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PR NEWS: What’s in Your Digital Go-Bag? Five Essentials for Communicators

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Published in PR News 5/1/19

What’s in Your Digital Go-Bag? Five Essentials for Communicators

By Adam Probolsky

Technology will fail us all at some point. And if you are unprepared, it could exacerbate a situation and become a crisis.

Even a behemoth like Facebook goes down, as we saw last month. During an earlier worldwide outage of Facebook, Basecamp, the project- and team-management website and app, also went down. In such cases you’ll miss pics of the neighbor’s lunch. That’s manageable. But many businesses lost precious opportunities. For example, think of the advertising exposure lost when publishers couldn’t link to Facebook videos clients sponsored in their emails. The thousands of companies that rely on Basecamp lost access to every detail of their projects and the ability to communicate with teams.

This got me thinking: Am I ready for an extended outage of critical business systems? The answer was no.

Admittedly I’m a bit of a prepper in the zombie apocalypse sense. So, the axe and bottled water are stored safely with the family bug-out bag. But if the crisis is a major technology failure and not a global virus that takes control of unsuspecting bodies, I think most of us are unprepared.

So, I developed a digital go-bag. You might think I went overboard. Perhaps you want to swap out some geographic or industry-specific items for your go-bag. Fine. Consider the ideas below starting suggestions:

Back-up chargers for all your devices

Think about being without power for a couple of hours, let alone days. Forget about your computer, iPad and phone. A robust back-up power source that can power a handful of devices for a day costs about $100. Be sure to get one that has all the ports you need. For instance,  Mac users will want a USB-C. Some even have a regular 120v plug.

Sat phone

The Weather Channel reporter standing in the middle of a hurricane is talking on a satellite phone. They are indispensable when cell service is interrupted because of weather or power outage. They’re also handy when there’s a coup on the island nation where you are vacationing and the military shuts all comms. Don’t forget to pre-program your key contacts for ease of use. Satellite phones are pricey. The Iridium Extreme 9575, has a rugged “military grade” design, costs $1,300, plus $50/month for service fees. And that’s before the cost of making or receiving calls.

Thumb drive with key files

Assuming the crisis you are facing does not include a foreign power detonating an EMP that destroys electronics for miles in every direction, you will have access to your computer. But the Internet might be down, so carry a thumb drive, or several that hold key files, like your crisis plan and templates for ever document you might need to produce. Also, stripped-down contact databases in Excel spreadsheets, old-school style. You may not be able to broadcast it to the world or forward to HQ, but at least you can write your media statement and update reports.

Printed contact lists and key documents

Many communicators operate in paperless offices. Printing things may no longer be in our nature. Still, having a contact list of the most critical people you need to be in touch with is important. Don’t forget to include fax numbers. Even if the Internet is spotty, the Panasonic fax machine at FedEx Office will still work. Also, put together a file with the most important pages you might need, like corporate governance documents, powers of attorney, holding statements and background material, such as org charts and timelines.

Back-up hard drive

Thumb drives can hold just about everything you need. But in case of an extended period without Internet connectivity, have a back-up of all your files. Some organizations have policies that restrict this kind of file downloading. If so, get special permission. And be sure to use encryption.

Adam Probolsky is president of Probolsky Research

To Earn Customer Trust on Data Privacy, You Need to Change the Narrative

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Adam Probolsky recently published a guest article at Entrepreneur.com

To Earn Customer Trust on Data Privacy, You Need to Change the Narrative

Here are three actions tech companies can take today.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/316138

Every morning, people are willing to cough up a few bucks for a dark roast. But, four out of five Facebook users say $1 per month is too steep a price to pay for the privilege of logging in. A funny fact, considering it is a little harder to make a platform that connects 2 billion people than it is to make a morning beverage. Nevertheless, many of these same people have reacted strongly to the recent data collection so-called scandals.

But, even if anger over these scandals is more hype than reality, it does not mean tech companies can ignore the problem. Considering that anger is the emotion that spreads fastest on social media, companies should be more careful than ever when it comes to the hot-button issue of data — first and foremost by being sure to develop secure products and services, and having integrity.

Beyond that, however, there are a few more proactive steps companies should take to prevent this “manufactured” outrage from being directed at them:

Take control of the narrative.

