Online Reputation Management

August 20, 2009 |

Author Kumar

The process of online branding the business, person, company or available service is called as the Online reputation management (ORM). ORM is typically considered as a coloration of marketing (including SEO, SEM) and public relationship. The online reputation management industry is becoming the hot one. Multiple companies are offering this service or starting the newly branded companies to focus on this. The reason for ORM industry fast growth is because of the huge need of protect the business and individuals online. The rapid pace of growth on the internet businesses well as the consumer introduction and the user generated media caused to increase the need of ORM. Mostly user generated media would be the things like blogs, forums, book marking sites, social networking sites etc. These kind of sites make more influence on decissions in online purchases. These kind of social media websites can be used to a company’s reputation growth or can be used to destroy a company’s reputation. That the main reason of Online Reputation Management industry growth.

Overall Consumer Generated Media (CGM) Tips

You have to investigate the fact before you plunge into action because you have to sure if this is not your competitor’s rumor to harm your business. Take a high note of the reality and be honest to counter them. Put down an explanation to justify your action and how you rectified it. Rally friends, clients, peers and utilize your allies. Don’t create new profile to support you position you are likely to be caught.

How to conduct outreach to CGM

Task someone in-house to participate in any applicable forums as user. This will help minimize the impact if there is a regular contributor from your organization. Try sponsoring most forums and build alliances/partnerships with most vocal members.

Forums, user groups and message boards

When trouble strikes, you can minimize the impact if someone from your organization is a regular contributor and can voice your company’s side of the story on the forum. Put yourself consider sponsoring most influential forums Less likely to see sustained criticism if you are a supporter/sponsor.
You build alliances/partnerships with most vocal members.

Blogs

Identify the author of the blog, and read their profile and try to see who they are and what they do and about their work. Just check their author’s previous work to get a feel for his work. Understand the threat level – How respected are they. What is their audience reach

If a blog post is factually incorrect:
Ask the author to remove the same providing him with enough supporting evidence. Put yourself on the forum to keep the blogger updated about future news. If it still does not works, the last thing you can do is send your side of the story and explain the situation. You can even add comments to the post and be open to acknowledge email questions.

Balancing Negative CGM

If the article is true, do not try to ignore or hide the issue. But instead be a part of the discussion. Add response to the website and post your statement like what you wish to do. Try to engage the expertise of CGM communication expert.

On the other hand if it’s not true, you can politely request for the removal of the blog owner remove or retract. You can even try for legal opinion and ask the blogger to suffice correct information and request them to put your information. Add statement to your website with a search engine optimization consultant to ensure all content has been optimized and will achieve top search rankings