A Simple Guide to Crisis Management PR
Crisis Management is how a business or organization deals with a sudden emergency situation. In many instances, a larger business already has a protocol in place in case of an emergency, but some situations, like COVID-19, are unique and unexpected where businesses have to quickly manage how they’re going to handle the affair. Proactive is the key word in crisis management, and in many circumstances the first 24 hours are key. How your crisis is handled will make or break the situation at hand. For a sudden crisis that takes place at your business, you may need to loop in a legal team, in addition to an appropriate public relations firm. It’s also important to decide whether you should issue a proactive or reactive statement to the media. Sometimes a crisis may happen that is better dealt with internally, but if the news gets out, it’s best to have a strategy in place to best handle positioning with the press. That’s where Bettie Bomb comes in…
What is PR?
Public Relations (PR)…storytelling, building awareness and shaping a brand’s image through different forms of communication. Fun, right? As veteran publicists, we connect with the ultimate gatekeepers, our media friends, to target audiences across the globe and craft newsworthy story angles. We love what we do because it’s about promoting other entrepreneurs like ourselves and we take pride in helping businesses organically grow. We also love it because the power of PR is real! Part of its superpower is the fact that its earned communication, meaning “not paid” like advertising or sponsored content. It’s the most unbiased, honest depiction a brand can receive, making it the most credible type of coverage! Everybody wants it, but no one has control over it because it is through the eyes of the media. As publicists, we provide as much information as possible, connect the media with our clients and craft the message. But after we’ve delivered and the media personally experiences the service or tries the product, it’s their words. And that’s when the excitement & roller coaster ride begins!
What is Crisis Management PR?
Crisis Management Public Relations is focused on advising clients what to do during any crisis and managing communications plans accordingly. It’s a very strategic counsel from PR agencies, created for specific clients and situations. It enables an organization to effectively communicate during a major threat to its business or reputation.
Businesses and organizations of all types should be prepared for a wide range of potential crises, including extreme weather, crime, cyber-crimes, reputation crisis, sexual misconduct, onsite deaths, and PR incidents.
Preparing ahead of time for a crisis ensures that relevant personnel can quickly and effectively communicate with each other during moments of threat, sharing information that allows the organization to quickly rectify the situation, protect customers, employees and assets, and ensure business continuity.
Unfortunately, there are times where you are unable to prepare and important to work with a team who can think quickly on their feet and implement an immediate plan.
What Are Common Crises That Would Necessitate Hiring a Crisis Management PR Agency?
There are many Types of Crisis PR Situations that would require a Crisis Management PR Agency – many depending on your type of business and also the social climate as well. There are a variety of categories of crisis situations – many depending on the type of business as well as the social climate.
- Financial Crisis
- Personnel Crisis
- Natural Crisis
- Organizational Crisis
The most top-of-mind crisis right now would be COVID-19, which would be considered a natural crisis. Since COVID is a global pandemic that’s impacted businesses big and small, it’s important to be nimble in your approach as the world adapts to new protocols in place, while also communicating this to clients and media.
While it took the world by surprise, many businesses quickly adapted to the pandemic – being forced to temporarily close their doors, create new offerings and order protocol, and much more. Many internal procedures changed as well with most working from home and facilitating meetings remotely.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Crisis Management PR Agency?
Whether you are looking for crisis, community relations, retail, hospitality or corporate PR, it all depends on scope of work. Every client is different, yet most smaller agencies fall between $2000 and $10,000 per month. Larger firms tend to start at $10,000-$20,000 monthly retainers.
Clients are paying for the amount of hours it takes to plan, strategize and pivot in an extremely timely situation and more. Remember some PR agencies are contacted after a crisis erupts, so they need to jump on quickly, understand the situation and develop a communication plan quickly.
After these efforts are planned and approved, Crisis Public Relations Agencies still need to streamline communication to the media and often plan damage control. From the time the crisis happened until the time PR agencies were able to create content and approved communication, the media could’ve run coverage already. For those agencies already put in place before the crisis and who were armed with a plan, the action plan post-crisis is more seamless.
Introduction to Bettie Bomb
Founded in 2005, Bettie Bomb is a Boutique Midwest Public Relations Agency offering a suite of services from trusted industry partners under one creative umbrella. PR, Marketing, Social Media and beyond…we work as an extension of your team, creating personalized campaigns, building awareness and telling your story when it matters most.
We are a female-owned, boutique agency specializing in all things lifestyle: food, fashion, hospitality, retail, health & wellness, medical, consumer and philanthropy. Partners Rebecca Kussmann & Laura Collins work closely with businesses & organizations to target key audiences and generate exposure all under the Bettie Bomb umbrella. Work one-on-one or have us build a team. We can be BIG and we can be small…that’s the beauty of it. Small, but mighty with the ability to grow. That’s us in a nutshell.
