Skip to content
iQ 360
An integrated communications agency
360
  • Home
  • Our Work
  • Capabilities
  • About
  • Join Us
  • Blog
  • Contact
We build + protect reputations

The PR Scaries: Four Things that Give Us Nightmares

10.28.20 | by iQ Staff
  • Share via
Communications, Crisis Communications, PR
  • Share via

As communications professionals, we don’t stay up late worrying about ghouls and goblins. Instead, some of our worst nightmares consist of social media gaffes, cringeworthy PR phrases and ill-advised marketing decisions.

Here, in honor of Halloween, we list a few of the spookiest PR blunders:

 

1. A post from the wrong social media account

A company’s social media profile is an extension of its brand and serves as an invaluable medium for building a community of consumers. Profiles are meticulously crafted and maintained with a specific brand voice to foster positive perceptions about the brand and influence behavior.

Social media managers who handle multiple brand accounts on every social media platform, in addition to their own personal accounts, live under the constant threat of mistakenly logging in to the wrong account and posting something that confuses, disengages or enrages those followers. Avoid causing your own social media crisis by utilizing a social media management tool and triple-checking which account you are logged in to before publishing anything.

 

2. An unprepared spokesperson

After working hard to pitch your story to desired media outlets and secure interview opportunities, it is now up to your spokesperson. As the face of your company, the spokesperson is responsible for disseminating key messages and crafting the image of your brand with memorable sound bites and insightful commentary. Even the most straightforward media interview can take a wrong turn when basic preparation isn’t done or your advice isn’t followed.

A spokesperson who doesn’t take this role seriously, shows up dressed unprofessionally, and hasn’t reviewed the key messages or talking points may quickly derail an opportunity. In the current era of virtual interviews, PR practitioners must also think about a new set of virtual challenges that can turn a dream interview into a nightmare.

 

3. A broken embargo

Embargoed news releases are often used for big stories, when it would be beneficial for you as well as a specific media outlet to have the information ahead of the scheduled publication date. However, this approach involves high-stakes negotiations and clear ground rules, as multiple audiences and stakeholders are involved and must adhere to a strict timeline. A broken embargo—whether intentional or accidental—would not only derail your entire earned media strategy, but also diminish the impact of the story and cause you to lose control of the narrative.

When it comes to embargoed news releases, we recommend working only with trusted journalists. An established relationship and understanding of expectations are essential for a successful embargoed media placement. Otherwise, there may be a risk of a reporter breaking the embargo to take advantage of the scoop.

 

4. A CEO who doesn’t understand PR

A CEO who is unsatisfied with your current results but is unwilling to invest in larger marketing budgets and public-relations efforts, can be counterproductive to your organization’s goals and performance.

Work to overcome this obstacle, increase your organization’s potential, and gain traction by educating your disengaged leadership team about leveraging a thoughtful communications strategy. Use data and metrics to convince senior management of the unrealized benefits. If possible, align yourself with a colleague in the C-suite who can help champion your cause.

 

Avoid these mishaps, and you’ll be rewarded with PR treats instead of tricks. Happy Halloween from the team at iQ 360!

  • Share via

Top Picks for You


March 22, 2023

Welcome iQ 360’s New Account Executive, Bianca Kahele-Fontanilla →

March 15, 2023

Welcome iQ 360’s New Senior Account Coordinator, Josh Adachi →

Post navigation

 A PR Guru’s Advice to iQ 360
Using Paid Search in a Crisis: The Right Way and the Wrong Way 

Categories

C-Suite
Tactics & Tips
Visual Communication
iQ Insights

Must Reads

December 18, 2019

Reflecting and Goal Setting for Communicators [WORKSHEET] →

January 8, 2020

PR and Marketing Predictions for the Next Decade →

December 4, 2019

Create a Company Culture That Reflects You →

Stay in the know with our quarterly newsletter
Loading...
iQ 360

We believe in the power of communication to change the world

808.536.2729
Privacy Policy | ©2023 iQ 360 Inc. All rights reserved.
We are a certified minority- and woman-owned business.
iQ 360

We believe in the power of communication to change the world

808.536.2729
Privacy Policy
©2023 iQ 360 Inc. All rights reserved.

We are a certified minority- and woman-owned business.

Privacy Policy

Last updated on June 5, 2018.

 

This privacy policy explains our collection, use, disclosure, retention, and protection of personal information collected through our website, www.iq360inc.com (the “Website”).

 

  1. Information We Collect

We collect personally identifiable information about you, including your name, email address, and phone number, when you send an inquiry to us on the contact form on the Website.

 

  1. How We Use Your Information

We will use your information only to respond to you regarding the reason you contacted us. We will contact you by the means by that you have consented to us contacting you, as you indicate when you submit an inquiry to us via the Website.  We will not share your information with any third party outside of our organization.  We do not send any promotional emails; however, we may contact you via email in the future to tell you about changes to this privacy policy.

 

  1. Cookies

 

  1. Storage of Information

Personally identifiable information that you submit to us via the Website is processed and stored, if at all, in the United States.  We will not keep your personal data for longer than is necessary for the purposes for which it was collected.  We determine the retention period based on the purpose for which the information was obtained, our legal obligations, and our technical and business requirements. 

 

  1. Your Access to and Control Over Information

You have the right to opt out of any future contacts from us at any time. You may do the following at any time by contacting us via info@iq360.inc.com or 808-536-2729:

  • See what data we have about you, if any.
  • Change/correct any data we have about you.
  • Have us delete any data we have about you.
  • Express any concern you have about our use of your data or if you feel that we are not abiding by this privacy policy.

  

  1. Security

We take precautions to protect your information. When you submit sensitive information via the Website, your information is protected both online and offline. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job (for example, customer service) are granted access to personally identifiable information. The computers/servers in which we store personally identifiable information are kept in a secure environment.

 

  1. Updates to This Statement

This privacy policy may be subject to updates.  Any material future changes or additions to the processing of personal information as described in this privacy policy affecting you will be communicated to you through an appropriate channel.  For example, we may email you to let you know about updates to the privacy policy.

 

 

Subscribe

Emails collected through this form will be used for marketing and business updates. We are the sole owners of the information collected on this site. We only have access to information that you voluntarily give us. We will not sell or rent this information to anyone. You may opt out of any future contacts from us at any time by contacting us via the email address or phone number given on our website. Please see our privacy policy for full details.