This article by Michael Fertik originally appeared at the Huffington Post.

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What happens when you’ve got 155 “dopplenamers” versus your competitor’s slim 2.3 name matches? When you’re “Jack Conway” and he’s “Rand Paul,” the results are evident. We don’t know Jack!

I need to make some full disclosure before proceeding:

1. I’m a contributor to Conway’s Senate campaign. I know Jack personally and actively support his campaign. I have a personal connection to Kentucky, and I believe Conway is the best candidate for the state.
2. However, this column in non-partisan and even-handed. We’re not talking about politicians’ stance on the issues; we’re talking about the impact of their “first page search results platform” on their campaign. As you can see, even though I support Jack’s campaign, this column finds that Rand Paul’s Google results serve him more favorably than Jack Conway’s do at this stage.

Message Match: Rand Paul 4, Jack Conway 2

Statistical analysis shows the likelihood of 155 “Jack Conways” in the U.S. We also know that ninety percent of individuals don’t go beyond the first page of Google. The Kentucky democratic candidate’s first page results reflect how dopplenamers can dilute impact online.

Jack Conway the Kentucky Senator candidate shares the first page of his Google results with Jack Conway the real estate agent (he appears twice in the top ten results). Jack Conway the theatre director (IMDB) is also there, as is Rand Paul, his vocal contender. This can serve up confusion instead of clarity: voters may ask themselves whether Jack was formerly a real estate tycoon; a celeb-turned-politician?

No dopplenamer hogs the page for Rand Paul. Not only does Paul have the benefit of a very unusual name, he’s also hammered clearly and loudly on messages through his controlled websites (webpage, twitter, Facebook) and reinforced these messages through regular media appearances. In spite of his status as a first-time political contender with a 17-year ophthalmology practice leading his resume, Rand Paul maintains great control over his political messaging online. Specifically, for example, even though Paul got some flack over comments about the Civil Rights Act, discussion of that incident is no longer on the first page of his search at the time of this writing. It used to be, but now it’s gone!

If you think owning your search results doesn’t matter, think again. We’re a society that’s hungry to learn more about you the potential employee, you the date, you the lawyer for-hire online. Search results have a huge impact in forming this understanding. One of the most common political activities people take online is to use search engines to find information on candidates. In the 2008 Presidential election 74 percent of Internet users–representing 55 percent of the entire adult population–went online to get involved in the political process or to get news and information about the election (Pew Internet Study, 2009).

Tone: Rand Paul 4, Jack Conway 2

Conway has managed to develop a consistent message in his campaign, but Rand Paul’s message seems to burst forth from search engines.

“Passionate, principled, unafraid.” As suggested by his tagline, Rand Paul makes his opinions and platform loud and clear through the mash-up of resources available to today’s politicians, including social media, talk shows, online articles and public appearances. Search results reflect the same.

Of course, the GOP candidate has had some campaign gaffes. Paul was criticized for his statements on civil rights and the BP oil spill. But both of those moments are now gone from his search results. It’s especially remarkable that the gaffes have had no serious staying power on the web. Why and how? The Paul campaign appears to have strong control of the static search results (campaign page, twitter, Wikipedia). His campaign also creates regular, fresh, nationwide news. While the general public may remember the Rand Paul gaffes for now, Google may be soon be forgetting….

DigitalDecision 2010 determines that in the case of the dopplenamers versus the outspoken newcomer, in this round and by this measure, Rand Paul is pulling ahead.

From concerns over Facebook security to questions about how advertisers use your personal information online, the subject of Internet privacy has never been more hotly debated, both in the media and around the water cooler. In a recent article for Newsweek, journalist Jessica Bennett took a deep look at how private information ends up on the Web and how it ends up being packaged and sold to online advertisers.

To help figure out just how much information there is about an individual online, Bennett turned to Reputation.com to scour the web and create a complete reputation report using nothing but her name and e-mail address. The results, which Bennett partially shared in her Newsweek article, included her social security number, previous home addresses, and multiple references to drug use (which, thankfully, came from Bennett’s reporting on a California marijuana farm).

To check out Bennett’s entire online reputation report, with the most sensitive data redacted of course, click the image below.

As Bennett explains in the article, one’s online reputation is rapidly becoming a “credit score of the future,” which will affect every life transaction from an individual’s healthcare coverage to their romantic relationships. The potential consequences of a bad online reputation are endless, which is why protecting your personal data online and proactively building a positive online image have become critical for everyone living in the new digital age. (See Reputation.com CEO Michael Fertik’s 10 tips for protecting your privacy, also in Newsweek.)

Here at Reputation.com, we are proud to lead the charge in offering solutions for owning and controlling your name on the Web. For more information about how Reputation.com can help you control your online reputation and protect your privacy, contact us today.

In today’s Quick Hits, Facebook offers a possible solution to its privacy woes, MSNBC talks teachers and social networking, and a mom shares her son’s story of cyberbullying.

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Google Engineer Develops “Facebook Disconnect” Chrome Extension

In response to Facebook’s most recent privacy flap, a Google developer independently developed a Google Chrome extension called “Facebook Disconnect.” The engineer, Brian Kennish, said he developed the extension to help temper his own desire to quit Facebook. By installing Facebook Disconnect, web surfers can disable all Facebook Connect functionality across the Web.

High School Cheerleader Booted Off Squad for Facebook Photo

A high school cheerleader in Ohio was kicked off her squad after school administrators received a Facebook photo of the girl in which she appears to be holding a beer bottle to her mouth. Her parents argued that the picture was taken out of context and the other individual in the photo is the one actually holding the beer. In any case, this incident is an example that there are tangible consequences to online actions.

