Learning from the PRos

While searching through the Web today I came across an article on the SHIFT Communication blog that I had to blog about. It was an article was called “What Beyoncé can Teach Us about PR& Marketing” and is was about how Beyoncé uses well-crafted public relations techniques in her daily career, and there are two I would like to explore specifically.

            One of these is risks. Beyoncé takes risks that usually have amazing payoffs. Now, she also has gained a wonderful following that helps move these risks into success but that is not what I want to focus on. Risks can be a wonderful surprise for not just loyal customers but every public. Risks can create good buzz and circulation of a product. Metaphorical asterisk should be put into place here though because risk does not mean jump off the deep end with no planning or goal in mind. A well planned risk could mean a lot of good buzz.

            The other point I would like to point out from the article was how Beyoncé handles rumors or bad buzz. We learn sometimes it is better not to comment on some of the rumors because it is more pain than it is worth. Now, in an all-out crisis of course make a statement (and make it in real-time; see  my last blog post for more about that). Beyoncé will nudge the public back onto the right track without making formal statements about subjects that are not quite so critical. For example, the post talks about in the midst of small rumors about marital trouble Beyoncé posted pictures of her husband and daughter on a recent family vacation just to assure everyone that everything was fine; and without coming out and being obvious about it. I think that is a wonderful way to handle buzz that is starting to spiral.