BulletProofBlog the blog on crisis communications

The top six social media tips to know before you leave the office. In the Digital Age, where a 1440 news cycle – one measured in minutes, not hours – can facilitate the rapid spread of rumors and misinformation across the Web, companies cannot afford to be caught flatfooted. All it takes is one disgruntled stakeholder to share a damaging video, message, or story, and the next thing you know, the brand damage is done. To prepare ... READ MORE

From Toyota and Tiger Woods to Governor Mark Sanford and Goldman Sachs, the litany of public apologies issued in the last year highlights the challenges awaiting companies and high-profile individuals that must make public amends for past missteps. It’s a tall order to fill under the toughest of circumstances; but those who successfully navigate this necessary first step in regaining credibility and public trust find that each successive hurdle is all the easier to clear. In ... READ MORE

Singing on stage with a long red wig, a bandana, a kilt, a leather jacket, and covered in tattoos is not where you’d expect to find an accomplished executive – and one of the world’s wealthiest men – such as Warren Buffett. But that’s precisely where he is in a new Web video produced by Geico, entitled “All For You.” The faux music video features Geico employees singing about the insurance company’s dedication to its ... READ MORE

Each week, Bulletproof Blog™ features exclusive interviews with thought leaders on issues of critical importance to companies and countries. This week, as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enters the final phase of its new Transparency Initiative, we interview Robert Maples, a Senior Legislative Advisor at the law firm of Dickstein Shapiro LLP, about the FDA’s effort to make the agency – and the companies it regulates – more open to the general public. Mr. Maples ... READ MORE

Bulletproof’s Weekly Web Wrap-Up offers a compilation of key discussions regarding social media’s increasing relevance to business. Sometimes it may seem that the companies using social media to the greatest effect are those that market directly to consumers - but opportunities exist for B2B companies as well. There are a number of tried and true social media tactics and strategies that, while perhaps less well-known than B2C social media outreach, are just as crucial to B2B ... READ MORE

With 450 million global users and counting, Facebook has become the marquee marketing and communications tool of 2010. With countless companies and brands growing their rosters of fans on a daily basis, it’s becoming clear that no other social media platform in the digital realm provides the same opportunities to impact perceptions, supplement traditional advertising efforts, and address potential crisis issues before they reach other audiences. Of course, open forums invite candid conversations between brands ... READ MORE

In this regular feature, Bulletproof interviews top plaintiffs' attorneys for their perspective on the crises likely to affect businesses in the near future. Today we talk to Jared H. Beck of Miami’s Beck & Lee, who, along with the Weston Firm of San Diego, has filed a class action against Yelp, the social media review site, alleging it offered to remove bad customer reviews of businesses that bought advertising space on Yelp itself. The suit, alleging that ... READ MORE

The top six social media tips to know before you leave the office. With the online space rapidly evolving, staying ahead of curve is an essential element of any successful communications or marketing strategy. With everyone guessing at which technologies, services, and trends will be tomorrow’s latest craze, I traveled to the South by Southwest Conference (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, last week for a better idea of what might be around the bend. SXSW is known for ... READ MORE

The recent news that ongoing aid programs in Ethiopia, Somalia, Afghanistan, and El Salvador are rife with corruption is, unfortunately, no surprise. For years, it has been well understood that fraud and abuse are the greatest impediments to development assistance – and the problem is compounded in crisis situations because corruption controls are often relaxed to allow resources to reach people in need as quickly as possible. Because multiple layers of bureaucracy can’t be allowed to ... READ MORE

Each week, Bulletproof Blog™ features exclusive interviews with thought leaders on issues of critical importance to companies and countries. This week, with the 2010 proxy season getting underway, we interview corporate governance expert Adel Aslani-Far, the Global Co-Chair of the Mergers and Acquisitions Practice at Latham and Watkins LLP. Mr. Aslani-Far possesses vast experience assisting corporations with the myriad investor relations and regulatory challenges that arise during the proxy process. As a much sought-after corporate governance ... READ MORE