Businesses generally like publicity; third party endorsements help a business to stand out in the crowd, and provide a certain amount of strategic and economic advantage. Distinguishing your services or product with an interview or a mention by an important media personality as a leader in the industry doesn’t have a down side. That is until every wannabe business in your category starts gunning for that big bulls-eye on your back scheming to get a piece of your action.

Name recognition has its privileges. Being named to an influential “list” tends to elicit a happy dance in the PR department. What company doesn’t want to make Fortune Magazine’s “Best Places To Work”? What egomaniac doesn’t want to make Forbes Magazine’s “World’s Most Powerful People”? Lists are good until they turn bad…

Being known for less than desirable corporate behavior or substandard service can be a public relations nightmare. Take for instance the tale of the Days Inn Eureka Six Flags. They have the dubious distinction of being named by TripAdvisor® as the second dirtiest hotel in America. To make this Top 10 list, a hotel has to cultivate a relationship with bed bugs, supply dirty towels to its guests and employ rude management. Ewww.

How did Eureka’s Days Inn end up on this list? Customer feedback, of course. Some of the more colorful comments included, “If Hell had a hotel it would be something like this”, “Wouldn’t let a stray dog sleep here”, “I would rather die of hemorrhoids then have to stay here again” and the most direct opinion, “What a dump”. The sad part about this list is that if each hotel did one simple thing, it wouldn’t be on this list… clean the rooms! To bottom line it, meet the expectations of your customers and run your business responsibly to prevent ending up on a d-bag list like this one.

Favorable lists a local St. Louis business might want to attach itself to are ALIVE Magazine’s Buzz List, St. Louis Magazine’s A List or the monthly top lists produced by St. Louis Small Business Monthly. These lists don’t require cooties or uncouth behavior. Or a public relations dream team.

This Friday, ALIVE Magazine unveils its 25 people, places and businesses that are all the buzz in 2010. Get to know the politicos, sports figures and non-profit organizations that are making their mark in a positive way in St. Louis. Now that’s the type of list I like to see.

ALIVE Magazine’s 2010 Buzz List Launch Party

Friday, February 5
9PM to Midnight
Lucas Park Grille

1234 Washington Ave

Purchase $10 tickets in advance or $15 at the door. Ticket price includes 3 complimentary sponsor drinks from Samuel Adams, 360 Vodka or Mirassou Winery.

Image credit: Huffingtonpost.com

Pamela is the Business and Networking Editor for Girls Guide. She is the owner of The Raymond Experience, an events and public relations company, and she moonlights as a business blogger here and as Business Commentary eXaminer for St. Louis. You can email her at pamela [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot]com, and follow her on Twitter.