Celebrities, no matter if they're
a film actor, reality television star, athlete or radio personality, are
constantly in the public eye and subject to media conversation. Unfortunately,
it seems the worse their behavior, the bigger the splash, and the longer the
discussion continues. This has been true for decades, from the era of paper
boys in flat caps to our present ability to instantly stream news on our mobile
devices, more papers are sold when the news is negative.
There is a saying that any
publicity is good publicity. You may think this to be true if no one has ever
heard of you or your brand, since your brand has no reputation to corrupt in
the first place. The public cannot form an opinion of you, negative or positive,
so fifteen minutes of fame may seem beneficial. However, it is never advisable
to begin your public reputation on the wrong foot because a poor first
impression can be long lasting. Eventually, after the turbulence settles, it's
the reputation that ends up taking the hit, possibly tarnishing it forever.
If you're
struggling with brand management and reputation, then you may want to listen to
a few words of advice. First, you need to devise tactics that can battle
against negative accusations or comments. A wrong way to handle these
situations would be to become defensive and deny any wrongdoing because it
comes off as unprofessional and immature. Instead, you should take on PR
problems with a productive approach. Focus on what you or your brand has done
right or positive goals you have for the future, because doing so will shift
the story from any poor behavior to your accomplishments and aspirations.
So, even
though it may seem that all press is good press, because getting your name in
the papers may peak interest and traffic to websites or blogs, in the long run,
it can affect your career, along with all those connected with you. The ripple
effect will reach a large pool of individuals and corporations that have taken
either a personal or professional interest in you. When met with difficult
situations or events that can have a negative impact on your reputation, don't
focus on the allegations or other negative accusations. Instead, redirect your
focus to past or present accomplishments, positive qualities or future goals.
Leave a fresh image of optimism in the mind of the public.