Every storage business will encounter a challenge to its reputation at least once.
From the unreasonable customer threatening to escalate, a pest control issue, or a critical incident like flooding, fire or access problems – sometimes things just go wrong. And dealing with the communications can be an unwelcome distraction from running your business.
But the way you communicate in these moments determines whether or not a problem goes away or gets worse.
You’ve worked too hard to let outside forces put the reputation of your business at risk.
We’ve been protecting the reputations of independent businesses since 2015. It’s tough out there. As a fellow independent business, we should know.
We’ve seen the cost and disruption endured by firms like yours when something (or someone) threatens your hard-earned reputation.
Peace of mind is within reach
It’s all about being prepared, and having experienced hands standing by when you need them.
If you’d sleep better having on-demand access to experts who can review, contain and resolve these issues before they become problems, our reputation protection cover might be worth your consideration.
You can start protecting your business today, with support, training and useful resources, plus an experienced team on standby if you need them, from £49 per month.
“Good comms, improved brand image”
“The team’s communication is good. They are always available for a talk and answer readily to emails as well.”
Andreas Velling, Marketing Manager, Fractory
Why protect your firm’s reputation?
Think about car breakdown cover.
76% of UK motorists have some form of breakdown cover. You probably have it yourself.
But if you needed roadside recovery every week, something would be very wrong with your car.
Think of our services like reputation breakdown cover.
You might not need us every day, but when a problem comes up that’s too hot to handle yourself—whether it’s a client dispute getting out of hand, or a critical incident like a cyber attack on your access systems—you’ll be glad you can outsource the headache to a team of experienced communications professionals.
How it works
It’s subscription-based, and you can cancel at any time.
In a nutshell, you get road-tested resources and templates to help you effortlessly manage minor challenges like malicious reviews. And you get immediate access to our experienced reputation management experts if a critical incident crops up.
Onboarding
We’ll ask some questions about your self-storage firm, identifying any specific current and future challenges to your business reputation. This will form the basis of a customised reputation management strategy for your business. Your account manager will answer any questions you have and guide you through how our consultants will keep your reputation protected long term.
In the first week
You’ll receive your welcome pack, plus communications templates in all relevant formats for all risk categories. These will help you manage all minor risks, from social media complaints responses to negative or malicious reviews.
Every week
You’ll get a briefing to bring you up to speed on emerging threats in the industry, plus tips on how to manage them.
Every month
You’ll get a reputation health report, outlining any challenges or threats. And we’ll redesign and update your communications templates across all risk categories.
Our team will also review and update your communications strategy in line with the developments we’ve identified.
Every quarter
Your account manager will deliver scenario rehearsals to prepare your team to manage any risk to your reputation.
They’ll also deliver complaints and review handling sessions for key staff members to keep them prepared and confident.
On-demand critical incident support
If your business or one of its employees faces a risk to their professional reputation, our expert consultants will handle all reputation management, including:
- Full press office function, handling all in-bound enquiries
- Media relations, acting proactively to influence and manage any media coverage
- Social media management, where necessary, to keep customers up to date and informed
- Stakeholder engagement, to keep your messaging consistent, timely and relevant
- Internal communications, so employees have the right information at the right time
- Customer relations, to manage any complaints, enquiries and concerns
- Trade relations, where necessary, we can manage communications with regulators and membership organisations so everything stays compliant.
Are you ready to start protecting your firm’s reputation?
You don’t need to wait until a problem escalates before taking action.
And you don’t need to pay an expensive crisis communications agency to help you put out fires.
Our protection plans give you resources, training and access to a senior team of reputation management consultants.
Choose the plan that gives you the most peace of mind.
Prices exclusive of VAT
Clients on the “Essentials” and “Enhanced” plans get priority access to our reputation management consultants, and can engage our team for additional days outside of their plan allowance at the preferential rate of £350 per day, if needed.
Ongoing, proactive reputation management support
We don’t just show up when you’re having problems.
Each month, your account manager will be delivering an updated comms strategy, rehearsal sessions, resources, insights and training to reduce the chances of reputational risks happening.
Interested, but not sure?
Schedule a 30-minute consultation with a senior consultant today to explore your options.
“They make outsourcing stress free”
“We particularly valued their understanding and application of regulatory and risk considerations. We value them highly, which is why we’ve asked them back multiple times to support our digital team. They make outsourcing stress free.”
Becky Franks, Co-operative Bank
Niggling worries?
Almost as bad the stress and cost of responding to a threat is the worry that the next one is just around the corner. And how you’ll respond.
The unhappy customer threatening to leave a bad review…
The former employee who left under a cloud…
Not to mention the fastest-growing threat to storage firms: cyber crime.
The threat landscape is evolving. It’s time to think differently
Approximately 605,000 organisations per week are targeted by cyber criminals, just in the UK.
And cyber criminals are getting more sophisticated.
Business insurer Hiscox estimates that 52% of SMEs have been hit by a cyber attack.
But not all of them know it (yet).
Why are storage firms being targeted?
The Cyber Management Alliance says that storage firms – especially 24-hour facilities that rely on digital access systems – face unique risks. There are two reasons. Storage firms can be a ‘gateway’ to accessing the financial information of several companies in one attack. And hackers know that firms who rely on their reputation for safety and security are more likely suffer business impact if they are breached, and are more likely as a result to pay them to get their data back.
Already paying for information security services?
Good. We are assuming that you’ve prudently invested in robust technology and information security processes and support to minimise the chances of your firm becoming a victim of cyber crime.
That investment limits, but doesn’t eliminate, the risk of your practice becoming a victim of cyber crime.
Would you know what to tell a journalist if cyber criminals gained access to your systems?
Would you tell the Information Commissioner’s Office before or after you told your insurance company?
What information would you release to customers, if any, and in what sequence?
Is it better to say as little as possible until you know what’s happened? Or should you sound the alarm immediately?
If you’re not sure, it’s time to act.
‘Very nice, genuine helpful people’
“The team is very friendly, responsive, and understanding and provides valuable support and excellent communication through various virtual channels.”
Dr. Helen Read, CEO & Consultant Psychiatrist, ADHD Consultancy Ltd
Why trust Essential Content?
Essential Content has a proud track record of representing firms in regulated sectors.
Sean O’Meara, founder and managing director, is an award-winning public relations advisor and best-selling author.
He co-authored, along with world-renowned organisational psychologist Professor Sir Cary Cooper, the chart-topping reputation management book The Apology Impulse.
He’s written extensively on the topic of reputation management, including columns for The Telegraph and CityAM.
Daily Mail journalist Tom Cotterill referred to him as a ‘PR guru’.
Are you ready to join the likes of Co-operative Bank, Wise.com, Direct Line, BBC and many others by trusting Essential Content to take care of your reputation, get in touch today.