CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS
BEST-CASE SUPPORT FOR WORST-CASE SCENARIOS
We help alleviate anxieties when what could go wrong does.
A global pandemic. An economic crisis. Social media trolls. Disgruntled employees talking to media. Power outages. Fallout from active shooter situations. A crisis is a time of intense difficulty that calls for constant and consistent communication. What starts as a small situation could quickly go viral. How quickly you respond to a crisis has a dramatic impact on your reputation.
The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has given businesses the world over a taste of what it’s like to operate during a crisis. Successful businesses, nonprofits and government municipalities in Milwaukee and elsewhere are learning that crisis communications is an art and a skill. Humans are impacted during a crisis, and they will remember how you and your company made them feel. Knowing how to communicate swiftly and effectively in a crisis can impact your brand long after the crisis is over.
Social media has introduced complexities of colossal scale to the world of crisis communications in recent years. In the past, certain crises could be handled quietly and perhaps even kept out of the media. But those situations today are rare. News spreads in milliseconds and audiences demand transparency and quick responses from corporations during a crisis. When a crisis is handled improperly, market share, consumer support, employee engagement and your reputation can all be negatively impacted. Organizations need a communications partner who’s ready in any situation to protect your reputation.
In a crisis, you have to communicate consistently with a number of audiences – from employees and customers to board members and media. A strong crisis communications plan will minimize damage and risk and ultimately protect your business.
Kane helps clients emerge from crises stronger than ever through swift action, clear messaging and media know-how. Our team has extensive experience navigating through crisis situations and managing media. With experience as editors, producers, reporters and anchors in Milwaukee and beyond, we understand what media are looking for in a crisis situation. We also know how to protect your best interests.
SERVICES
Planning
The ideal time to put together a crisis communications plan is before a crisis occurs. Working with leadership, Kane anticipates possible scenarios then creates a plan to protect both your reputation and ability to continue operating successfully.
Legal Team Coordination
Unless both sides are working closely together, your legal team’s efforts during a crisis could differ from what a PR team is recommending. At Kane, we make sure your legal team’s work and ours always complement each other.
Media Relations
Communicating the right message at the right time to the right audiences doesn’t just happen. It takes a firm like ours with strong, trusted relationships with the right media outlets in Milwaukee, across Wisconsin, and beyond.
Message Development
During a crisis, one word or phrase can make the difference between sinking deeper or emerging stronger. Kane identifies the best messages, frames the right narratives and ensures every audience-facing individual is ready to share them.
Media Training
We prepare your leaders and spokespersons to confidently and effectively anticipate and answer tough questions from the media and reinforce key messages to your most important audiences.
Community Relations
It’s essential to consider community impact in times of crisis. At Kane, we make it our mission to help you emerge from a crisis in ways that protect and promote your standing in the community.
Social Listening
A crisis often times is about more than just what an organization says. It’s also about what gets said. Kane’s social listening services track brand sentiment online, providing the opportunity not only to react but also to proactively change sentiment, identify ambassadors and protect your brand.
RESULTS AND THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
How quickly a company responds to a crisis has a dramatic impact on their reputation. A strong crisis communication plan will minimize damage and risk and ultimately protect your business. Stephanie reflects on a trending topic in the news about Adidas and how this is a prime example of a business that may need to refresh their crisis communications plan. She also shares seven crucial steps in developing a crisis communication plan.