by amvandenhurk | Aug 29, 2011 | Crisis Communications, Newspaper Column, Public Relations, Small Business
The need for every business to have a crisis communications plan was rarely more evident than with the recent scandal swirling around British tabloid News of the World. A little more than a year earlier, the world watched as BP blundered its response to the massive... by amvandenhurk | Jul 26, 2010 | Crisis Communications, Newspaper Column, Public Relations
The signs affixed to the front of BP service stations nationwide say it all: “Part of the community.” As global companies like BP and Toyota combat calls for boycotts, consumers’ outrage finds its way to the local business owner who had nothing to do... by amvandenhurk | Jun 6, 2010 | Uncategorized
Nature brings us such beautiful moments if we choose to observe our surroundings. Blink and these small moments may disappear. For our world is changing and we may never see the same thing again. My heart sinks at what is being lost in the Gulf of Mexico right now. Go... by amvandenhurk | May 31, 2010 | Crisis Communications, Newspaper Column, Public Relations, Social Media
Social media is a great way for businesses to connect with customers and have meaningful interactions, but what happens when the interactions become unsocial? Most companies are not prepared to deal with these social-media “unpleasantries.” Consider the... by amvandenhurk | May 9, 2010 | Crisis Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Social Media
I’ve been watching the Gulf of Mexico oil spill crisis unfold. And it is a crisis of mind-blowing portions. This is an environmental disaster threatening precious ecosystems such as wetlands and fisheries. Communities still recovering from the effects of Hurricane...