BusySeed Lawsuit Guide: PR Strategies to Consider When Dealing with a Lawsuit

Keep a Low Profile

From a public relations and brand management perspective, keeping a low profile can be a game changer as the details of your company and its current legal issues unfold. Avoid talking to the media, taking care to remember that everything you say could potentially turn on you in court proceedings. 

Since it's crucial to avoid giving the other "side" or your prosecutors more ammunition, don't shy away from laying low. If you find that you must make a statement, consider the following tip. 

Stick to the Facts

Staring down a lawsuit isn't the right time to leave your side of the story up to interpretation or public opinion. Be as factual as possible, and don't try to put any spin on what you've got to say, regardless of whether it paints your company in a positive light. 

The BusySeed lawsuit side of our marketing agency would advise any client who doesn't want to keep a low profile to get ahead of the story instead. Though remaining tight-lipped might work for some business leaders, others prefer to control the narrative. 

However, if you tell your story, you must prepare to respond accurately and quickly to lawsuit-related questions. A clear understanding of the case is crucial. Be transparent when you address the public, keep calm, and try not to let the stress affect your professionalism. 

You should have a PR team behind you during this challenging time. Don't hesitate to lean on them for help and guidance. 

Proceed Professionally

Once you've received official lawsuit papers, you'll have a response deadline. With a legal and PR team on your side, you'll provide a professional response that includes the following information:

• 
  Denial or admission of the allegations;
• Defenses and cross-claims;
• Alternative solution preferences.

Before you respond, ensure that you're crystal clear concerning the nature of the claims against your business. Be aware of all liabilities, and work closely with your attorney throughout the litigation process. 

Tackling the Problem

Facing the legal problems of your company head-on can be a challenge for many business owners. Still, you must resist the inevitable temptation to ignore it and hope it goes away. Trying to sweep legal problems under the rug will likely make the entire situation blow up in the media and your face. 

Dealing with the problem is a PR strategy that encourages business owners to be forward-thinking in tackling lawsuits publicly. It inspires thinking along the lines of "how can we handle this quietly, save brand reputation, and transparently satisfy those who feel wronged?" Taking on legal issues can provide a sense of power we might lose when dealing with a lawsuit. 

Tackling legal problems means being as responsive as possible. BusySeed lawsuit can assist business owners in being available, attentive, and open to communication concerning legalities. A good PR team will help you adapt to changes and new situations while showing that you take the accusations very seriously. 

Accept Responsibility

Accepting responsibility doesn't mean an admission of guilt, but it does mean acknowledging that we're all responsible for our own actions. You have no control over what others do, primarily those who might be pressing charges against or suing your company, but you can control the choices you make and the behaviors you exhibit while the situation plays out. 

Responsibility is one of the most transparent actions you can take when facing a business lawsuit, helping you gain back lost consumer trust and expressing that you're aware of the impact your actions may have on others. 

Manage Your Social Message

We live in the social media age, and it goes without saying that your professional PR or marketing team will want you to manage the message surrounding the lawsuit. Business leaders should be well aware of the narrative surrounding their business online, and handling your social media message is one of the best ways to achieve that awareness. 

To ensure you're managing your message, you and your team will want to monitor social media for mentions. BusySeed lawsuit teams may use tools such as Google Alerts, but it's possible to search for daily tags and brand mentions manually. 

Work with your PR and customer service teams to plan how to respond to negative criticism and comments. Whether a public apology is necessary (think Taylor Swift and her recent Ticketmaster fiasco) or efficiently addressing any problems consumers might note, there has to be a solid strategy present. 

Social media spreads a plethora of information, some good and some baseless truths. Be bold in promoting a positive message about your business on social media, even when facing legal issues. 

A reputable, well-intentioned PR or marketing agency can highlight your company's accomplishments, share positive customer reviews, or continue to post engaging content relevant to your consumers. You can effectively manage your social message regardless of whatever accusations plague you. 

Foster Empathy

Most consumers could not care less about a faceless corporation or organization dealing with a lawsuit. It's commonplace, and we see new stories daily regarding this very topic. However, your customers, primarily your loyal repeat business and social media fans, care about you. 

PR teams should do their best here to provoke as much empathy for your organization as possible, and many accomplish this by making one person in the company the face of the lawsuit. The person who takes on this role will differ from company to company, depending on size and position. 

Great marketing around lawsuits ensures a personal, relatable angle. Identify what your consumers expect from you, and give that to them transparently and candidly. 

Prepare Yourself

Ensure that you and your business prepare for what might come your way emotionally and financially. Staying calm and collected in the face of adversity can be of much more assistance than many PR strategies, keeping you one step ahead of the game mentally. 

BusySeed lawsuit understands that preparation comes from strategy. Legal issues make it impossible to sit back and go with the flow, and as your PR reps will advise you, a little planning goes a long way. 

Lawsuits tend to come with plenty of misinformation regarding the defendant. It's easy for inaccuracies, lies, and rumors to get out of control quickly, so prepare yourself, with the help of your team, to dispel incorrect information and blatantly broadcast facts wherever appropriate. 

Legal situations only allow you to say so much, and there's no reason to give away details, but preparation, in this respect, is critical. 

Community Outreach

One of the most brilliant PR strategies to ever exist is community outreach. It's practical, genuine, and can work well for companies facing legal troubles. The sole purpose of community outreach is to build a positive relationship between an organization (your business) and the surrounding community. 

Many companies rely on community relations to ensure that their purpose aligns with the needs of the consumers that encircle them. Your community can be local, but it can also be online, stemming from the four corners of the globe. 

Wherever you find your community, your PR team needs to maintain a positive connection that can boost the image of your organization and strengthen your brand reputation. Because legal issues can be pricey, you can take comfort in the knowledge that community relations work, and they can be relatively inexpensive. 

For example, you can post regular social updates to keep everyone in the loop regarding the information you can provide about your legal problem. Don't ask for money, but do be authentic. Continue to demonstrate strength, care, and support for your communities regardless of what's happening. 

Handling Lawsuits from a PR Perspective

Much goes into the intricacies of a lawsuit and the teams of people (legal, communications, customer experience, public relations) that help handle them. Bad publicity can destroy your brand reputation, causing a loss of revenue that can, in some cases, be irreversible. 

The right PR strategy can help you weather the storm and come out on the other side of your lawsuit with a stronger bond with your consumers and loyal community members. BusySeed has the brand reputation management capabilities necessary to assist any company that needs help maintaining or rebuilding brand perception. 

PR is an ongoing process, and the goals can change daily. It's vital to have an invested team that can handle the curve balls that come with brand reputation management. If you need help, contact BusySeed today!