OMA Question for the Day: Is any press really good press?

Absolutely not true. See “Blue, Jet” or “Flu, Avian”. More people being aware of your brand isn’t necessarily a positive if that newfound awareness carries with it a negative connotation. - Jason Baer

True if you’re relatively unknown. False if you get enough negative press that it negates the value of any awareness it might generate. - Joseph Jaramillo

Absolutely NOT! Bad press is bad for business. - Laura Hall

Bad press could only be good for you if your image/brand is already even worse than the story being circulated. (Speaking of which, what is the latest word on Lindsey Lohann these days?) - Eric Reid

I have to go with a big FALSE. A plane falling out of the sky would not be good press in any way, shape or form. - Bryan Perleberg

All press gets attention. But getting press coverage for something like Mattel using paint with lead in it for children’s toys is not good press. - Ellen Stevens

False. This is only true if you are in a sensationalized market like pro wrestling or Girls Gone Wild video production. Look at Jet Blue, Mattel Toys, and Trader Joe’s. Each of these companies has received substantial press this year for all the wrong reasons. Namely, they screwed up BIG TIME!! They have attempted to put a positive spin on bad situations. Some have done better than others. When you factor in the blogosphere and the 24 hour news cycle, your company or brand can sustain irreparable damage if actions are not taken swiftly to understand the reason for the “bad” press and take action to empathize with those affected and make it up to them. I would argue that press of this kind is no boon to business. Jeff Baer

Bad press might generate a quick buzz about your business and give you 15 minutes of fame, but even if it doesn’t ruin your brand forever (which it often does), it’s not an effective marketing strategy in the long run. - Sara Wachter-Boettcher

False, however it obviously depends on the industry. Negative press for most organizations such as a Hazmat spill or hiring of illegal immigrants is very negative. Whereas pop singer arrested for using drugs is negative press on the surface, but goes a long way to build a rock star image with loyal fans. - Eric Kardesh

False, just ask Bill Clinton - Michelle Zimmerman

About the Author: Eric Reid

I am the Social Media Services Manager for Off Madison Ave. I've been with the company since 2006, when I was hired to do SEO, and link building in particular. When social networking sites started cropping up, at first I started using them to create backlinks - but they weren't the best for that, given all of the "nofollow" attributes. However, I did see the potential for all of the direct referral traffic they represent. Since then I've been actively pursuing both tactics for clients: Links that can help them for search, and social postings that get them involved in the conversation. It's about the coolest job you could ever get. ;)

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