What public relations can you learn from the Avengers?
Over the past few weeks I have become obsessed with the public relations events from the Avengers: Age of Ultron press tour. While most talk show interviews revolve around the same handful of questions over and over again, the cast of the much anticipated movie have had some ups and downs. Here are three public relations lessons I learned from watching Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man/Tony Stark), Chris Evans (Captain America/Steven Rogers) and Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye/Clint Barton).
3 PR lessons from the Avengers
- You Don’t Have to Answer Every Question
This important lesson came from the man himself, Robert Downey Jr. During an interview he was confronted about his past, which includes drug abuse and arrest. While those events are over 10 years old and no longer relevant, the interviewer decided to bring them up anyway. Not wanting to engage, Downey decided to walk away. This tactic may not be everyone’s favorite, but it is one way to handle a situation. When speaking about your brand, product or company it is important to stay on topic and remember why you are there in the first place.
- Apologize for Bad “Jokes”
Another misadventure came from Chris Evans and Jeremy Renner who made some jokes about who “Black Widow” was dating. Many felt that their comments were sexist against the female lead. Immediately following the uproar both released statements apologizing for their comments. While it is better to not offend, sometimes it happens. If your business finds itself in a position where it needs to issue an apology be sincere and timely. Consumers can tell when you mean it and when you’re just saying it.
- Have Fun
During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show, Jeremy Renner poked fun at his character in the form of musical parody. Having fun during a press tour is a great way to engage fans; they are excited about your project and want you to be excited about it as well.
The Avengers 2 press tour has had plenty of PR highs and lows, though it is doubtful the missteps will negatively influence ticket sales (I’m going!). Take lessons from their experiences by knowing you don’t have to answer every question, apologizing and having fun. What else can you learn from superheroes?
Photo Credit: bagogames
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