other social media channels, and encouraging your employees and partners to contribute. Publish insightful blog posts that demonstrate expertise. Engage in industry conversations on LinkedIn. Share behind-the-scenes content that makes your brand feel authentic. Create short-form videos that answer common industry questions. Unless an expensive production value is part of your brand story, do the best you can but do not be afraid to showcase something that isn't perfect. By consistently delivering value through owned channels, you create a body of work that media, investors and customers can reference when considering your brand. You will also learn what works and can spend money later on only those pieces of content designed to motivate your audience. Related: I've Run a PR Firm Since 2008 — Here's What PR Can and Can't Do Start where you are: Smart PR on a budget It's worth repeating — you don't need a massive budget or a full-fledged PR team to gain traction. What you do need is a clear message, consistency and a few tools that help you stay plugged into the right conversations. Start by setting up Google Alerts to monitor your brand, competitors and key industry terms. Combine that with a tool like Fe edly to organize relevant blogs, trade publications and thought leaders into one place. This keeps you informed and ready to engage when an opportunity arises. You'll find that if you make time to read through the posts and articles written about your brand's industry, you'll gravitate toward opportunities you can jump into the conversation naturally. Next, take advantage of platforms like Qwoted or Featured. These services connect journalists with expert sources and give you a chance to respond to relevant media queries. Even a few thoughtful responses a week can result in credible media mentions over time. It's not glamorous, but it works and has the added benefit of generating strong, credible backlinks to third-party websites writing about your industry. Your brand story is another essential asset. Make sure your website and LinkedIn profile clearly communicate who you are, what you do and why it matters. Journalists, potential partners and investors often look here first — don't make them work to figure out your value. A strong "About" section with a well-framed origin story goes a long way. Finally, do a little groundwork to understand your media landscape. Keep a running list of publications and journalists who cover your industry. Read their work, follow them on social and engage thoughtfully before you ever pitch them. You don't need expensive software to do this — just curiosity and a bit of time. Done right, this kind of DIY effort lays a credible foundation for long-term visibility. It might not feel flashy, but it's the kind of groundwork that opens doors — and helps you scale PR with intention as your brand grows. Just as importantly, it ensures that when you do invest in outside help — whether it's a consultant, agency or full-time hire — you'll know exactly what you need, what to expect and how to measure success. Understanding how the process works means you're not starting from scratch — you're simply building on what you've already set in motion. Join top CEOs, founders and operators at the Level Up conference to unlock strategies for scaling your business, boosting revenue and building sustainable success.
Entrepreneur
05-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
How to Deal With Negative Articles on Google
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Building a strong brand means recognizing potential reputation crises and knowing how to handle online articles that misrepresent you or your business. Negative press on Google can erode customer trustand disrupt your operations. Burying negative search results can be complex, time-consuming and cost a fortune that in the long run will negatively affect the financials of your company or your career. Fortunately, there are branding experts who specialize in removing or burying unfavorable articles from the Google search engine. Whether you're an individual or a business, it's important to have a good reputation by removing any negative content as soon as possible. Related: 5 Tactics to Bury Bad Press and Reclaim Your Brand Reputation Benefits of deleting negative online articles The public perception of your brand greatly depends on your ability to know how to remove bad search results. False reviews and misleading articles damage your credibility in many ways. Harmful content can even lower your search rankings when it increases your bounce rates and decreases click-through rates. This means you'll have fewer people visiting your site, which can significantly affect purchases and revenue. A lot of customers who may have wanted to do business with you may no longer want to after they read a bad article about your company. And the longer the bad information stays up on the internet, the worse the reputation damage will be. Reach out to the website to report a breach of its content policies Many websites enforce strict rules for the content they publish. If you discover an article about your brand that contains false or incorrect information, first review the site's content policy. If the article appears to violate its rules, you may request its removal by providing proof that the article breaches a specific policy that they have. Contact the site by providing clear facts why this article breaches the policy, and ask that they update it or remove it completely from the site. Related: How to Remove Negative Reviews Online and Protect Your Online Reputation Ask Google to take down the content from the search results If you reach out to the website administrator and have no luck getting the content taken down, you can always ask Google to remove it for you. Google does a great job of helping users delete negative links that contain false information, fake content, or serious defamation, if the content qualifies for removal. You'll have to explain your case and provide proof to support it. Get in touch with the writer directly to discuss