Brandi N. Williams, APR

Your Online Brand

2010-11-12T16:57:40Z

I had the pleasure of serving with several local social media experts at the 7th Annual Geek Fest hosted by Central Piedmont Community College on Wednesday. It was a great experience with lots of great discussion on creating, maintaining and protecting your online brand. Check out the video from Fox News Rising on the Social Media Panel (you might see someone you know in the video).

Fantasia Barrino: The Lessons We Can Learn From Her Crisis

2010-08-24T13:16:19Z

Note: This post is not an attack on Fantasia. I admire her in many ways because as a woman I understand her struggle. In all honesty, I have lived some of her struggles and have no room for judgment. This post is designed to educate those in crisis on how to best manage their crisis before it blows up.

Former American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino has been the subject of many conversations these days. From television news reporters to blogger stories to conversations in beauty salons, barber shops and girl nights, Barrino has sparked quite an interest with the people. The reason? Her relationship with Antwan Cook.

I am not going to attempt to tell the story about the relationship with Cook; there are several versions of the story floating around and you can Google her name (or his) and get your share of the story. I want to analyze how Fantasia has handled this PR crisis.

If you have read any of my blogs then you will know I value honesty, transparency and authenticity. I believe that these are the keys to any good relationship. Fantasia has given us that - for the most part.

Issue 1| Lies: Lying hurts your credibility.

I say for the most part because while the mess has just hit the proverbial fan for everyone, the story of her relationship with Cook has been floating around for more than a year...and for more than a year she has been lying about the relationship. During an interview with Honeymag.com dated November 2009 Barrino is asked about the relationship:

[Laughs] Okay, let’s talk rumors. There’s been a lot of blog talk that you’re dealing with a married boo and even got his name tattooed…

Yes, [the rumors] were all really cute to me. I guess it was something about a guy from T-Mobile? Inaccurate. He was hot, but I think I’m looking for my own man. There’s no boo in my life, I’m married to my career. Right now I’m not really focused on a boyfriend; we all know what happens when you get them… I have no tattoo on my shoulder, [that rumor] was very well put together! I wear my body out more purposefully now and when I’m walking I see people checking, “Like does she have a tattoo there?” As a matter of fact, I’ve never even [met him] before. I think I’d want to be with a guy who’s in the same tax bracket as I am … or higher!

She has lied about it as recently as August 11 during an interview with TT Torrez when she says she didn't date Cook.

So, she hasn't been completely honest until two weeks ago when she admitted - through a statement released by her manager - that she had been having an on-again-off-again relationship with Cook. That brings me to issue number 2.

Issue 2| Silence: Silence can kill your reputation.

The first rule in crisis management is tell it all and tell it fast. Fantasia didn't do that early on. When the rumors first started she lied and didn't speak about them for months, but that didn't keep the bloggers from talking about her and this relationship. Pictures surfaced with the two on trips and the blogs kept jumping with rumors about their relationship. 'Tasia was quiet, leaving the masses to form conclusions for themselves. Even after the news broke about her attempted suicide, we heard from her manager and not her. We heard from Toure' on Good Morning America on how he thought she felt, but not her.

Issue 3 | Timing: If your timing if off, you could jeopardize it all.

It has been said that Fantasia's suicide attempt and her recent willingness to speak about the relationship was all a strategic publicity stunt to help boost album sales and to get people to watch the second season of her VH1 special, Fantasia For Real. Regardless of your position on the matter, you have to admit her timing is awful. To wait to speak about this two weeks before your album drops is not a good look. It makes it look as if this was a calculated publicity stut. Perception is reality.

Issue 4| Messaging: You have to have the right messages in crisis situations.

Since breaking her silence on the issue, Fantasia has been honest about having a relationship with Cook. She has also been quick to deflect blame in the situation. While she isn't pointing fingers at him directly or making him out to be the bad guy by defaming his character, she isn't outright taking responsibility for her part in the situation. She hasn't come out in any interview and stated that she was wrong in any way or issued an apology (from her mouth, not through a statement issued by her manager) for the role she played in this. This is key for anyone in a crisis situation.

The lesson. There are several lessons we can learn from Fantasia:

Be honest from the start. If you aren't honest from the start you could jeopardize your credibility once you start being honest.
Own your mistakes. Playing the victim turns your power over to other people. You must own your mistakes and take control of how you will work to overcome them. Share that and show it in your actions. As my Twitter friend @strategicgal suggests: Complete redemption comes when you own your part in any situation. It increases your credibility and strips others of their power over you.
Don't allow others to control your message or when you issue it.

Trey Songz: What's Your Position? (Part Deux)

2010-08-01T21:43:07Z

Tremaine Aldon Neverson's (bka Trey Songz) first album was a commercial flop, selling a mere 40,000 albums its first week and never being certified by the RIAA (for the record, I was in the number ... I purchased the first album). A bit disconcerting considering he had the stamp of approval from the Queen of Soul herself, Ms. Aretha Franklin. It however is not surprising - at least for those of us in the PR, marketing and advertising industry. Trey's failure was due in large part to the failure of his team to recognize that his look and sound didn't match his age or the audience they were targeting.

On My Soapbox: A Press Release Is Not PR

2010-08-01T20:55:39Z

So many people think they know what public relations is and what it is not. They think that a person who can write a press release is a PR professional. Add a little bit of smooth talking with that and they believe they have found the golden ticket to superstar success. WRONG!

Social Media Is Not A Fad

2010-06-28T15:57:48Z

I found this video online and thought it told the story of social media - and it's importance - better than anything I have seen.

The lesson. Social media is not a fad; it's a shift in the way we communicate.

BP Cleaning Its Image While Cleaning Oil

2010-06-16T13:18:43Z

I was interviewed by WBTV, Charlotte's local CBS affiliate, regarding how BP was handling the oil spill crisis from a PR perspective. You can watch the interview below. There were parts of the conversation that were edited out of the conversation between myself and reporter Derrick Rose (he's a gem), but they were very important parts to my opinion on how BP is handling the crisis.

Back to Basics

2010-05-03T01:14:44Z

Roland Martin had a message during the opening plenary session of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators conference that was not only for public administrators, but for public relations professionals as well. He challenged them to take a micro - not macro - approach to impacting change.

Crisis 101: What Toyota Did Wrong

2010-02-05T03:00:00Z

I turned on the television this morning to find an employee of a local Infiniti dealership being interviewed about Toyota's current dilemma. He was not only being interviewed, but he was also defending the Toyota's exectives on how they have handled the situation and sharing stats on the safety of Toyota vehicles. I was confused by the interview, but also because I hadn't heard anything locally or nationally from a representative from Toyota. In Twitterspeak this whole situation proved to be an EPIC #fail.

Build an army

2010-01-25T06:54:31Z

We've talked about the power of partnerships before (see Make a mighty fist), but I wanted to remind you of their power. The lesson. Alone you can do a little, with many you can do a lot. So, build an army by finding others with similary interests (see my rant on fellowshipping) and inviting them to your party. Not a literal party, but invite them to be a part of your project.

Another ship is sailing

2010-01-25T06:47:29Z

A few years ago I told you to Get on a ship. I said that partnership, relationship and stewardship were important to every business. I failed to mention fellowship.