People always ask me what is good PR? How do I implement good PR for my business? There are both short and long answers to these questions (depending on who is asking). However do we ever consider the opposite? What should we NOT be doing with PR? Today I am going to address that.
We all know how it feels to find out someone is talking about you behind your back right? Not a great feeling and even worse when they are spreading lies about you: about the way you run your business, your level of experience, or just go after your character. The wedding business is SO unbelievably catty sometimes I want to take a mini vacay from it. Most of the time we are told to just “brush your shoulders off” and let it roll off your back. I was talking last week to Rebecca Grinnals of Engaging Concepts about this same topic. Its supposed to be the right thing to do and you can do it BUT sometimes its too much and its hurtful. I’ve been hearing stories from clients, colleagues, and even new business inquiries who have been struggling with being attacked in passive aggressive ways on twitter, blog posts, in emails etc.
Some vendors in this business really have the nerve to think that either:
a) its completely appropriate for you to be verbally bashing your peers in this very very small business. We are all in this together. There is plenty of business out there for all of us and even when people blatantly copy us or try to take clients from us- its not a good reflection on them ( aka bad PR) Plus, believe me- you aren’t the only person that notices… there are plenty of us that notice what they are doing too.
b) that the person you are talking about isn’t going to find out? (umm…yeah right) What goes around comes around. All the negative talk circulates. Sometimes I get caught up in it too when I get fired up. Its human- we make mistakes BUT its not ok. Take the high road!
c) that you are benefiting and taking something from the person you are trying to break down when in reality ultimately it makes you look like the bad guy.
Sean Low said it perfectly to me yesterday ” People who feel the need to tear down other people are trying to take their power.” Simply put: “Dont let them take your power!” Be strong and carry on and don’t address the junk that they are blasting out there.
How does this relate to PR? allow me to explain:
When you have a reputation for talking bad about people, word gets out that you are not a very nice person and that reputation carries with you- and a bad reputation in the wedding industry is not an easy one to shake. You could be nice to our faces and turn around to say a few inappopriate things. Yup- we know who you are and again- its NOT ok. Another point to consider- when your brand is aligned with another industry brand, either via your tweets on twitter or business partnerships/ projects etc… you probably want to be sure that its one that doesn’t have the bad rap associated with it. Two people/companies collaborating to take down others, copy, take clients from others, and spread negativity are much worse for their PR efforts then just 1.
Many planners and photographers, bloggers and magazines are the target for smack talking. They come to me all the time- angry and hurt because don’t forget as small business owners we pour so much of our heart and soul into what we do that it becomes personal when someone tries to cut you down. We are entitled to our opinions but trashing someone’s brand or their character because you are insanely jealous is also not good PR. I hear it and i see it all the time with my business, however I choose to counter all of that garbage with Who I am and What My Brand is all about. I am here to help others. To guide their business along a journey they may not have ever had an opportunity to be on. I am about giving and gratitude. I always have the best intentions and I can’t help everyone but i try to be the best fiance, sister, daughter, boss, friend, colleague, human being I can possibly be. If you don’t know that about me yet- now you do.
Today I read a Re Tweet on Twitter from Mindy Weiss that was originally posted by Reverend Run that said: “If people have to talk about you to feel good about themselves.. (Let them!) Haters need help too!”
So fitting for today’s post. What a little pearl of wisdom- THANK YOU!
REMEMBER: let them talk their talk while you walk your walk- then lets really see what happens!
xo, Leila, WeddingPR
