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Reputation Matters

Reputation Matters Finola Sloyan image

Updated: November 2023

Reputation Matters Finola Sloyan image

Revealed: How top PR firm uses ‘trust barometer’ to promote world’s autocrats

Edelman’s trust barometer is “quoted everywhere as if this is some credible, objective research from a thinktank, whereas there is a fairly obvious commercial background, and it’s fairly obviously a sales tool,” said Alison Taylor, a professor at New York University’s business school. “At minimum, the firm should be disclosing these financial relationships as part of the study. But they’re not doing that.”

By Adam Lowenstein

In 2021 and 22, I shared the findings of Edelman’s ‘trust barometer’, writing that trust is the ultimate currency in the relationship that all institutions build with their stakeholders. Yesterday’s article in The Guardian (November 24, 2023) calls into question how much trust one can have in the PR firm, due to its lack of transparency.

Listed below are the 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer‘s top 10 findings:

01 Distrust is now society’s default emotion

02 Of the studied institutions, business is once again the most trusted

03 Government and media fuel a cycle of distrust

04 News sources fail to fix their Trust problem

05 Fake news concerns are at an all-time high

06 There is a collapse of Trust in democracies

07 Societal fears on the rise

08 Business needs to step up on societal issues

09 Societal leadership is now a core function of business

10 Business must lead in breaking the cycle of distrust

Business is the most trusted of institutions in 2022

….. as it was in 2021 [ 2021 Edelman Trust Barometer | Edelman ] with the findings last year showing that trust had declined in the world’s two largest economies, U.S. and China, accelerated with lives lost and joblessness due to the Covid-19 pandemic and how it was handled by those governing.

In 2022, CEOs are expected to be the face of change

….. with 81% believing CEOs should be personally visible when discussing public policy with external stakeholders or work their company has done to benefit society. Interestingly, with it being so hard to recruit for job roles today, 60% considering a job expect the CEO to speak publicly about controversial social and political issues “that I care about” . Seeing and hearing the CEO is important to potential talent when considering working for a company.

In 2021, Edelman reported “For the world of business, this year’s study shows that it is not only the most trusted institution among the four studied – Business, NGOs, Government, Media – “it is also the only trusted institution with a 61 percent trust level globally, and the only institution seen as both ethical and competent.” So, with the reputation of world leaders tested, are we looking to business leaders for guidance on how to be good world citizens?

People do business with those they know, like and trust

Branding is a projection of our own personalities and it can engender an emotional connection with a customer or consumer when we allow our personality to shine through. Reputation has the potential to influence consumers’ perceptions and behaviours, an example being to buy a brand we recognise over one we don’t.

People respond to people. They are likely to buy from, and listen to, someone who looks, talks and acts like them, as opposed to a large corporation\brand.

Corporate reputation

When studying public relations, I remember reading that reputation can be a company’s biggest asset and on balance sheets, it is calculated as a financial asset called ‘goodwill’. It is the thing that makes a company stand out from the crowd and gives it competitive edge, it is its badge of good character.

Professionally, I look at myself as an empathetic PR, supporting business growth through creating and enhancing visibility of brand and its specialties. Managing corporate reputation goes hand in hand with everything I communicate – it is always something any good PR person has in mind.

I was asked recently what three tips I would share about being in business:

Know your audience, know who your ideal customer is so that you are having conversations with the right people;

Ensure there is mutual understanding and respect from the ‘get go’ between you and your client;

Work hard, be customer-focused, results-oriented, have personal satisfaction in your work.

Is there really no bad publicity?

This theory no longer stands up. Companies come under fire for unsavory practices, leading to bad publicity and a PR crises. Practices such as using cheap labor or exploiting resources in poor countries can lead to boycotts or worse. Channel 4’s Dispatches revealed that the coffee plantation growing beans for Nespresso coffee had children as young as eight working eight-hour days for £5. As the brand’s ambassador, George Clooney made many millions and was quoted as saying he was not aware of the situation – I would like to have been a fly on the wall listening to the conversation with his human rights lawyer wife, Amal. The probe showed the children doing up to six-day weeks picking beans and shifting heavy loads to weighing areas in Guatemala.

Defining what needs to be done to improve reputation and implementing the necessary changes is only half the battle. Suppliers must then communicate these changes to the public if they are to stand any chance of changing people’s perceptions and improving their corporate reputations.

Effective messaging is key.

Today, to not acknowledge or be sensitive to world events in our communications is to risk huge loss of reputation and face. In 2020, brands being insensitive and blatantly capitalising on people’s misery led to vilification, criticism and reputational loss. Unfortunately, there were many.

Scottish craft beer brewer, Brewdog, switched production from their signature brew, Punk IPA, to ‘BrewGel Punk hand sanitiser’ to help combat nationwide shortages of the gel and in early-January, they offered their closed venues as vaccination centres. [The term virtue signaling is often used to accuse someone of trying to win praise for showing support for a social cause without actually doing anything meaningful to advance it. Only the people involved truly know if the intentions are sincere and if all is what it seems].

Technology for good in Covid times

The trauma experienced worldwide in 2020 has changed the tone of communications and there is a softer, more human approach in the technology sector in particular. Communities want to know how technology can help them. IoT (Internet of Things) is a technology that is evidently providing solutions to test anything from temperature screening in building receptions, virtual queuing, safer spaces, to footfall in public bathrooms\washrooms, it’s a good example of tech providing practical solutions for much needed day-to-day requirements.

Relationships

Keeping our clients happy is one thing; maintaining a solid reputation is another. Although we may not be actively looking for new business, having solid relationships with people we already know is important to our health and happiness. We may end up being in business with the same customers for many years, so having a good reputation is critical to that business’ longevity.

To be effective, an organisation needs to listen to the opinions of those with whom it deals and not solely provide information.

Social interaction

Making time to interact with the people in our communities – followers and connections, people of interest – is an opportunity to share something of ourselves and I believe people more than ever today are curious about the person behind the brand.

Tips to guard your reputation

A wise and socially engaged friend gave me the following pointers:

  • Avoid sharing highly controversial subjects (unless you’ve decided that those subjects are truly part of your brand).
  • If you have other people posting for you on your social media accounts, be sure to review those posts until you really trust the person.
  • Address any negative criticism by taking the conversation offline.
  • Don’t gossip about coworkers or other businesses.
  • Choose kindness.
  • Give others the benefit of the doubt.

If reputation is the thing that makes a company stand out from the crowd and gives it competitive edge, brand reputation is to be guarded and managed carefully, with all stakeholders considered.

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