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Google your way to a better online reputation

 

Not everyone will admit that they Google themselves. It can sound kind of vain. But most people really do want to know what's being said about them.

It makes sense. Who wouldn't want to eavesdrop on the collective consciousness? Plus, we know that potential employers, customers and even dates are using it to form opinions about us, so it's smart to find out what the word on the street is.

With any luck, you'll like what you see. For many people, it's a showcase of their most noteworthy accomplishments: awards won, articles written, donations to charity, affiliations with upstanding organizations. Some people's results are dominated by their contributions to social media, including blog posts they've written or YouTube videos they've created (which can be good or bad, depending on what you've put out there).

Unfortunately, for some people, Google unearths unflattering profiles, bad reviews, or even slanderous content. Maybe you crossed the wrong blogger. Maybe you have a more serious PR problem. Heck, maybe you're in the mafia. Sometimes, there's information out there that isn't even true.

If you don't like what you see, at least you'll have some insight as to why you didn't get a second interview or why that girl never called you back. The first step towards improving your online reputation is knowing you have a problem!

What sorts of unexpected things have you found looking yourself up on Google or Bing?

Online reputation management tips for dentists

Let’s face it, few people like going to the dentist. Unfortunately, this negative view of dental care makes dentists an especially attractive target for anonymous Internet attacks. As such, it’s very important for dentists to offer the best possible service they can and to aggressively monitor and manage their reputations online.

This article outlines five tips on promoting and protecting your good name on the Web.

Do you own YourName.com?

How doctors can manage negative content online

Negative content published about physicians and other health professionals can detrimentally affect their online reputations and the success of their practices. Defamatory online content can take the form of reviews on websites such as www.RateMDs.com and www.HealthGrades.com or as misleading newspaper articles that paint a physician in an incorrect or unflattering light.

How to protect your medical practice from negative reviews online

The Internet has made it easier than ever before for people to find the information they need. However, this ease also makes it possible for almost anyone to share their opinions and thoughts on the Web. Although in most cases this is a good thing, there are times when this free sharing of information can cause problems, especially in the case of a person or business’s online reputation. In fact, many times it seems as if chat forums, blogs and social networking websites bring out the worst in people.

A doctor’s guide to diagnosing a reputation problem

These days, people are finding physicians the same way they’re finding good Thai restaurants —by checking ratings and review sites. These review venues, however, vary widely: People aren’t just going to physician directory sites to grade their doctors. They’re also going to Yelp, Angie’s List, Google Places and other social media services.  

In this fragmented landscape, how do you size up your online reputation? And what’s the cure for less-than-stellar ratings?

Where are reviews about your practice showing up?

How to choose an online reputation management company

In an age when a simple Google search is all it takes to find detailed information about anyone and anything, online reputation management (ORM) is an absolute must. Unfortunately, not enough people understand how ORM works, or how it affects their daily lives.