For days after the Cambridge Analytica scandal broke, Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg — the only public faces of the company — were silent and unavailable to the media and users. This allowed everyone other than the company to define the narrative, and led to rampant speculation about the company’s culpability. In fact, it quickly led to the explosion of the #DeleteFacebook movement, which even garnered support by tech leaders like Steve Wozniak.

It is not exactly clear what took the tech giant’s leaders so long to respond (perhaps it was to avoid Zuckerberg’s public perception issues, or to protect Sandberg for a future run for political office). But, what is clear is that had Facebook leadership activated a ready-made crisis plan and put senior management in front of a camera to take control of the narrative, it could have stemmed the tide and somewhat mitigated the fallout. Starbucks, for example, had success doing just that in the wake of its recent racially charged public relations crisis.

With that in mind, Facebook (and other famous-founder companies) would be wise develop more public faces — ones that are market-research tested, viewed credibly, and willing to sacrifice personal time and reputation to commit to the task. And other companies should do the same as well, in order to be able to get ahead of the issue and shape the story themselves.

Facebook has since made an ad about how bad it has become, as it tries to be introspective and pledges to do better. While this is a great example of taking control of the narrative, it is something that should have been done early and proactively, before the issue spiraled out of control. In this, other companies can learn from Facebook’s mistake.

Simplify the terms of service.

A second step companies should take to reduce the risk of generating outrage over their use of data is to make sure their users are aware of exactly how they are using it in the first place. And this begins with simplifying companies’ terms and conditions — something that TechCrunch actually calls “the biggest lie of our industry.”

Faced with language that is intentionally (and unnecessarily) lengthy, complex and vague, a recent Deloitte survey of 2,000 consumers in the U.S. found that a whopping 91 percent of people actually consent to legal terms and services conditions without reading them. For younger people, aged 18-34, the rate is an even higher 97 percent.

As such, companies should take it upon themselves to educate their users by making their terms and conditions easier to read — more specifically, by using plain language summaries similar to those required for legislative ballots in many states across the U.S., or the ones now required under GDPR. In fact, a recent poll by my company Probolsky Research found a majority (52 percent) of U.S. adults support legislation that would force companies to present short, easy-to-understand summaries of their terms of service agreements.

Other experts suggest that another solution to address the no-reading issue is to change the design of terms of service. “One approach is to move the contract out of the one-second moment before access is granted, and to place its terms before the user when they become relevant,” writes David Berreby for The Guardian. The experts in the article actually cite Facebook as a positive example, referencing the company’s “Who can see this?” feature that appears when users are about to post a photo.

Inspire confidence in the model you have.

Just as Winston Churchill said about democracy, one could say that the free, big data advertising model is the worst business model, except for all the others. Results from the same national survey by Probolsky Research found not quite half (43 percent) of Americans know that big technology companies collect and sell their user data and show them ads. So, while not everyone is familiar with how many FANGs make money, it is not a secret either.

Companies must realize that they are never going to please everyone, and instead strive to inspire consumer confidence by making a commitment to data security. By highlighting the steps they are taking to protect their users — and actually “bragging” about it as part of their marketing and PR strategies — companies can make sure consumers are aware of the steps they are taking to protect them and begin to get more users on board with the model.

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This, however, does not stop users from being skeptical of how companies are using their data. For this reason, companies should also pull the curtain back on their processes to show consumers exactly how their data is being collected and used. As an example, companies could make an explainer video, taking viewers on a tour through their data warehouses and showing them where their data is being stored, what it is used for and how it is being protected — just as Google does here.

At the end of the day, this is not just transparency for transparency’s sake — but also a way to demonstrate all of the good the data does for individuals themselves and for the world around them. As Google, again, demonstrates, companies therefore have an opportunity to highlight in their messaging exactly what consumers would be missing if their services were not there. After all, it is tough to imagine a world without access to Google, for example.

While data privacy — particularly in light of the recent Cambridge Analytica scandal and the even more recent GDPR implementation — is at the heart of many media conversations today, companies can change the existing narrative of outrage by beginning to take more proactive steps. Among them, companies should take control of the narrative in the immediate aftermath of scandal, improve their terms of service and work to educate the public about the benefits of their existing business models.

Adam Probolsky is president of Probolsky Research

3 Ways to Use Opinion Research During Crisis Management Situations

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Originally published in Communications World Magazine

Even for the most well-prepared organization, things can blow up once in a while. Just ask Samsung.

