How Do You Manage And Protect Your Online Reputation?
A few weeks ago I was reading an article about "BIG Corporate Companies" that were missing the boat by not getting involved in Social Media. "They are missing out on the ability to track and manage their brands, their names, their business and reputations" or something to that effect. It got me thinking about how important it is to connect on-line and know what's going on around you at all times, or at least as much as possible.
"The On-line world is also the Off-line World making them both one in the same. What happens Off-line ends up online, and what happens On-line gets spread quickly Off-line and visa versa. It's known as "viral" in both worlds.
How do you manage and protect your reputation in the off-line world? In order to build, protect, or manage your brand or reputation, you have to interact so you can hear the chatter, the rumors, the buzz, the testimonials, or even the whisper when someones talking about you or your company? No matter what, whether it's good or bad, people do talk. In the social media world, even more-so. Good news travels fast, and often times, bad news travels even faster.
How do you know when someone is talking about you, your company, or your business in the on-line world? What are people saying or whispering on LinkedIn, Twitter, MySpace or FaceBook? What about your past or current clients, your sphere of influence, or even your competitors? Would you even know? I think many of the Larger Companies and Businesses DO know the power of Social Media Marketing and the importance of Networking. I see it more and more, they are wanting to stay close and connected to what's being said about their products, their services, their company and business, or even them as individuals.
Managing and Protecting your online reputation isn't just for the Big Corporate Companies....
...it should also be important to you.
Here's some ideas and suggestions that can help you in the new on-line social media and off-line networking world. Let's start with the simplest and basic of all tools. When was the last time you ran your name or Company using Google? Google Search. This is typically the first thing we learn and try to do regularly to see what shows up in the search engine results. This is a great and basic way to find out how about your online Internet presence. What shows up? I still do this on a weekly basis.
Next, there are some free and simple tools available to help you get a better handle on what's being said across the WEB. Start with Google Alerts, it's an easy way to setup specific keyword searches. Once those specific words or terms are found and indexed, notifications are emailed directly to you. Setup alerts for your name, your company, employees, your brand etc. Some even setup Google Alerts for their competition or other specific business topics or "interesting" terms and phrases. This is a good start to keeping yourself connected and informed.
Many of you will remember the "viral" video "United Breaks Guitars!?!" I wonder how long before United knew they were famous on Youtube? I bet they have multiple alerts setup now... maybe not... :-O
Now you can stop reading right here of course, unless you'd like to go a little deeper....
Ok, you're still reading so you must want more. You should consider what happens and what gets said on sites like Twitter and Facebook. Let's be honest here, if someone wants everyone else in the world to know something, they post it on Twitter and Facebook. It's the fastest way to gather and spread information, but at the same time, it's the fastest and easiest way to build or destroy a name or reputation. Look what happened to Wal-Mart and Target last Christmas. A classic example of the "Thrill of Victory" and the "Agony of Defeat."
Search.Twitter.com is a tried and true method of finding out who is talking about you and what they are saying. Twittergrader, and Facebookgrader are a couple of other products you can check out from Hubspot. If you're looking for more of that "visual" display of your online presence, then check out spezify. This one is not only informative, it's fun and entertaining at the same time. Addictomatic is another one you should visit, you'll love the compilation of content it will pull up using various resources to do all the work for you. I always suggest starting with your name or company when visiting and trying these sites. You will be surprised at some of the things you'll find.
Now let's dig really deep for gold! Measuring your online presence and influence. Klout.com and OnlineIDcalculator.com each have devised their own internal way for determining your influential impact in the on-line world. SocialMention which is a similar service will “grade” your results based on your participation in a variety of places. The last site I'll mention is StepRep, this is one I use daily. You can receive daily email updates on the results Steprep finds, and the social networking aspect of it certainly can't hurt when building a positive reputation.
