| Online reputation management has become the most | | | | reputation through an on-line marketing strategy that |
| important aspect of on-line marketing. You should | | | | involves proven techniques that are not expensive or |
| incorporate this into your Internet marketing strategy | | | | do not take up too much time. You can do it yourself |
| today by doing the things that I will suggest in this | | | | or hire an Internet marketing consultant to do it for you. |
| article. If you are already doing these things, let this | | | | Either way, on-line reputation management is an |
| serve as a gentle reminder.to you or your company on | | | | absolute must for every small business owner, even if |
| any forum, blog, or user-generated website. | | | | you do not have a website or do any business online. |
| The fact is, anyone can go online and post anything | | | | Here are the essential tools for your on-line reputation |
| about do this anonymously and you'll never know who | | | | management strategy:o A domain name with your |
| is trying to ruin your reputation. The statements these | | | | personal and/or company name in ito Your own small |
| anonymous posters make about you or your small | | | | business websiteo Article marketingo A blog that you |
| business do not even need to be true. A lot of times, | | | | post to every dayo Social networking and social |
| one comment can do more damage than you could | | | | bookmarking on a regular basiso Forum posting and |
| ever do yourself through lousy customer service. | | | | blog comments on blogs related to your businesso |
| Let these businesses serve as your example:o A | | | | On-line press releaseso Building in-bound links to your |
| private physician gave advice that a patient didn't like; | | | | website from quality, highly respected websites within |
| the patient, a blogger, posted some negative things | | | | your industry |
| about the physician on her blog. Since the physician did | | | | On-line reputation management is all about marketing |
| not have a website or blog of her own, the only results | | | | your business online in a positive way without tearing |
| for that doctor when a potential patient conducted an | | | | others down. You don't have to make others look bad |
| on-line search were the blogger's negative | | | | in order to make yourself look good. On-line marketing |
| comments.o A construction contractor fired an | | | | strategies are an extension of, and should be |
| employee and in retaliation the former employee | | | | approached as an addition to, traditional marketing |
| posted some comments on a popular forum online. | | | | approaches. The first step to your on-line reputation |
| Even though the company had a website, they had | | | | management strategy should be to sign up for Google |
| not done a lot of Internet marketing and the negative | | | | Alerts using your personal name, your company name, |
| comments outranked the construction company's own | | | | and your website URL as keywords. That way you |
| website.o A small business owner who also performs | | | | can see when people are talking about you online and |
| charity work through a separate organization was | | | | head off any repercussions from erroneous or |
| attacked through an anonymous blog on a free blog | | | | negative comments before they get too entrenched in |
| host by a former customer who began posting | | | | the search engine databases. |
| negative comments about the charitable organization | | | | The essence of all on-line reputation management is |
| as well as the business owner. | | | | ensuring that more positive reflections of your business |
| These types of attacks online are becoming more and | | | | appear in as many places online as possible, as often |
| more prevalent. The Internet gives the illusion that there | | | | as possible, and to keep fresh content alive about you |
| are no consequences for comments that are not true. | | | | and your business that creates a positive impression. |
| Off line, such comments would be considered slander, | | | | By maintaining a consistent approach to on-line |
| but online they can be made anonymously and | | | | marketing, you can ensure that your reputation online is |
| influence potential customers to stay away from your | | | | unmarred by negativity and reputation-killing talk. For |
| small business based on nothing but hearsay. Once the | | | | more information about on-line reputation management, |
| damage is done, it is extremely hard to reverse. | | | | consult an Internet marketing consultant with a |
| The good news is you can manage your on-line | | | | background in managing reputations today. |