I don’t give a damn about my bad reputation. You’re living in the past it’s a new generation. – Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
When Joan Jett belted out those classic lyrics back in 1980, it was actually possible to not give a damn about your bad reputation. In the age of the Internet, however, online reputation management is a serious business.
If you don’t give a damn about your bad reputation, you probably won’t be in business for long.That’s why online reputation management companies are experiencing a serious boom. But what exactly do these companies do? And can affiliates with a basic knowledge of SEO do the same thing?
Here’s what you need to know about online reputation management.
How Reputation Management Works
Reputation management companies provide a range of services that range from simple online monitoring all the way up to complex clean up jobs.
It’s important to note that credible reputation management companies won’t promise to remove offensive information about you or your company; because that’s impossible.
What they will do is implement an SEO campaign designed to drive negative web content to the backwaters of Google search results.
Techniques used by companies like Reputation.com include creating blogs that push positive information about their clients and even contacting sources of negative information directly.
Services like this charge anywhere from a few hundred dollars for an individual all the way up to thousands of dollars a month for high profile clients.
DIY Reputation Management
Hiring a reputation management company is fine for recent graduates and clueless corporations but most affiliates like to handle things themselves.
Here’s a few tips for DIY reputation management:
- Own Your SEO – This is a no-brainer for affiliates, but staying ahead of trouble is a lot easier when you’re in firm command of your company’s place on search results and corporate reputation. The good news here is that owning your own keywords is a lot easier than competing for terms like, “top online casino.”
- Think Before Tweeting – Avoid social media crises altogether by thinking before you post. Remember, it’s the Internet, nothing you post is going to go away, especially if it ignites a firestorm of controversy. There’s also no point in needlessly damaging your reputation by engaging trolls.
- You are Your User Name – Both individuals and businesses can keep in command of things by registering their name as a user name on every new Web service they can. This prevents troublemakers from damaging your brand and allow you to use these service to help shove negative info off the grid.
- Search Yourself – Why pay someone else to monitor your online reputation when you can do it yourself for free? Just keep searching your own name; your company name; and even your employee’s names on a regular basis.
- Direct Communication – If you’ve been the victim of a negative review or false information, you can always try contacting the source of the content directly. Keep the communication upbeat and constructive. Success here might be a long shot, but it’s worth a try.
Whether you’re doing it on your own or outsourcing it to the pros, you should definitely give a damn about your online reputation.
Do you have any experience with online reputation management? Share your experiences in the comments section below.