It is a fact of life, and it is as true for the perception of your business as it is for anything. No matter how immune from criticism we may hope our business may be, a crisis or even a simple allegation can emerge at any time. And, in the era of social media and 24-hour news networks, the damage can spread like wildfire if you’re not ready to douse the flames.

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Social Learning Summit (SLS11), hosted by the American University Social Media Club. After two days and six panels I came away with a fresh outlook on the digital world we live in, as well as new tips and strategies to navigate an increasingly complex digital landscape.