We've all seen what can happen to a company or individual via the Social Networks albeit from a single tweet, a note on a FB wall, a Video on Youtube, a photo on Flickr, or even a Blog post or article on a website. There is great power in the hands of those millions of consumer messages that get transmitted over the cyber-lines each and everyday. No one can protect your good name or business but you. That was until now... there is online help. Sleep better at night knowing you have done your best to manage and protect your business and reputation.
Don't forget your ReBlogged posts, it's good to keep up with what others are saying and adding to them.
These may not be the catch-all, fix-all, but it's a start to "managing and protecting your online reputation."
This is so very useful. For me it's like a day without Rain ... I'll be behind! Good advice.
Hi, Brad. This is a really great information and good advice. I learn something new every time I read one of your posts and I REALLY appreciate your generosity in sharing so much.
Great information!
I'm checking them all out now.
Thank you, as always, for looking out for us!
Brad, first I have to say I had not seen United Breaks Guitars, but I am unlikely to forget it either! I do have Google alerts and just thought that was enough. How many of these others do I REALLY need?
Brad, I notice you have Get Clicky in the side bar and Site Meter.
I thought we couldn't use those anymore.
I like StepRep I will check out a few others.
So much great information..... and so little time. I'll have to come back and/or maybe print it.
Thanks for staying updated on all of this and passing it on to us.
As far as the United breaking the guitar, did you know that United LOST that same guy's luggage just recently? Let's see what happens next .... United maybe even more famous soon (can't wait to hear the new song).
BRAD..Thanks for the useful tips..we can always depend on you to be Hip..Now if i could only get back into my Twitter account that would be MAGIC..These are great Really thank you
HELPFULHANNAH your friend in Philadelphia
Good points Brad. At some point you have to chalk it up as part of doing business. Just like Best Buy. They piss people off daily, but still do truck loads of sales. I'm happy being me. As long as my profits increase each year than that's what gages my success, not so much what so & so's best friend on Twitter thinks of my "comment." Excellent blog!
Brad, Thanks for bringing more of the cutting edge to the Rain.
Brad: Yes, it is important to monitor what's going on out there about you. StepRep is my favorite though, because you have a little say about what's found and can influence... I need to checkout Spezify and Addictomatic... thanks.
There's another avenue for companies to measure what is going on about them in the blogosphere. Google "I hate ..." For example, google "I hate Sears" and the stories posted out there on the web will make you scared for Sears. Also, google "I hate orbitz." People post these stories to get revenge when they feel they haven't gotten what was promised. And these companies have no idea what is out there.
Wow. I've been using Google Alerts for a long time; and my web site provides it's own set of reports too. But this is great. I'm going to have to check every one of these links. Thanks!!!
Brad - You rock ! Great suggestions to keep track. I think doing a quick Google search is a great way to track what is going on and those Google alerts are quite awesome ! I have five or six them I get daily that I learned about here in the Rain !!
As usual, some more useful tips but not for the faint of heart!
As always, your post is full of helpful information and usable links (at least, I'll use them!).
Thanks, again.
It is kind of funny... I had been writing this post in my head today.
Hi Brad - I've been using Google Alerts for sometime now. Lucky for me it's been pretty boring! LOL Most of these others I've never heard of. Will have to take a look.
Debi
Brad, Thank you.......I haven't heard of many of these sites but I'd love to check into a few of them. I have so many Google Alerts and I love to find out that way but this is much, MUCH more then that!
Brad -- you are incredible. Thanks for all this insightful information. It is greatly appreciated.
Wonderful post again Brad. Aren't we lucky to have you watching over us making sure we stay on the straight and narrow? There's so much to watch out for. I'm glad you, (and other great AR members like Renee), are there to make sure we stick with the program.
Thanks for the continued hard work and consistently great posts.
Denise
Brad,
Okay, Google Alerts obviously isn't enough any more, so I guess I have to look into these other sites you bring up here. I do have a little sliver of reputation left to protect.
Brad.. Google Alerts are great.. I will have to look at the others as well.
Brad, The power of the internet and how it can affect a business ore person's reputation is overwhelming.
