Webinar: From #Trending to #Targeted – When Brand Ambassadors Become Reputation Risks Overnight
WATCH: Influencers fuel growth but can pull brands into culture wars. Narrative intelligence helps teams spot risks early, filter signal from noise, and choose when to engage, pause, or exit.
During a recent Blackbird.AI LinkedIn Live, Greg Young and I explored how organizations can detect early warning signals of narrative emergencies and determine when to engage versus stay silent.
The key insight: effective response requires understanding not just what narratives exist, but who drives them. Organizations must distinguish whether criticism comes from actual customers or external groups with separate agendas.
Traditional vetting fails to capture the full spectrum of influencer risk. Technology must augment human analysis to monitor niche podcasts, alternative forums, and dark web spaces where controversial views often surface.
Nike’s Kaepernick partnership demonstrates this approach. Despite boycott calls, Nike understood their core customers supported Kaepernick and emerged with strengthened brand loyalty.
Organizations that shift from reactive monitoring to proactive narrative intelligence transform reputation management from desperate defense to strategic advantage.