Teacher May Lose Job for Social Networking with Students

A Manatee County drama teacher is in danger of losing his job because school administrators object to the way he interacted with his students on Facebook. The teacher, Charles Willis, is friends with over 100 students on Facebook. He claims that he shared nothing inappropriate on his profile and that many teachers have similar relationships with students online, but administrators point to several instances of what they call “unprofessional conduct.” Many teachers struggle with social networking, as evidenced by the next story.

MSNBC: Teachers, Students, and Facebook Don’t Mix

This article from the MSNBC Red Tape Chronicles blog delves deep into the issue of teachers online and the varied reasons why social networking with students is a bad idea. Offering countless examples of teachers who mistakenly shared inappropriate information with students, or simply did not restrict their Facebook profiles, the article touches on the importance of clear social media policies, personal accountability from teachers, and a growing lack of respect among students for the teaching profession.

GeekMom: Cautionary Tale of Cyberbullying

At the recently established GeekMom blog, Andrea Schwalm offers a first-hand account of how her son accidentally left his Facebook account unattended and was subsequently the victim of a cyberbullying attack.The article is an interesting read for parents, particularly because of the author’s strong knowledge of online safety, as well as the unique circumstances of the incident.

Facebook Plans to Encrypt User IDs

In response to the Wall Street Journal’s investigation into the Facebook privacy hole that allowed third-party application developers to access personally identifiable information, Facebook has announced plans to encrypt user IDs (the string of numbers associated with each Facebook account) to prevent sharing the data

For small business owners, reputation is everything. In the Google Age, that means having five star ratings on consumer review websites. While there’s no way to guarantee positive reviews, there is one way to improve your chances: offer top-notch customer service, both online and in your store.

Recently in the New York Times small business column “You’re the Boss,” social media and customer service expert Henry Posner, of B&H Photo in New York, offered some tips for companies looking to interact with their customers online. Posner’s tips, based on his 15 years of online customer service experience, are reasonable and speak to a deep knowledge of how customers interact with brands online.

Some of Posner’s key insights are that, despite the popular adage, customers are not always right, and it is okay for companies to address negative reviews if they are false or misguided. However, if a company did do something wrong, it is vital for a customer service specialist to acknowledge the mistake and make a sincere effort to correct the problem. Being active and involved in the web communities where your customers are likely to spend their time is also an important tactic.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the column is its strong reminder that online reputation matters, and the way you treat your customers on the Web and in the real world is what makes your brand distinct. Business owners must be proactive in their efforts to define their brand image online. MyEdge Pro is a great tool to help small business owners get started on building their online brand. To learn more about MyEdge Pro, call Reputation.com today at 877-720-6488.

In today’s Quick Hits, we follow-up on the Erin Andrews’ case, we talk about how bad news spreads quickly on Facebook, and how Meg Whitman’s twitter team needs some extra training.

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TheDirty.com Ignores Legal Pressure to Take Down Erin Andrews Photos

Last year, ESPN sportscaster Erin Andrews had her privacy violated in the most heinous of ways. Not only did a stalker use a peephole to spy on her nude in her hotel room, but the video subsequently leaked to the Internet where it was shared on thousands of websites. Since then, Andrews and her attorney have been working to remove the images from the web using the threat of copy infringement, but some sites, such as gossip website TheDirty.com, have refused to comply. On the Internet, having something that gets page views is often more important than respecting people’s rights.

Daughter Learns of Cop Father’s Death via Facebook

Facebook and other social networking websites have changed the way news spreads online, and not always for the better. This article from the Baltimore Sun talks about how one girl learned of her police officer father’s death on Facebook before anyone could contact her privately and in person. The prevalence of online memorials, which go up as soon after a loved one dies, have made it difficult to keep bad news hidden until an official response is made. The Sun article details several more instances where social media brought home the bad news early.

Australian Police Serve Notice to Stalker on Facebook

If you can use Facebook to stalk and harass someone online, then it stands to reason that the police should be able to use Facebook to stop bullies. In Victoria, Australia, a judge authorized police to use Facebook to issue an order stopping a bully from publishing any material about their victim online, and not to contact the victim “by any means”, “including phone and e-mail, except through the police or a lawyer.”

Meg Whitman Tweet Directs Followers to Tutu-Wearing Japanese Guitarist

Whomever Meg Whitman hired to manage her Twitter account needs a lesson on using Bit.ly links. Rather than sending followers to a political endorsement, a recent tweet from the Whitman account sent followers to a bizarre YouTube video of a Japanese man wearing a tutu and playing the electric guitar. With URL shortening tools like Bit.ly, if you don’t paste the URL exactly right, people who click on the link will wind up somewhere else entirely. It’s an honest mistake that happens to even the most prolific Twitter users. What’s really interesting, and inexcusable, is that the Whitman campaign didn’t double check the link after it was posted, instead allowing the tweet to stay up for multiple days.

Are Facebook Ads Outing Gays?

Gawker is wondering whether Facebook might be outing its gay members through advertisements. If you indicate that you are gay on Facebook, you will receive a different set of ads than straight Facebook users. This is to be expected. What is unexpected is the number of neutral ads, an ad for a nursing school for example, that are targeted specifically at gay men. Gawker suggests that if an individual were to apply for the school and indicate that they learned about it on Facebook, they would be tacitly admitting their sexual preference. It’s somewhat of a stretch as an argument, particularly considering the user has shared their sexual preference openly on their profile, but it’s an interesting assessment nonetheless.