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| Online Reputation Matters |
Reputation management refers to influencing and controlling an individual’s or business’s reputation. Originally a public relations term, the expansion of the internet and social media, along with reputation management companies have made it primarily an issue of search results. Online reputation management is primarily concerned with managing the results on websites that evaluate products and services and make recommendations and referrals.
The concept was initially intended to broaden public relations outside of media relations. As the internet and social media became more popular, the meaning has shifted to focus on electronic communities, such as review sites, social media and- most prominently- the top search results on a brand of individual. Some businesses have also adopted unethical means to falsely improve their reputations.
Reputation Management is the practice of attempting to shape public perception of a person or organization by influencing online information about that entity.
Specifically, Online reputation management aims on monitoring the reputation of an individual or a brand on the internet, addressing content which is potentially damaging to it, and using customer feedback solutions to get feedback or early warning signals to online reputation problems. Most of reputation management is focused on pushing down negative search results. Under business circumstances, online reputation management may attempt to bridge the gap between how a company perceives itself and how others view it.
Your online reputation is how others see you when they look for you online. Online reputation management means taking control of the online conversation. Its techniques and strategies ensure that people find the right materials when they look for you on the internet. Online reputation management creates balance, counteracts misleading trends, and allows you to put your best foot forward.
If someone writes something negative about you online, it can put you at a serious disadvantage over the long term- especially if you’re not aware of it. So, it is important to keep tabs on what people are saying about you online and then take steps to correct any inaccuracies. Your online reputation may soon impact your ability to get credit.
SEO is about promoting a specific website or page to the top of the search results. Online reputation management is about controlling the collection of websites that appear in your search results. That means the tactics and measures of success are different.
Reputation busting powerhouses like Yelp and Ripoff report have thousands of pages of content, and tend to rank very highly in Google. That means if you’ve got a bad review on one of those sites, you’ll be fighting an uphill battle.
