--- title: "Putting out wildfires: Three things to remember in a crisis" description: "Putting out wildfires: Three things to remember in a crisis" image: https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hs-fs/file-3455954762-jpg/blog-files/bigstock-firefighters-890603.jpg --- [![Bluechip_Logo](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/325503/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/Bluechip_Logo.svg "Bluechip_Logo")](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/) ![Search-9](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/BlueChip%20website/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/Search-9.svg "Search-9") ![Close Icon (3)-1](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/Close%20Icon%20(3)-1.svg "Close Icon (3)-1") This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ** ![Close Icon (3)](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/325503/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/Close%20Icon%20(3).svg "Close Icon (3)") ##### Knowledge Shared # Insights ##### All Articles ![](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/BlueChip%20website/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/down-filled-triangular-arrow.png) - [Financial Services (168)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/financial-services) - [Public Relations (133)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/public-relations) - [Marketing (111)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/marketing) - [Social Media (101)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/social-media) - [Integrated Marketing (87)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/integrated-marketing) - [Reputation Management (79)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) - [Crisis Management (61)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/crisis-management) - [Growth (46)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/growth) - [Profile (41)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/profile) - [COVID-19 (40)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/covid-19) - [Protect (14)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/protect) - [BC Team (9)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/bc-team) - [Blog (7)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/blog) - [Leadership communication (6)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/leadership-communication) - [Cyber Security (3)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/cyber-security) - [Client In The News (2)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/client-in-the-news) [Client In The News](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/client-in-the-news) ### [Melos Sulicich shares SME success tips on Money News’ “Let’s Talk Business”](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/melos-sulicich-shares-sme-success-tips-on-money-news-lets-talk-business) Melos Sulicich, CEO of Bank of Sydney was interviewed by 2GB’s Money News "Let's Talk Business" segment with Scott Haywood. He shared tips for family-run businesses to make sure ev... [Client In The News](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/client-in-the-news) ### [Target hostile countries, not us, drug giant CSL tells Trump](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/target-hostile-countries-not-us-drug-giant-csl-tells-trump) This is an extract from an article written by Michael Smith and Jessica Gardner in The Australian Financial Review. Published on the 10th July 2025. “It is weighing on the share pr... - ##### [Crisis Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/crisis-management) ## [Putting out wildfires: Three things to remember in a crisis](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/putting-out-wildfires-three-things-to-remember-in-a-crisis/) ###### By The BlueChip Team ###### 21 Aug 2014 [Social Media](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/social-media) [Financial Services](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/financial-services) [Growth](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/growth) ##### [Reaching High Net Worth Individuals Through Social Media Marketing in 2025](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/how-target-high-net-worth-individuals-social-media) [Public Relations](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/public-relations) [Reputation Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) [Crisis Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/crisis-management) ##### [The Science of Crisis Communication: Proactive and Reactive Strategies](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/proactive-and-reactive-crisis-communication-strategies) [Profile](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/profile) ##### [Affluence. Effluence. Influence. Do you know the difference?](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/affluence-effluence-influence-do-you-know-the-difference/) [Public Relations](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/public-relations) [Reputation Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) [Crisis Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/crisis-management) ##### [Introduction to Crisis Communication](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/introduction-to-crisis-communication) # Insights. [Back to all articles](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog) - Share - [![](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/facebook.svg) ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bluechipcommunication.com.au%2Fblog%2Fputting-out-wildfires-three-things-to-remember-in-a-crisis%2F) - [![](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/linked%20in.svg) ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/putting-out-wildfires-three-things-to-remember-in-a-crisis/) - [![](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/twitter-1.svg) ](https://www.twitter.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bluechipcommunication.com.au%2Fblog%2Fputting-out-wildfires-three-things-to-remember-in-a-crisis%2F) [![Firefighters](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hs-fs/file-3455954762-jpg/blog-files/bigstock-firefighters-890603.jpg?width=540&height=360&name=bigstock-firefighters-890603.jpg)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hs-fs/file-3455954762-jpg/blog-files/bigstock-firefighters-890603.jpg) BlueChip recently attended the [Walkley’s CommsDirect](http://walkleys.com/commsdirect/program/putting-out-wildfires/) conference. The day-long event was focused on content as the ‘connective tissue’ for today’s audiences. Passive consumption is a feature of the past and brands need to interact with their customers to get the best results. The day was broken up into six panels, each focusing on a different theme. Our very own Account Director, Michelle Ryan, featured on the [crisis and issues panel](http://walkleys.com/commsdirect/program/putting-out-wildfires/), an hour-long discussion that focused on: *‘Brand, reputation and crisis management in the digital space and beyond. How to use digital resources to manage and monitor your issues. What happens when a campaign fires or a disaster erupts?’