the issue In many cases, contacting the author who wrote a specific piece directly is the most effective approach. Look up the email on the website, craft a nice email and explain what part of the article you believe is unfair or untrue. Make sure to include lots of facts and screenshots to back up your request. The writer might agree to edit or remove the article to maintain accuracy and credibility. Related: The 5 'Cs' Approach to Conflict Resolution in the Workplace What does it mean to remove negative online articles? Suppressing negative online content is much different than having it deleted, but it can still help your brand's credibility in lots of ways. The search engine suppression process involves a mixture of unique approaches, like adding more positive content to the internet about your company, publishing press releases and optimizing SEO across multiple platforms. When done strategically, the good content about your brand will take the place of the bad articles in search results. Search engines often display social media profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter on the first page of results. You should definitely sign up for these services now if you haven't already. Be sure to utilize your company name consistently across all of your profiles and to fill them out to the fullest. Related: How to Better Manage Your Brand's Reputation in the Digital Age Build new websites focused on branded search terms Building a new website is another way to suppress negative articles about your brand. The new site should be full of information that praises your company and all of its offerings. Highlighting the strengths in the webpages you publish will boost your credibility and search visibility. It's also a good idea to include a page that clearly outlines positive reviews provided by current and former customers. Over time, these pages will rise in their search rankings, suppressing the harmful articles that damage your brand image. Publish articles on trusted external platforms Next, you'll want to create high-quality material on popular websites that have high search rankings. You can do this through contributions, insightful analyses and thought leadership articles. Pick subjects that are relevant to your field, and be sure to mention your company name subtly throughout. Upon publication, these pieces will bolster your brand's credibility and redirect focus from previous negative mentions. Build a presence with links Having a strong brand presence on authoritative websites that have relevant articles to your industry is essential for suppressing negative information about your individual brand or your company. We live in a world where people use Google on a daily basis, and they always research the company before they want to work with it. That's why links not only help build trust with potential customers but also push down unwanted or harmful search results on Google. Research keywords that trigger a negative result Find out what keywords bring up the bad article by Googling your name or company. Once you know which terms lead to the bad content, you can make new pages that employ the same keywords positively. Doing this will result in the new, positive content coming up first in search results by causing the unfavorable information to fall in the rankings.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
'He's Alienated The Wrong People' — Scott Galloway Blames Musk's Politics For Tesla's Fall From 8th To 95th In U.S. Brand Rankings
"He's alienated the wrong people," marketing professor Scott Galloway said recently, blaming Elon Musk for Tesla's (NASDAQ:TSLA) brand slide. Galloway argued on the "Pivot" podcast that politics, not products, now steer the automaker after a string of rough quarters and mounting protests. Tesla ranked No. 95 in the latest Axios Harris Poll 100, down from No. 8 in 2021, Axios said. The brand stood at No. 42 in 2019 and No. 63 last year, underscoring a steady drift before the latest plunge. Sister companies SpaceX and X also landed at No. 86 and No. 98 respectively — a sign that the reputational chill is hitting all corners of his empire. Don't Miss: Named a TIME Best Invention and Backed by 5,000+ Users, Kara's Air-to-Water Pod Cuts Plastic and Costs — GoSun's Breakthrough Rooftop EV Charger Already Has 2,000+ Units Reserved — Financials mirror the fall. In its Q1 earnings report in April, Tesla said net income slumped 71%, automotive revenue slid 20%, and free cash flow turned positive, reaching $664 million. "Tesla was a great brand," Galloway said. He called the downturn, "one of the greatest brand destruction." He added, "the rivers have reversed, and the tide has turned entirely against them," referring to Musk's political alignment and its impact on Tesla's reputation. Musk steered almost $300 million to President Donald Trump–aligned committees while advising the White House's Department of Government Efficiency, angering early EV adopters who skew liberal. "3/4 of Republicans would never consider buying an EV," Galloway said. "He's cozied up to the people who aren't interested in EVs." Pushback soon spilled onto the streets. A March fire at a Tesla showroom in Rome destroyed 17 cars. Activists organized "Tesla Takedown" rallies in Berlin, Stockholm and San Francisco in April. Tesla's global sustainability lead canceled a Rome conference appearance over security concerns as vandalism cases multiplied. Trending: Invest early in CancerVax's breakthrough tech aiming to disrupt a $231B market. Musk said in May he was returning full time to his companies, posting on X, "Back to spending 24/7 at work and sleeping in conference/server/factory rooms." He said his round-the-clock shift would center on X, xAI, Tesla and a May 27 Starship launch. During last month's Qatar Economic Forum, Musk said he would "do a lot less" political spending because "I think I've done enough." He added that he planned to stay Tesla's CEO for at least five years. Investor confidence in Tesla has increasingly hinged on the recent launch of its robotaxi pilot—launched last month in Austin, Texas—and consistent Model Y deliveries. Both developments will be critical indicators for investors. Read Next: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article 'He's Alienated The Wrong People' — Scott Galloway Blames Musk's Politics For Tesla's Fall From 8th To 95th In U.S. Brand Rankings originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Zawya
