In the digital era, marketing and branding has undergone a tectonic shift. It is much easier to reach a target audience in the digital medium, compared to the traditional marketing mediums. The reach of the digital media also meant anyone could become a celebrity if they manage to amass followers on social media platforms. However, becoming a celebrity can come with its own set of problems like overwhelming responses from followers, requests for collaborations, brand endorsements, public appearances, speaking engagements and many more. In order to streamline the time of a celebrity it is important to understand celebrity management.
Before we move on to the key elements of celebrity management, we need to understand what celebrity management entails. Celebrity management means using the fame of a celebrity to promote a product, brand or service, or to raise awareness about an issue. Celebrity management also includes endorsement management, portfolio management, strategic public relations, digital presence management, grooming, etiquette, appearance, social media management and many more.
The key elements to keep in mind when managing celebrities are listed below.
Providing timely advice:
More often than not celebrities are just like anyone else and tend to look to their management company for advice. Therefore it is imperative to have a clear understanding of the latest trends and current affairs. The advice can be anything from fashion to castings and box office numbers and reports. The job of a celebrity manager is to make the celebrity look like he/she is up to date with the events and trends across the globe.
Being available 24×7
Celebrities often have jam packed schedules and back to back meetings which means managing them will be a continuous process and effort. This means a celebrity management company needs to be able to provide dedicated support round the clock for any request or emergency.
Handle marketing
Celebrity managers need to be on the lookout for PR opportunities and press coverages. Any aspect of a celebrity’s life and lifestyle which is in demand can be made use of as a PR opportunity. Watching out for opportunities related to public appearances like photo shoots, setting up interviews with popular lifestyle columns and talk shows is a must for handling a celebrity. The celebrity manager should be constantly working out new angles and making new contacts, with those who can help get the celebrity’s name linked to worthwhile causes and special events.
Crisis mitigation
Crisis mitigation or firefighting is perhaps the most important element of celebrity management. Sometimes a celebrity might inadvertently find themselves in a situation which can damage their reputation and brand value. This can include something a celebrity said being taken out of content or being seen with a personality who is in the news for the wrong reasons or if he/she is trolled or a slice of personal, private life becomes public and so on. It can be a short, quick response or the job can be developing a long term strategy for a public makeover, if the public reputation is ruined. A celebrity manager should be prepared for any of the above mentioned eventualities even if they do not take place.
Be adept at social media platforms
In the digital age, social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat offer celebrities the opportunity to be constantly updated and to be in touch with their followers and fans. Celebrities often look out for professionals experienced in using platforms. Therefore, being adept at using social media platforms is a key element for celebrity management.
Managing online presence
A celebrity manager should know how to get false and misleading information related to a celebrity removed from Google SEO or how to file for copyright infringement on YouTube and other similar platforms. Celebrity management is more than fixing internet mishaps and includes how to react to controversial posts. Celebrities have numerous social media accounts, including Facebook pages, Twitter profiles and even Instagram accounts. Tweeting for the celebrity, handling sponsored tweets and posting appropriate photos on Facebook all fall under the purview of celebrity management.
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Celebrity branding by Whacked Out Media
Whacked Out Media (WOM) is an established and reputed name in celebrity branding, having interacted, onboarded and managed hundreds of celebrities over the years. Whacked Out Media currently manages 250+ celebrities and public figures with over 500 million Social Media followers. WOM is also an official partner of leading social media networks namely Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
Some of the major celebrities in our roster include
- Mahesh Babu
- Ram Gopal Varma
- Varun Tej Konidela
- Brahmanandam
- Jr. NTR
- Ravi Teja
Why Whacked Out Media?
We are one of the largest Multi Platform Networks, giving us an edge over the market in understanding audience reception of content and its consumption. Whacked Out Media works with the entertainment industry, guaranteeing success through the bank of influencers in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and Malayalam languages by creating unique, humourous and interactive content.
Whacked Out Media has a proven track record of working with the who’s who of Tollywood which includes celebrity management, branding services, brand integrations, promotions, and many more. What makes WOM unique is our ability to exceed delivery expectations because of the personal touch we incorporate through our in house celebrities; something that could not be achieved through other channels.
Reach out to us for any of your brand endorsement queries, celebrity appearances, celebrity event management queries by clicking here.
