Navigating Brand Crisis Management: Silence vs. Content Creation

Ericka Koehler ®©
5 min readAug 30, 2024

The Dilemma of Crisis Management

In the digital age, brand crises can spread rapidly due to social media and online platforms. When a crisis arises, brands face a crucial decision: should they remain silent or create content to address the issue? The decision becomes more complex when the brand is confident in its stance or believes strongly in its cause.

This article explores how brands should handle these situations, including different types of clients and responses, and when it might be appropriate to engage publicly or stay silent.

Silence vs. Content Creation: A Strategic Decision

1. The Case for Silence

When Silence Might Be the Best Option:

  • Preliminary Investigation: If a brand is still gathering information or assessing the situation, staying silent can prevent premature or inaccurate statements. This approach allows the brand to fully understand the issue before making a public response.
  • Avoiding Escalation: In some cases, early engagement might escalate the issue if the brand’s message is not yet clear or if the response could provoke further controversy. Silence can help in managing and mitigating potential backlash.
  • Legal Concerns: Legal advice might suggest avoiding public statements to prevent further complications or potential liabilities. In such cases, it’s important to comply with legal guidelines and…

--

--

Ericka Koehler ®©

Writer, Marketer & Communicator. I write about different topics. Southern New Hampshire University, Complutense University of Madrid, Pompeu Fabra University.