“You can’t really know where you are going until you know where you have been.” – Maya Angelou.
For the month of April, our team took a look at the history of digital marketing and public relations, to get a better understanding of where each industry is headed.
Take a look at how the PR industry has evolved and the best methods to keep up, along with the history of SEO!
Is PR Dead? Our Team Investigates
Public relations tactics have evolved from primarily media outreach, to encompass a communications strategy that will better reach your audience. This blog shares 3 ways you can move beyond traditional public relations to stay ahead in the industry.
Exploring the History of SEO
Understanding the history of SEO and how it has evolved can help marketers plan for the future success of their websites. This blog takes a look at the past, present, and future of search engine optimization to help readers gain a better understanding of how the marketing practice influences your website’s rank.
Now Onto April’s Biggest Story
United Airlines’ No Good, Very Bad Month
We’ve deemed April, “How to Not Handle a PR Crisis Month!” Starting off the month, a video of a passenger being dragged off of a United Airlines flight surfaced and quickly went viral. The CEO of United first responded by apologizing for having to “re-accommodate customers,” claiming the flight was over-booked, but in reality customers were removed to free up space for United employees.
What’s the PR lesson here? Tell the truth! An apology should have been made and the facts should have been revealed.
A battered customer was not the only PR nightmare United faced this month – the airline was also accused of rabbit murder! A three-foot-long giant rabbit named Simon was traveling to the U.S. to meet his new owner, but died under United’s care. And before the rabbit could be examined to determine his cause of death, United cremated Simon without his owner’s consent. We smell a cover up.
To make matters even worse, again, the CEO knew just what to say. Comparing the loss of a pet to the loss of luggage, the airline CEO said, “We are deeply sorry for the loss of anything from your luggage to, of course, a loved pet.”
What’s the PR Lesson here? Well, there are a few. Do not cover up your mistakes by making more mistakes. Show compassion. And of course, think before you speak.
It has been a busy month for United’s PR team, to say the least…
What do you think is the most important aspect for handling a PR crisis? Tell us in the comments below or on Twitter @lotus823!
