Executives

Subscribe

Google your way to a better online reputation

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

 

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?

Comment

How daily deals can damage your online reputation

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Groupon, LivingSocial, Google Deals, Yipit, and the list goes on — while daily deal sites can be a great way for business owners to bring in new customers, the results aren't always pretty. In fact, a study conducted by researchers from Harvard and Boston University discovered an inverse relationship between the number of customers brought in by Groupon and the satisfaction of those customers as expressed on Yelp.

It makes sense when you think about it. Once a deal is released, the onslaught begins. Appointments get booked up. Staff gets stretched thin. Demand increases in ways the business isn't always prepared to deal with.

While we haven't done our own independent study, we can back it up anecdotally. There are more and more reviews out there that have the same basic story line: "We came in because we had a Groupon, but the service was so bad we're never coming back!" Never mind that the bad service is often the result of a harried staff that was completely unprepared for a deluge of demanding customers. (And you'd think someone getting 50% off on his dinner or a massage for $42 would be a little more understanding!)

Food for thought if you're planning to run a daily deal: Make sure you're staffed up. And make sure your staff is prepared for the extra work. Be patient even when there are 17 people simultaneously wanting all your attention. And be prepared for someone to complain about something.

Got a story about a Groupon gone wrong? Any words of wisdom for other business owners who might be considering offering a daily deal?

Comment

Putting a price tag on corporate reputation management in the new economy

You might not be able to tangibly value customer loyalty, but companies both small and large are discovering that you can put a price tag on your Internet reputation. The financial crisis that began in 2007 has changed the way the corporate world operates; one way is that businesses are now spending as much money on reputation protection as they are on digital PR. This article will detail how the current economy has influenced the business community to shift away from risky marketing ploys in favor of corporate reputation management.

Customer privacy is an important part of business strategy

The ever-increasing use of the Internet has provided businesses with more ways than ever before to collect data about their customers and potential customers. This information is often gathered without the website visitor even realizing it, due to the use of unobtrusive data collection methods. When you visit a company’s website, you could be unwittingly providing that company with information such as your IP address, the page that referred you to the website and the pages you’re viewing.

by: 
Susan Campbell

The NHL has a social media policy. Do you?

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

In a sport where bloodthirsty fans cheer high-sticking and boarding, there's one area where players have clearly defined rules of etiquette: social media. The National Hockey League recently unveiled a social media policy for players that outlines both when and how they should use it.

In addition to blackouts starting two hours before opening faceoff, the policy encourages basic, gentlemanly behavior and the use of good judgment. Which brings us to a good point: if the NHL has a formal policy for social media use, surely your company could benefit from some guidelines as well.  

After all, the things your employees say can reflect on your company, whether they're speaking on your behalf, tweeting about the company on their personal account, or just griping to their friends on Facebook.

Much of the NHL's policy boils down to good common sense and is worth inclusion for any company or organization, whether or not they engage in full contact sports:

  • Remember that everything you say is on the record and can be archived.
  • Take personal responsibility for your comments.
  • Respect your audience.
  • Do not divulge proprietary information.
  • Stop and think before you post.

Even though these guidelines may seem obvious, putting them down on paper can make an employee stop and think twice before posting.

Does your company have a social media policy? What should be at the top of every company's list of guidelines?

Comment

Top reputation management techniques from Fortune 500 companies

The Web is connecting the world more with each passing day. Large corporations have had to learn to intelligently ride this wave or face the inevitable descent into irrelevance. A big part of their evolution has involved creating and implementing online reputation management policies. Though there are many major differences between worldwide conglomerates and your small business, many of the techniques they use are also pertinent to the needs and scope of your operation. 

Use seven simple practices to create a positive online reputation.

Use YouTube to improve your business reputation

To the untrained eye, the video-sharing website YouTube is little more than a database of funny cat videos and bootleg TV shows from the 1980s. In reality, however, YouTube, and video sharing in general, offers small business owners a tremendous opportunity to gain a foothold in Google search results and proactively build a positive online reputation.

How to make your employees online brand ambassadors

When it comes to your company’s online reputation, there’s nobody better equipped to sing its praises than your employees, right? After all, they rely on you for a paycheck, so why wouldn’t they want to give you a big digital seal of approval?

Unfortunately, winning the undying online love of your employees isn’t that easy. In fact, if you don’t play your cards right, you could end up with a much bigger problem: employees using the anonymity of the Internet to trash your company and share trade secrets with untold Web users.

by: 
Rob Frappier

Online privacy tips for real estate agents

With the economy continuing to improve, new opportunities are finally opening up for real estate agents who lost business during the housing crisis. To capitalize on this shift, many real estate agents are giving themselves a more public face on the Web. This great marketing tool, however, can have not-so-great effects on agents’ privacy — and might even cost them clients. If you’re a real estate agent who’s looking to protect your electronic privacy, these quick tips will help ensure that your Web behavior is getting the right kind of attention.

by: 
Allie Pape

How to turn critics into brand ambassadors

In the hyper-connected world of the social Web, it’s possible to check in to a new restaurant on Facebook Places, post an image of your dinner on Twitter and leave a review of your waiter on Yelp using only your mobile phone.

by: 
Rob Frappier

Pages

Social networking: What students need to know

Read »

Reviews can
kill a business.

Reputation.com is here to help.

Read »

Oprah endorses Reputation.com

Get an online reputation makeover:

Read »