* Michelle was joined by [Steven Lewis](https://twitter.com/Taleist) from Taleist, [Anton Staindl](http://staindlpr.com.au/) from staindlPR and the panel was facilitated by [Sally Loane](https://twitter.com/sallyloane) from Coca-Cola Amatil. You can listen to the recording in full [here.](http://taleist.com.au/article/coping-crisis-attacks-brand-reputation-digital-age/) But, for those of you who are short on time, here are three key points to remember: 1. Often a client’s definition of a ‘crisis’ is different from that of the outside world. Because companies are so invested in their own brands, if any event appears to threaten this reputation they want to react. Crises should be managed effectively, and we certainly shouldn’t be ignoring adversarial circumstances. However, one of the first things you can reassure your clients of, is that the crisis will generally be worst in their eyes. The news cycle changes on a daily, if not hourly basis, and their story will eventually move from the top of the agenda. Perspective is everything. 1. In saying that, do not ignore the residual impact of a crisis. In an online world, articles can stay on the front page of Google long after their initial publication. Make sure that after a crisis subsides (better still, before it begins!) you have taken steps to manage your online presence. When people search your brand name, what do they see on the first page of Google? The top four positions in a Google search receive 83% of first page organic clicks, so make sure you are publishing your own keyword-rich content and securing earned coverage to appear on this first page. 1. Often, social media can be very useful when it comes to both monitoring and managing a crisis. Steven Lewis referred to a case study from Coles, where a customer used Facebook to complain about faulty nappies after receiving bad customer service over the phone. Within a day, Coles had removed the faulty products from its shelves and avoided a bigger scandal. However, the other interesting lesson from this case study was the Facebook thread itself where some people accused the mother of chasing fame by complaining online. Coles should have stood by this woman who had potentially saved them from a much bigger issue, but didn’t moderate or respond to the comments on its Facebook page. The lesson: monitor and use social media, but make sure you are responding and regulating appropriately.   [![New call-to-action](https://hubspot-no-cache-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/537730/431002e3-250a-4808-8e24-851fccc589ac.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/537730/431002e3-250a-4808-8e24-851fccc589ac) [![how to drive your fame agenda](https://hubspot-no-cache-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/537730/353fa2e0-53b3-407b-b7b3-d03aa771c86d.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/537730/353fa2e0-53b3-407b-b7b3-d03aa771c86d) ## Related Posts [Reputation Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) [Financial Services](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/financial-services) [Crisis Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/crisis-management) [Protect](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/protect) [Cyber Security](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/cyber-security) [Leadership communication](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/leadership-communication) ###### 03 July 2025 #### [Your Q2 Risk Radar: Crisis signals from ASIC, APRA and the Australian media](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/the-risk-radar-q2-2025) [Reputation Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) [Financial Services](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/financial-services) [Crisis Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/crisis-management) [Protect](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/protect) [Leadership communication](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/leadership-communication) ###### 06 February 2025 #### [Addressing Geopolitical Risks In Your Corporate Communications: The 2025 Guide](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/geopolitical-risks-in-pr-and-corporate-communications) [Public Relations](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/public-relations) [Reputation Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) [Crisis Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/crisis-management) ###### 14 May 2024 #### [The Science of Crisis Communication: Proactive and Reactive Strategies](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/proactive-and-reactive-crisis-communication-strategies) [Public Relations](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/public-relations) [Reputation Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) [Crisis Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/crisis-management) ###### 07 March 2024 #### [Introduction to Crisis Communication](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/introduction-to-crisis-communication) [Public Relations](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/public-relations) [Crisis Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/crisis-management) [Profile](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/profile) [Leadership communication](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/leadership-communication) ###### 21 February 2024 #### [Talking to the media? Sean Aylmer shares his top 5 tips](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/talking-to-the-media-5-tips) [Reputation Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) [Crisis Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/crisis-management) [Protect](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/protect) [Blog](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/blog) [Leadership communication](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/leadership-communication) ###### 24 January 2024 #### [Rebuilding a damaged reputation: A roadmap to redemption](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/rebuilding-a-damaged-reputation) ## Stay up to date ### Marketing insights you’ll want to read. Sign up for our newsletter ## Stay up to date ### Marketing insights you’ll want to read. 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