BP shows exactly why PR matters
As I have blogged before, I enjoy debates with cynics who question the value of investing in public relations.
‘There’s no tangible value at all,’ they say. ‘It doesn’t do anything for my business.’
This totally misses the point. PR may feel intangible, but pluck a name out of the air and you will have a view on that person or organisation … and that perception is often almost entirely down to PR.
Virgin? Richard Branson, strong values, ethical.
John Lewis? Quality.
Lakeland? Customer focused.
I challenge anyone who says such values haven’t been a factor in choosing products from Virgin, John Lewis or Lakeland over others.
Perceptions do influence our buying decisions … just ask Gerald Ratner, and I am predicting, Tony Hayward.
Surely, someone somewhere in the realms of BP Towers should have suggested to its CEO Mr Hayward that a trip to the yachting at the Isle of Wight at the weekend was a rather bad idea.
Sunning himself on a yacht in crystal clear waters while the locals on the Gulf of Mexico are ankle deep in his oil was probably the worst PR decision since Gerald Ratner told an IOD conference that his jewellery was ‘total crap’.
This man has single-handedly changed the way we think of BP.
It is no exaggeration that recent events in the Gulf, and at Cowes, will influence how Governments and Big Business will deal with the company for many years to come. It will influence consumers’ decisions to buy BP products, and it will influence whether bright young things want to work for such an organisation.
You might not be a BP, but the reputation of your business is crucial … we will all have had such conversations … they’re great to work with … they get great results … they offer real value for their service … all good positive PR which drives a business forward.
But what about … they’re always late paying their bills … their staff are made to work 12 hours a day with no overtime … their products don’t last very long…
Now tell me that PR doesn’t do anything for your business.
Tags: BP CEO, BP Chief executive, BP oil spill, PR, PR disasters, public relations, Tony Hayward, value of PR
