Regardless of the industry you’re in or the size of your company, there are few things more important than public relations. It helps shape how the world perceives your brand, which, in turn, will impact whether or not clients and consumers engage your company when they need a product or service you provide.
Businesses should always be looking for ways to improve their PR—it’s an ongoing process, and public perception can change very quickly. One unique way to do this is through your privacy measures, and for a variety of reasons.
Consumers are particularly sensitive to security issues now
First, data security is a hot topic right now due to the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data scandal, which has forced all companies to review their data protection policies. The collection of personal information from up to 87 million Facebook users, which was then used to influence voter opinion, has shocked the world and had a very negative impact on Facebook’s PR. Showing that you are careful with your data protection and take it very seriously reveals that you are not tied to any suspicious behavior and that yours is a reputable brand.
Respecting your audience’s privacy positions your brand as trustworthy
Following on from this, having effective security measures shows that you are a trustworthy brand. People are much more likely to use the services of a company that they trust, particularly in a day and age where cybercrime is a huge problem. Once a company has been breached, it can be hard for the public to regain trust as they fear that their personal information could be hacked.
Effective security measures showcase your sophistication
Having top-of-the-range security measures will also show that you are a modern, high-tech company that understands the importance of both online and offline security. One of the best ways to improve PR is to show that the company is up to date on current trends and a step ahead of the curve and this can be done with security products like a Sonicwall firewall. Have the proper procedures in place and make sure to advertise how secure your business is to the public.
Security becomes part of your brand’s persona
One common problem that challenges businesses is creating a brand persona. If you look at the most popular and recognizable brands in the world, such as Google and Apple, they all have a strong brand identity and persona. By making security measures an important part of your company, it will help to develop a brand identity (and a positive one). When you have a personality, people will look at your company favorably as you will appear more personable and less corporate.
Security in business is hugely important right now with the public questioning how companies are using their information more than ever—and you can benefit from this by showing that you are a company that takes all forms of security very seriously. This will paint your brand in a positive light and show that you are reliable and trustworthy—crucial factors when it comes to PR.