Within the past year or so, exploding mobile phones, passengers being dragged down the aisle and production companies purging executives and big-screen stars have all faced media scrutiny and angry public opinion. These moments of crisis have threatened brand reputations and customer loyalty.

Such crises undoubtedly merit an immediate call to the PR and legal departments, but the experienced know that the real key to surviving them involves employing the help of a pollster as well. Because when brand reputation and customer loyalty are at stake, or when facing government intervention or legal action, there is no substitute for statistically valid research to help guide messaging and targeting.

Based on our experience with crises, we have developed a recommended action plan for businesses in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. There are four crucial steps:

  1. Gather immediate feedback from those affected through social listening tools.
  2. Conduct qualitative and quantitative research to gauge broader impact and strategize a management approach.
  3. Track reactions throughout the crisis to assess public response and uncover new information.
  4. Follow with post-crisis research to repair brand image and prepare for the future.

If used correctly, the action plan can help you crystallize your strategy and approach to navigating these turbulent conditions. Here are some specific examples of how polling and other opinion research has been used to guide the response to crises.

Identifying the right messengers

During crisis management, deciding who should respond is often just as important as the response itself. And sometimes, it’s not the person you might expect who should be tasked with delivering your organization’s message.

In response to a mechanical failure that led to a major environmental disaster in the U.S., opinion researchers were employed to learn more about the appropriate course of action they should take. Among the various findings, one stood out in particular: company spokespeople were not trusted. Rather, those who were polled showed a greater trust in the hard-hatted field workers that were employed by the company.

Accordingly, the company opted to include field workers at every media event, in addition to print and video advertisements, in response to the disaster. It also decided to step up field patrols to demonstrate a greater presence and show the public that they were taking an active role in preventing similar occurrences in the future. As a result, the company was able to foster a higher level of trust and engagement within the affected community.

Responding to the correct audience

In addition to identifying the right messenger, it is crucial to determine the correct target audience as well. In many cases, the affected stakeholders range far more broadly than what is immediately apparent, and can only be uncovered with adequate opinion research.

This is exemplified by the large U.S. West Coast farming company that was forced to recall several of its packaged vegetables after dozens of people got sick from an outbreak of a foodborne bacteria. After the incident, research found that, in addition to those directly affected by the foodborne bacteria, there were national implications for the brands associated with the company. Moreover, panic had spread throughout the local community surrounding its farming operations over a fear of job losses and the potential cross-contamination of other agribusinesses.

To assuage fears and show a redoubled commitment to the region’s economic recovery and food safety, the company decided to deploy company representatives and independent professionals with science backgrounds to community events and neighboring farming operations. As a result, a strong group of advocates from the local community have banded together to help in the future because they appreciated the company’s full-fledged response.

Communicating through the appropriate channels

After you have decided on the appropriate messenger and target audiences, you must also decide how to share your message to make sure it is received. Gauging public opinion through polls and focus groups can also help in this regard by showing which channels are most used by your audiences, and also where the most criticism is coming from.

In a financial scandal involving a medium-sized municipal government, an employee stole millions of dollars in taxpayer money. Regional and local media were relentless in their attacks on the government managers and elected officials for their handling of the situation. In response, the government employed the help of a pollster who found that a particular local newspaper and AM radio station were the go-to places for residents to get their news, and both outlets were hostile to the agency already reeling from the financial loss.

To mitigate the damage, the government agency brought in specialized communication consultants who already had established relationships with both the newspaper and radio station. Even though the bad employee was fired and was being prosecuted by the district attorney, the coverage from both news outlets continued to rail against the agency and their governing board for lack of oversight. However, by hiring the right PR team, the government agency gained access to a direct line of communication with the hostile media, and at least had a fair shot at responding to each charge.

Trust PR and crisis communication professionals to effectively fight fires with their skill and knowledge in the heat of a crisis. But when the business turns to bringing things back to normal—showing stakeholders and the public that you are fixing the problem or have a solution in the works—the only way to uncover the direction of public opinion is to do research.

 

Adam Probolsky is president of Probolsky Research, a women-owned, minority-owned, full-service market and opinion research firm working on behalf of corporate, election, government, labor, nonprofit and media clients. Probolsky wrote a weekly column for the Orange County Register for four years and volunteered for nearly eight years with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department as a spokesperson.