In speaking with several dozen clients and potential clients over the past few years, I see a definite common thread that runs through too many business plans: If I don’t see a fire, I can’t afford to get the tools to put one out.

Let’s be totally honest. This is like health insurance, life insurance, safeguarding your pool or railing near walkways, etc. There are certain things you should prepare for, and some that might be worth the gamble. We pick and choose our insurance policies and expenses based on personal priorities and the scope of foresight.

If a fast food restaurant doesn’t think ahead and allows unsafe equipment near the customer, expect an accident and a lawsuit. And expect to have to rectify the situation like you could have done in the first place. A little foresight in this situation would have yielded the same safety precautions without the PR crisis or legal expenses.

I read a post on The PR Lawyer earlier this morning that concluded with this statement: “In my opinion, engage a good law firm and plan for the crisis…Then hope it never happens.”

Hundreds, if not thousands, of corporations keep a good PR law firm on retainer “in case” something should ever happen. This preparation safeguards a business from having to scramble after the fact and risk losing valuable time while their good name is under attack.

Having a lawyer on retainer is just good business sense. It is a wise expense.

In exactly the same way, keeping a reputation manager on retainer is a smart move. Unlike the lawyer, whose primary contribution may come after the fact (except in the case of providing excellent legal counsel prior to company policy changes or public statements), a reputation manager can proactively support the company online. By building page after page of positive, authoritative content, your reputation manager helps you fight back against libellous comments before they are made.

The way libel and complaints have the most effect is through search engine results. If I come across negative statements or warnings about a company within the first page or two of my search, I am more likely to avoid the business in question. True, people will come in contact with negative press everywhere they go on the Web, and this can be combatted as well.

Keep in mind rule #2 of reputation management: The best defense is a good offense. A qualified reputation manager will use social media, SEO, copywriting, and PR skills to promote your company on dozens of stages across the Web. Build authority and trust early on, and you’ll find accusations and complaints much more difficult to stick.

And for those of you wonder what rule #1 was, it’s this: Avoid bad press by conducting your business in the most ethical manner possible. It’s not a glamorous rule. It’s just sound business advice.

Popularity: 12% [?]

As Michael Vick is formally indicted, questions remain as to what measures the NFL Commissioner would take. PacMan Jones, another NFL player, was suspended after multiple incidents involving the police. But would the NFL take as hard a stance against superstar Vick?

As the quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, Michael Vick should have known and respected the prominent position he held. Whether directly involved in the multi-state dog fighting ring or not, Vick supplied the home and property to people who were directly responsible. This lack of judgment and foresight has cost Vick and the Atlanta Falcons some serious PR points.

Simply put, the quarterback is the face of the team - like the lead singer of a rock band. He is the one everyone looks to for leadership. He sets the tone and controls the game. He is the most important player on the team. The salary and the media spotlight reflect the importance of the quarterback position.

Today, it was announced that the commissioner of the NFL may allow Vick to play “for now.” A suspension hasn’t been ruled out, depending on the court’s findings. If Michael Vick is implicated directly, you can be sure that he will face at least a one year suspension, thus plummeting the Atlanta Falcons into the abyss of playoff uncertainty. The Falcons have no one who can fill the shoes of Michael Vick.

But luckily for Vick, a winning franchise is a very forgiving franchise. Should he be able to escape from these allegations with little more than a slap on the wrist, he has every opportunity to remind the coaches and the fans why he deserves to be the man behind the wheel.

Popularity: 17% [?]

I just posted an article about reputation management on CultureFeast.com. I basically point out the resurging need for executives to safeguard their reputation, as the Internet has given all customers and executives equal voice. Stop by and read it today! Feel free to add your own thoughts. Follow the comments link to respond.

Read the article here.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Whether your intention is to catapault or cripple your company, a successful campaign comes from within. A solid internal structure will be evidenced out in the world. The same is true for a sickly, imbalanced structure.

Are you in a position of leadership at your company? Do you own a company that you’d like to go under? Fear not. Here’s a quick How To Fail guide in seven easy steps.

Tip #1 Give yourself all the credit
Having a talented staff is the best way to make yourself look good. Allow the talents and innovations of your people to launch your personal fame to the next level. Take credit for what they do, and conveniently forget to give credit to them in public. Make sure that no employee is singled out as especially vital to company success or expertise as this will rob you of your intended glory.

Tip #2 Hire more employees instead of giving raises
Whether you want to build a nationally recognized organization or you plan to sell, always hire more employees rather than giving raises. This will quickly cause a downward spiraling shift in employee attitudes. They will feel undervalued, passed over, and slapped in the face each time you bring someone else on to do work you don’t even need yet.

Tip #3 Demand team mentality
Forget about answering the “why”! Demand teamwork and give no reasons why. Guilt ‘em when you can, whenever you can. Make your employees feel like their job security depends on putting in extra effort to keep the team afloat.

Tip #4 Focus group talks around company survival
Build on the team mentality bit. Every time you talk about the condition of the company, mention how badly you need an upturn in profits to stay afloat. This will squelch any metion of raises from your staff.

Tip #5 Shift responsibility of success away from self
We all know that success or failure begins with the head of a company. But we also know that even the most obvious truths will be overlooked by employees who will do anything to look good. Never mention that you might be responsible for company failures. If you absolutely must, do so quickly and change the subject like it was no big deal. This will make the employees feel even more worthless and betrayed. If you do this well enough, you might even lose an employee or two!

Tip #6 Micromanage employees
This step is essential. You cannot overdo this step. In fact, micromanaging works even better if you don’t keep up with what is going on in your company for weeks at a time! Then you can harass your employees with emails and notes and visits to their cubicles, asking them if they’ve checked the latest numbers or added a cover sheet to the TPS reports (gotta love Office Space). No one likes to be micromanaged unless they truly believe they cannot accomplish anything of their own volition. So give it your best shot! While you micromanage, be sure to underestimate all your people. Double check with them on things they’ve already done or that no longer apply to a given project. This will without doubt communicate your lack of trust and faith in their abilities! Watch them run out the door in droves! You’ve all but won (or lost), now.

Tip #7 Constantly look for sympathy from employees
This behavioral pattern is especially successful for small companies where everyone still feels like a family. As the leader of the company, you can always come in looking downtrodden and overwhelmed. All the poor saps who make less money than you will still manage to feel sorry for you when little things go wrong that ruin your day.

If you find this step fits within your company structure, this step will automatically play back into Tip 3 and Tip 5. The goal is to basically seem like you can’t perform basic tasks (though you forgive your own inadequacies and give others hell for theirs). You have to be the victim. Think the victim. Act the victim. Things happen to spite you. For all your amazing hard work and overcomer attitude, let your employees see how badly you get screwed over.

A companyís reputation is not a good entity to get insured and hence no insurance leads can help the matter but a strong head. Although insurance business has become as common as to cover very common areas of daily life, such as health whereby health insurance is implemented under health insurance law. Even some independent bodies in the form of insurance agent and insurance carrier assist the insurance buyers in various matters of car insurance where the customers are seeking some discount auto insurance to go with their budget or a dental insurance to keep the heavy expenses of treatment at bay.

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There it is. Follow these seven tips and you are guaranteed to cripple your company’s reputation. You’ll be drinking to the good ‘ol days in no time!

Of course, if you actually want your company to succeed (loser), you will obviously make sure to do the exact opposite of what is written here.

Popularity: 13% [?]