What These 3 Celebrities Can Teach You about Reputation Management

Celebrities! They’re just like us, right? They choose Airbnb instead of fancy hotels; they are obsessed with the same TV shows as we are, and sometimes they screw up badly. But, if most of us can get away with a nasty remark or mean comment, celebrities have to pay a lot of attention to their behavior.

Celebrities were among the first to use reputation management tactics to filter their image and control the way they are perceived by the public. And, since they’ve done a great job at it, it’s not an overstatement to say that a small business could learn a thing or two about how to tiptoe away from your mistakes with minimum harm to your reputation.

1. Lessons from Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber’s reputation was tarnished by a hectic personal life played out in the public eye. From his bad behavior to getting arrested on the suspicion of driving under the influence, Bieber got a reputation of being a spoiled brat. But all that started changing in past couple of years as Bieber tried to put his bad-boy reputation to rest.

What can a small business learn from the singer’s mistakes?

• Don’t Rush Into a Decision

When you’re facing customer complaints, take a moment before offering a response. Don’t make a problem worse by fighting back, trying to prove the customer wrong, and being impolite.

• Change the Conversation

One of the main lessons you can learn from Bieber is that you need to prove that, in spite of your mistakes, you are still well-intended. Commit to meeting your customers’ needs, delivering great experiences, and change the discussion from bad to good.

2. Lessons from “Kimye”

Love them or hate them, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are making headlines at every turn. What can a small business learn from these two about reputation management and digital marketing? They are great at getting tons of followers by having an authentic relationship with their audience.

Here’s an example. For months, Kim, Kanye, and Taylor Swift have been feuding over the song “Famous.” Here are a few takeaways you can learn from this story and how your small business can avoid being a Taylor:

• Have an Authentic Relationship with Your Target Audience

People are siding with team Kimye on this issue because they feel deceived by Taylor Swift. Lesson: be transparent and authentic and keep an open line of communication with your audience.

• Have a PR Strategy in Place

Whenever a bad comment or rumor starts spreading, the Kardashians address it directly. Whether they use their social media profiles, go on TV shows or offer exclusive interviews, they use the media to control their image.

3. Vin Diesel

Vin Diesel is mostly known for his role in the Fast and Furious franchise. He’s also a social media star with millions of followers and tons of engagement. His strategy is very straightforward: authenticity. Most of his posts showcase his human side, presenting him in situations people can relate with.

The age of the faceless corporation is long gone. Consumers nowadays want authentic communication and transparency. Reward their curiosity by offering sneak-peaks in your day-to-day operations.

Celebrities are brands. Just like any company, they have a reputation to uphold. And, as it turns out, they are pretty good at it. If a small business can learn anything from these celebrities, it’s that being genuine, having an efficient strategy in place, and focusing on building authentic relationships with your audience are the pillars on which you can build a strong online reputation.