Saturday, September 18, 2010

Reputation Recovery

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.
- Proverbs 22:1 (ASV)

A good name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one’s birth.
- Ecclesiastes 7:1 (ASV)

If you are in business, whether for-profit or nonprofit, you may have to deal with negative sentiments from customers, vendors, competitors and the media.  There may be bad news abuzz in the community about the services that you offer through your parachurch organization or faith-based nonprofit.  Perhaps you will need to spruce up your public image a bit after a major setback like a highly-publicized lawsuit or the tragic death of a key high-ranking official like the CEO or the senior pastor.  Bad news spreads like wild fire.  No matter how you look at it, you may need to take some action in order to change things about how your organization or business is viewed by the public.

You may need to do something extreme in order to recover from ruinYour actions may need to be deliberate and distinct to get your business out of the dumps.  Resurrect your reputation with dignity and deliberate action.  Rebuild your team from a loser to a winning team.  Recovery starts long before you see any tangible results. Get the process started with prayer and planningUnderstand the market and its current conditions and factors, whether Christian or not.

Look at monitoring online comments about your organization or business.  Spark some good news of your own.   Get social by using Twitter, MySpace, Facebook and industry related social networks like http://www.gather.com/ or http://www.linkedin.com/.   Start an online newsletterGet to bloggingUse customer relationship management software or programs.  Make it known that you are in business and here to stay.

Don't neglect starting small.  Look at sponsoring a local Pop Warner or Little League team.  Get your IT team volunteering to work with the computer labs in your local schools or community centersStart your outreach door to door among your neighbors within your local community.  Write an op-ed articles in local newspapers on the causes that you support or oppose .  Sponsor dinner or offer door prizes at monthly meetings of local PTA or community organizations like the friends of the library or the neighborhood watch.  Just get busy doing good. 

Let others see and sense your presence.  Display your logo where you sponsor and support.  If it costs another $100 to move up to the Golden Giver or Platinum Patron, find it, borrow it or whatever.  Get your visibility up close and personal at charity events and special activities in your local community.  Recover your reputation.


Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth;     
A stranger, and not your own lips.
- Proverbs 27:2 (NKJV)

But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
-Matthew 6:3-4 (NKJV)

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