Know the Importance of a Ready Community of Advocates During a PR Crisis

PR or Public Relations play a major role in spreading awareness about a brand, its plans, service intent, etc. The existing, as well as potential customers, clients and dealers get to know better about the business through the PR. Nevertheless, a PR crisis is equally harmful, and can potentially turn public sentiment against the brand.

While you can plan to defend your brand during an impending PR crisis in many ways, having a ready community of advocates can be the saviour. Brand advocates are a business’ loyal customers who themselves initiate to spread the word about the satisfaction they received when dealing with the brand.

During a PR crisis, while your brand value tumbles around the world, your loyal customers will always stand strong as your advocates, giving you support in ways more than one.

How is a ready community of advocates important during PR crisis?

• They will remain loyal to your brand

These advocates are called so because they have a loyal relationship with your brand. They have been in touch with you for longer than anyone, and understand your intent and purpose. They trust you to take any step in favour of customers. Hence, they are least bothered about the world and rely on their own experience more than anything else.

Their loyalty may even take them to the extent of batting for you on a social platform when they get negative reviews about your company.

• They frequently use social media to share opinions

Today, social media is one of the most influential platforms that can potentially change a brand’s fortune. During a PR crisis, when your brand is facing a downturn, the community of advocates can be the game-changers. They often take their opinions to social media and share for the brand.
A large community of advocates with many people in their trusted circle can effectively help in rebuilding the brand image. With social media being their first choice of platform, the good experiences they would share and the referrals they would create can be of much help during the crisis.

• They create significantly prolific information

According to a survey, brand advocates contribute twice as much as any other regular web user when it comes to creating communication. They are becoming more and more comfortable in sharing the experiences on social media.

When reeling under a PR crisis, a brand can benefit remarkably from its ready community of advocates. They can generate and circulate valuable information related to the company, thus, uplifting its image.

• They create a greater reach for the brand

Brand advocates love sharing their opinions. The chances increase three times when it comes to sharing it with a stranger as compared to an average internet user. It is because they desire to share the information they have, to influence people. Thus, their messages impact a wider audience, increasing the business’s reach.

In times when the company is facing a PR crisis, it can rely on its advocate community to spread awareness to more people.

A ready advocate community, thus, proves to be remarkably useful during a PR crisis. They effectively uplift brand image and come with a trusted circle that relies greatly on their opinion. It makes advocates a valuable asset for the company.