25-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
AI sentiment among MENA's content creators shifts from neutral to positive, finds InfluAnswer Arabia report
Almost half (49%) is positive about AI, indicating a shift from neutrality to positivity 63% say a VIP experience is important – a significant jump from 51% last year Three-quarters (77%) believe that GCC countries are leading positive transformation in tourism and entertainment Brand reputation enters the top three factors in choosing which brands to collaborate with DUBAI, UAE – Weber Shandwick MENAT has launched the second edition of InfluAnswer Arabia, a report informed by the perspectives of content creators, that delves into the MENA region's evolving landscape of influencer marketing. The report also explores regional dynamics through the lens of its influencers, highlighting which countries they believe are spearheading positive transformation in specific sectors. While personal belief in a brand is still the most important factor for creators choosing a brand to work with, brand reputation entered the top three factors for the first time – overtaking even monetary value. This marks a clear shift from last year, reflecting how creators are thinking more critically about the public perception, values, and credibility of the brands they associate with. Other insights from the report include: Real-life experiences and brand connections With time and physical presence at a premium, creators say events must deliver something beyond the ordinary. Nearly two-thirds (63%) say a VIP experience is important – a significant jump from 51% last year. However, the most important goal when considering attending an event is still the connection with the brand – and this sentiment is growing even stronger for creators, from 66% last year to 80% this year. Positive about AI, concerned about deepfakes Positive sentiment toward AI tools has soared as influencers move beyond neutrality into practical implementation and wider experimentation. Almost half (49%) of MENA creators is positive about the use of AI – up from just 29% last year. Digital creators say the top impact of AI will be the introduction of more advanced tools and analytics (63%), allowing them to automate repetitive tasks and focus more on storytelling. Despite enthusiasm, there is concern about deepfakes, which ranked third (41%) in the most prominent impacts of AI. 'MENA's influencer landscape continues to mature, and despite increased competition, content creators are growing in confidence. The themes that are driving optimism and progress centre around authenticity, community-building, and strategic diversification in terms of platforms, content types, and monetisation. This year's report gives brands a clearer lens into what creators value, and how to build partnerships that are authentic, impactful, effective, and built to last,' says Ziad Hasbani, Regional CEO, Weber Shandwick MENAT. At the report's launch event, leading industry figures from Snap, TikTok, and Boehringer Ingelheim joined established regional creators Abdullah Raesi, Emkwan and Safa Srour to discuss the insights and themes impacting the growth and advancement in this dynamic field. 'This year's findings highlight a deeper shift – towards embracing AI implementation, prioritizing real-world connection, and exploring additional content formats. The best collaborations aren't just transactional; they're built on shared experiences, mutual respect, and brand purpose. As the line between content and community continues to blur, brands that invest in meaningful engagement will stand out,' added Ghaleb Zeidan, Regional Managing Director, Weber Shandwick MENAT. Friendly Gulf competition While the friendly competition between the ambitions of some Gulf countries can be seen in the many initiatives of their national visions, such as landmark firsts and business incentives, it's interesting to see signs of this good-natured rivalry and loyalty spill over into the content creator landscape. Influencers say positive transformation is happening in many sectors, 77% of MENA content creators believe GCC countries are leading positive transformation in the tourism and entertainment industry: 45% say it's UAE, 26% selected Saudi Arabia, and 10% chose Lebanon. Podcasts and purpose proliferate While short-form content continues to dominate, long-form content is growing in prominence. Many creators are experimenting with lengthy, in-depth content types that allow for more personal storytelling and authentic expression. Nearly half (48%) are considering exploring opportunities around podcasting, and 11% say podcasting is already a key component of their content strategy. Additionally, six in ten MENA creators say that they posted more in the past year about causes they care personally care about. As the demand for thoughtful, values-aligned partnership grows within the marketing communications industry, InfluAnswer Arabia 2025 offers key insights for brands seeking effective collaborations that can enliven their brand narratives and enable deeper connections with audiences. Weber Shandwick MENAT, a leading earned-first PR and communications agency, supports clients throughout the region – including Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Riyadh, and beyond – in cultivating meaningful, market-relevant connections with the creator community. For more insights and to view the full InfluAnswer Arabia 2025 report, please click here. -Ends- About Weber Shandwick: Weber Shandwick is a leading global communications network that delivers next-generation solutions to brands. Visit for more details and follow the agency on Instagram and LinkedIn. Contact: Arzoo Sippy ASippy@
