A bad online reputation could ruin your personal or professional life. It doesn’t matter whether the stories are true; it just matters that people believe them. That’s why it’s important to know these top 5 ways to keep control of your reputation. If you don’t, someone else might.
Make reputation monitoring a priority
Don’t wait until someone has damaged your reputation. Make monitoring a priority now so you can protect yourself. How can you do this without wasting a lot of time? Sign up for alerts from Google and Bing. Whenever someone mentions you, your business’s name, or other keywords that you choose, the service will notify you. That way, you always know what stories you’re up against.
Update your blog frequently
Your blog is a powerful tool against negative comments online. When you publish engaging content on your blog, you have a better chance of reaching the top of Google search results about your company. That pushes negative comments and articles off the first page. Few people actually read the second page of results, so those links shouldn’t impact your reputation much.
Use social media to your advantage
Social media can boost your reputation in several ways. First, it gives you a platform to show off your positive qualities so you build a base of supporters. Second, it lets you share your blog posts so more people visit your site. That will have a big impact on your Google ranking. Perhaps most importantly, though, social media gives you a chance to establish an authoritative presence online. If someone searching for your name gets your blog, Facebook profile, Twitter account, and Pinterest page, there isn’t much room left for negative posts. When you take control of your social media presence, you take control of how other people see you.
Get professional help when you need it
If you have already lost control of your online reputation, then it will take a lot of work to get it back. You probably don’t have the time and energy to finish a reputation campaign on your own. It’s disheartening to see so many negative (not to mention untrue) posts about yourself or your business. Professional reputation firms can take over when you lose control of the situation. They can also protect you in the future by preventing negative comments from blossoming into big problems.
Don’t Take the Bait
Never engage in an online battle with your detractors. If someone posts negative comments on a site you control, you can remove them. If those comments turn up on someone else’s site, then you should leave them alone. Getting involved usually attracts attention to the comment. You want it to fade into the background, where no one will see it. As much as you might want to defend yourself, let the allegations go. If you feel that negative comments are affecting your life, then you can post a response on your own blog. Stay factual. Don’t let your emotions get the best of you.