I didn't know about any of this stuff except Google alerts - I live in such a small town, usually people just call and tell you what has been said about you....but now we have the internet. Guess I better pay attention.
Never heard of United Breaks Guitars either! That was funny, and the comments were, too.
Brad, You are so full of good info, keeping us up to date on tips and tricks of the web. Thank You. Going to check out a couple of these tips that you have given us. I may have to send you a new Stetson Hat for Christmas since you are always thinking of us:-)
Dona - I'd sport that hat everywhere I went!!! :-))
Thanks for the invite, too, BTW - I saw it this evening and will try it right away:)
Brad, Thanks for the all the great info. DIdn't know about most of those sites, but now that i do, I've got lots more work to do and I was having trouble keeping up already.
Just bookmarked this post...thanks for the info, Brad! :)
Leilani
Lots of good resources here, Brad. Several of these have RSS feeds, so you could set them up in Google Reader.
Thanks for that advice Brad. Unfortunately in this world today, there are those that still try to get away with attacking someone - so you do have to be on your guard...
Thanks for the information, Brad. I didn't realize there were so many ways to tarck information online.
Brad,
I just commented on Tim and Pam because they re-blogged your post. Thank you for taking the time to present a clear concise step by step approach for our online marketing and social networking! I have it bookmarked!
Interesting. I guess that if you really want to burn someone, you should do something viral, huh?
What a wealth of information you have in this post.
Mostly, though, I would like to share a little AR love for posting that United video. I haven't seen it, and so now I'm hooked on this saga. Way cool music, I'd never heard before.
I have to try some of the other tools you've described and provided links for. I love the google alerts, but more, more, more is out there.
Hi Brad -- I just googled my real estate company's name (it's my company) -- I hadn't done that in a while. Here is a new thing I learned: my comments on other AR member's post end up all over Google's SERPs. Better watch what you comment on!
Chris - comments on AR member's posts are like mini-posts in and of themselves. That's one of the great features of commenting here, I have seen where AR members have picked up business from comments they've left on the network. I could also see where that could work against someone, depending on the comments that they leave.
Great discovery, I'm glad you were able to find and point this out. :-)
Hi Brad, I have been using Google Alerts for some time now and really like it. It was very easy to set up and really saves me a lot of time.
Thank you for the information. I will have to check out some of the other sites and services you reference.
Charlotte Homes for Sale
Hi Brad,
Thanks for the great info. I'm on Google Alerts but will be checking into some of these other sites. I forwarded it to my husband for his start-up company as well.
Your post makes it apparent I know so little. Book marked to read and act on, thanks.
I have never used Google alerts Brad, but will check it out as well as the other sites you mentioned as well. Thanks!
Brad,
This is very, very valuable information. I'm going to check this out.
Brian
As Craig said, thank you for looking out for us. Always appreciate your thoughts, advice and guidance! ~Nyssa
Hey Brad: received your invite to StepRep....thanks to you or someone else on Active Rain, I am already on that site - for some time now. Thanks for looking out for us...and lots more good ideas on this post. ;-)
Thanks for the great information, Brad! Excellent, as always!
Great info Brad - I had not heard about some of those near the bottom of your post, so I am going to check them out!
Brad, as always great info we can use. I've bookmarked it as the Phillies just lost game four of the World Series.
Brad,
I'm using many of the tools. However, as usual, you always have something new to teach, and I have more work to do.
Brad, such a great blog you have. I would be at a technological loss without you. Thankfully, in this case, I'm not doing too bad. I already have google alerts set up.
Okay Brad, I've gone off to play on some of these sites, and there is a lot to see and do!
Here's an example of how Twitter was and can be used to help a business and it's representatives build and support its brand and reputation.
I Thought this would be a great example to share as to why it's important to be in tune and "connected!!"
Some new ones here I haven't heard about, thanks for always keeping us updated on the latest and greatest!
Here's another great example of a well known and profitable business staying connected to Social Media and Networking to protect and support their Brand, their Business, and their reputation.