Crisis and the construction industry seem to go together these days.
There’s the labor crisis that’s left the industry with an extra 500,000 positions to fill in 2024. That same shortage is giving construction a pretty bad wrap when it comes to rising home costs and pace of construction projects. Add in inefficient workflows, budget problems and schedule delays, and the storyline gets even worse.
Oh, and don’t Google construction news either. One construction was killed this week in an onsite accident. In a separate incident, workers were injured from falling debris. In yet another incident, another worker was hit by a car while working on a roadside project.
Then there’s the “nightmare” JFK Airport travelers are going to be facing.
Seriously, the construction industry is under fire. Thankfully, PR can help.
Crisis management is an essential part of any good construction public relations strategy. At Ripley, we make sure we have a plan in place for every client we work with because we know it’s not “if” a crisis happens, it’s “when.” A PR agency worth its mettle will be with you every step of the way, dealing with fallout as it happens and figuring out next steps. In other words, how you recover on the other side of the crisis.
Those next steps will likely be built on the foundation your PR agency has been developing through media outreach and content efforts implemented in the months — or even years — prior to the crisis. Crisis management is best handled by first focusing on reputation management.
Partnering with PR before a crisis happens allows you to build that reputation and trust with your customers, peers and the media so that when something does happen, you’re not scrambling to recover or starting from scratch. Yes, there may be negative stories about the industry, but we can also help you share your wins and successes. From case studies detailing amazing projects your company was involved with to making your leadership team thought leaders within the industry, our goal is to make sure the good outweighs the bad.
PR is the most valuable tool you can have when it comes to dealing with a crisis, but don’t wait till a crisis happens to utilize it. Make sure you have a PR partner in place long before the worst happens. Call Ripley PR today at (865) 977-1973 or contact us online to find out how we can help you on all levels.