How can fake news be harmful to your business?

How can fake news be harmful to your business?

In recent times, the term “fake news” has become part of our day-to-day life. Fake news is created to attract audiences by getting people to click on the links. The goal is to increase revenue through ads. Fake news is also used for its own benefit and to deconstruct ideas rooted in the population. The term “fake news” gained fame during the United States presidential election, but its performance goes far beyond politics. Companies like PepsiCo have seen their reputation threatened due to the spread of fake news. In an age when information travels so quickly, it is very important that companies also protect themselves from this threat. In today’s article, we leave you some tips for not being a victim of fake news and for not taking the risk of seeing your company name “damaged” by this new threat!

Attention to sources of information

False news is never divulged (or at least should not be) by professional journalists or major media. These news are usually disclosed on little known websites and without credibility. Always check the news sources and the language used. The less correct the language, the more likely it is to be fake news.

Constantly monitor your business name

To prevent fake news from spreading fast, you should monitor your company/brand name every day. Do searches on Google and various social media. You can set up Google alerts with your business name to be notified whenever news about you is published. The longer a fake news item is in the air, the greater the damage to your brand. So, if you’re always on the lookout, you can find fake new quickly and avoid havoc.

Create an image of respect

The image that customers and potential customers have of your company is very important right now. If your brand has a good reputation in the market, people have not so easily believed in negative news about you. It is important that your business complies with all data protection standards and ensures that the privacy of the data you have remains intact. In a time when personal information protection is so important, it is essential that there is no flaw in this area, as a security breach can compromise all the confidence that the market has in it.

Have a Crisis Communication Plan

No matter how careful you are, there is no guarantee that you will not fall victim to a new fake. So you should have always prepared a crisis communication plan that should take action if your image is threatened. During a crisis situation, strategic planning is essential. Good relations with the Media can help the company keep employees, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders well informed about the problem and actions to solve it.