Junk happens. As we know well, banks and credit unions aren’t immune from having to activate its crisis management strategy. And if you think your community bank is immune from crisis, you’ve got one. Without preparation, you’re asking for trouble, chin deep in a public relations crisis of your own making. And forget about the old saying “There’s no such thing as bad … [Read more...]
United Airlines, a public relations multiple engine failure.
If we had to pick the public relations flub of the first four months of 2017, try United Airlines. Calling United’s fiasco, a flub is an extreme understatement. For the airline, this is a public relations multiple engine failure, a public image crash and burn. The bare facts: United personnel physically removed a Chinese passenger from an overbooked Chicago-to-Louisville … [Read more...]
Banker’s brawl helps no one.
An article in the May 11 edition of The Wall Street Journal caught our eye last week. While the piece seemed to emphasize the rift between big and community banks, to us it seemed to serve up some lessons on how – or how not to – compete against the big boys of banking. In short, the story covered a spitting match between Camden Fine, president and CEO of the Independent … [Read more...]
Good medicine: What banks can learn from the Dr. Pepper hoax
My friend Paul has an addiction. His substance of choice isn’t dangerous. In fact, it’s delightful, especially over ice. It’s Dr. Pepper. So imagine his horror this week when social media blew up with something that looked very much like a corporate press release, announcing that Dr. Pepper, the popular soft drink, would cease production this summer. Fellow Peppers … [Read more...]
Bow ties and bank marketing.
A friend has a social media habit he practices every Tuesday, thanks to Collared Greens, a Richmond, Va., based high-end, high quality and environmentally friendly traditional clothing site. When every Tuesday rolls ‘round, my buddy “Likes” and “Shares” Collared Greens’ Facebook post for “Free Tie Tuesday,” in the hope of winning one of the company’s spiffy bowties. Within … [Read more...]