BulletProofBlog the blog on crisis communications

The top six social media tips to know before you leave the office. In today’s digital world, corporate blogs are becoming an increasingly important tool in the ongoing effort to connect with customers, stakeholders, and other important audiences. Corporate blogs make it easy for companies to showcase their services and thought leadership, connect with a core group of brand ambassadors, increase online exposure to new audiences, and much more. Successful corporate blogging involves more than just picking ... READ MORE

In an era of sweeping regulatory reform, major evolutions in media, and unprecedented public anger toward Corporate America, boards of directors are asking two questions when it comes to reputational risk management in the Digital Age. First, what is our role in crisis? And second, how do we best prepare? These topics and many others were addressed during the 2009 NACD Directorship Global Forum, which brought together more than 100 of the most influential minds in ... READ MORE

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has long had regulations in place that limit how advertisers can use endorsements and testimonials. Under the current guidelines, an advertiser can stay clear of false advertising claims simply by adding benign disclaimer phrases such as "experience may vary" or "results not typical." But that may be about to change. The FTC is in the process of re-writing its endorsement guidelines, in part because of the increasing significance of online marketing. ... READ MORE

With nearly 300 million Internet users in China - including 50 million bloggers that have generated more than 100 million posts to date - the potential for a viral media tsunami that could sink an international brand is palpable. The Chinese Government continues to shut down Websites that deal with controversial issues and monitor individual Internet usage with an estimated Internet police force of 30,000. But still, 50 million bloggers can generate quite a bit of ... READ MORE

The landslide election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States was a watershed moment in American history - and one that demonstrates just how radically the communications paradigm has shifted in 2008. The rules are changing before our very eyes. Americans have voiced their frustration with business as usual and the bitter partisanship that was beginning to define 21st Century politics. They are hungry for answers to our most pressing problems, ... READ MORE

Last month, market research firm StudyLogic released a report - commissioned by Sheraton Hotels and Resorts - that found 35% of the 6,500 respondents said they choose to spend time with their mobile device over spending time with their spouse. The report also found that 87% of professionals bring their mobile device into the bedroom. This study certainly suggests a few things about modern relationships, but it also offers two very important insights into marketing and ... READ MORE

As more companies and brands fall prey to critical - and in many cases false or misleading - reporting in the blogosphere, understanding the new rules of engagement that govern interaction in the digital space has become increasingly important. Often remembered more for their blogging missteps than their successes in recent years, businesses around the world are just now beginning to comprehend how completely the dynamic has shifted away from the traditional media rules of ... READ MORE

A recent story in the National Law Journal looks at the range of legal problems employee blog posts - whether they're sanctioned or not - can create. In the article, attorney Zachary Hummel claims that some employers give free rein to employees on corporate blogs as a way to monitor morale in the workplace. While (possibly) well intentioned, this approach does not bode well for a company's digital presence. Just like it is incumbent on employers ... READ MORE

Last weekend, Richard Levick gave a speech before hundreds of bloggers at the BlogWorld Conference in Las Vegas. He focused on how the blogosphere has forever changed the crisis communicators' craft and what we all must do to adapt to an evolving new media landscape. For those of you that couldn't make it to Vegas, I offer an example of what happened there not necessarily staying there. Richard gave an interview with Blog Talk Radio shortly ... READ MORE

Do you hear that sound? Listen carefully. It's being heard in newsrooms from Los Angeles to Orlando and from New York to Cleveland. It began as a low, almost inaudible murmur in the late 1990s and has grown ever louder with each passing day. It's the sound of the last gasping breath of those unable to adapt to a changing world. It's the sound of irrelevance. Today, newspapers are struggling to keep up with the evolving ... READ MORE