GAYLE WHITTAKER


Gayle Whittaker is a freelance PR consultant specialising in the waste and recycling sector. Having originally trained as a journalist, Gayle made the move into PR 23 years ago and has experience in the not-for-profit, public and private sectors. She has specialised in waste and recycling for the past 15 years.


Business


Clinic PUBLIC RELATIONS


Corona communications


AS I sit writing this we’re in partial lockdown, with most of us just waiting for the schools and shops to be temporarily closed as they have across Europe. By the time you read it, who knows what position we will be in as individuals and as a country?


It won’t surprise you to know I believe in the power of communication, but even I’ve had to restrict the amount of news I’m listening to at the moment in a bid to retain a clear head and to try to keep perspective in such rapidly changing and challenging circumstances.


However, as a business the information you communicate now and how you choose to communicate it will play a key role for you over the next few weeks and months. I thought it would therefore be useful to you if I gave some basic tips on things to consider:


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Customers are key. Whatever your business, you rely on customers. It’s therefore vital you keep


communicating with them. Let them know the changes you’re implementing as a result of the coronavirus. If you’re still operating, if you’re operating a restricted service, or if you are able to offer a new service - whatever your position tell your


customers. And keep telling them. Stay in touch every few days in some form or another with updates. We all feel calmer and more in control of our direction if we have correct, factual information at our fingertips. That’s what your customers need from you now.


2


Your employees are also a vital part of your business and its success and they may be worried in this


current climate about their own futures. Hold daily or weekly briefings to update your staff on how the business is doing, what changes you are making, what restrictions you are facing. This is especially important if your staff have begun to work from home as this will be alien to many and, combined with being unable to socialise, could make many feel isolated. If you can’t brief in person use video conferencing. You might not think it matters, but it will to the people you employ. You can back this up with information sent by email but the face-to- face contact via online methods is going to become more and more important as the days go by.


3


Websites and social media are now playing an even more crucial role in our lives than they already did. People rely on the web and social platforms


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for information so make sure you have appropriate messages scheduled for your Facebook and Twitter accounts and on your website so your followers and customers know the latest state of play.


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If you find yourself in the horrendous position of having to reduce staff numbers, even temporarily, be honest as soon as you can. Don’t let rumours start before you give people the true position. There’s lots of advice online for people and businesses. Seek out links to that support, so you have it ready and available to share with people.


And finally, none of us know where this will end up, but whatever the outcome, staying in touch and


communicating clear, concise information to your varied range of stakeholders, including those listed above, should be a done deal.


Good luck and let’s all hope this is over as quickly as it began.


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