It’s incredible how many of the major organisation with the best social media strategies got there in the wake of a crisis. The most obvious example is Dell. First there was Dell Hell and then there was IdeaStorm and a comprehensive on line communications and commercial strategy. My anecdotal experience entirely supports the idea that even now most major organisations don’t formulate their social media communications strategy until they have experience a royal kick in the digital arse.
It really doesn’t have to be that way. In the words of Henry George Bohn “wise men learn by other men’s mistakes, fools by their own”. The Chartered Institute of Public Relations is hosting ‘Reputations in Flames’, in London next Monday 6th December. The one day conference will explore the risks that businesses and organisations are exposed to via social networks. I have the honour of chairing the event and there are some must see speakers. Euan Semple will cover the fundamental changes that have occurred, Dominic Burch, Head of Corporate Communications at Asda will explain why social media monitoring is a necessity, not a ‘nice to have’.
Luke Brynley-Jones, Founder and CEO, Our Social Times will look at the tools that are available and Guy Esnouf, Head of Public Relations, Public Affairs and Community Relations at E.ON UK will highlight how social media can be effectively used to communicate with stakeholders during a crisis.
The afternoon session features Marshall Manson of Edelman and Helen Nowicka, Managing Director of Shiny Red. It is a real opportunity to learn from people who know. Better to be prepared than to have to learn on the job. Oh, and the slogan on the t-shirt? It says “the crisis and me are friends on Facebook”
PR and the Social Web 
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Rob,
This short piece has a nice turn of phrase: The Culture of Crisis which is an interesting development of the “tomorrow’s chip wrappers” argument.
http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2010/11/crisis_and_media
Good luck with it Rob – I am sure it will be fun.
Marshall has some great experience and some great examples of what you are talking about.
C
[…] Social Strategy First Crisis Second « PR and the Social Web […]
..Qualities of Success.Companies that scored well in the study generally have dedicated teams however small active in the social media channels they utilize. The success stories we have uncovered provide a blueprint for companies making decisions about how to best apply their marketing and consumer relations resources..The study goes a long way towards validating the importance of social media for business said Ben Elowitz CEO of Wetpaint. Just because valuable brands have thousands of followers friends and are all over the social media universe doesnt mean that selective food and beverage brands in a community of twenty thousand people and four thousand followers 20 is not considered maven and or less successful.