- Appco Group Services
- Reputation management for Hotels – ‘Home away from Home’
- Reputation Management Online Through Right Response!
- Kingfisher Airlines gullibility banking on SBI
- Pfizer pill recall – botched up reputation in wrong pack
- Twitter to lose its reputation as a free speech platform?
- IIPM worried about Google Suggest, why is it so?
- Reputation Management Tip for 2012: Brands need to tap into social media search!
- Facebook Timeline and Reputation Management
- Apple Siri gender bias or glitch?
Company Reputation
Ping is not my Thing
September 2, 2010 | 
Author Whenever Apple announces anything, the Tech world stops to discuss it as they are changing the world. Don’t get me wrong, I love the look and feel of Apple products, own an iPad which I utterly adore but I don’t strictly think of Apple as innovative any more. I also don’t think of them as a victory of style over substance so I am not a critic really. What they do, they do absolutely brilliantly down to the last detail. In so many ways they do little small touches where it really matters. At the same time, I don’t trust them at all and rarely use iTunes to buy music, don’t use the Mac that sits on a desk near me and don’t own an iPhone. I know they are excellent software engineers.. but for me they stand for an old paradigm of producer and consumer. They build things where you are not allowed under the hood to fiddle. I dont like that as my whole reading of the Internet age is that we get to fiddle and own our devices. Ping made me wonder whether I had Apple wrong after all and they were about to start embracing social media after all. For me Apple is cool in the designer sense and not cool in the run amok, dance in the mud in Glastonbury sense. Sounds strange but I think of them as the cool people in the bar that you are scared to talk to, but actually turn out to be nerdy and dweebish and are boring in bed because they are so self conscious. So is Ping the mashed up social web or a nervous half-hearted stab in the dark by Apple. Well, since I cannot access the iTunes store or rather the Ping part of it, it is impossible to say There is the question why I am writing this article at all. Reputations are like trees. They take time to grow and shape and they are difficult to change as time passes. Many successful companies rarely transition to business environments and I sense that this is what is happening with Apple. Already within one day their relationship with the uber-social Facebook has died, and it got me thinking that one of the aspects of Apple products is that they never seem to really talk on social media much. They are wonderful devices and you can use them to do wonderful creative things but they don’t seem to go further. You consume them. What is the experience of Ping? Well it is not social and because it does not connect to anything else it is hard to see how I am going to use it. The main problem is that I cannot connect to anybody without emailing them which I cannot be bothered to do. You know, what with facebook, twitter and apps like Grooveshark (which Apple resolutely will not allow onto the apstore) why do i need Ping? I mean really, who cares.
Posted in Company Reputation, Product Reviews, Social Network Sites | 
Tags: Apple, facebook, Ping | 
4 Comments »
Marks & Spencers in Salad Salt Shocker
High street retailer Marks & Spencer must be hoping that all their excess salt will help preserve their image as recent reports have found that the retail behemoth sell 7 out of the 10 most salty salads in town.
Health conscious people of Britain who rely on high street supermarkets such as M&S for a healthier alternative to the masses of fast food outlets available, and are now learning that their “healthier option” might be anything but. The study of 270 salad dishes surveyed by Consensus Action on Salt and Health (Cash), found only six contained less salt than a packet of crisps. Results also suggested that one-tenth of all the salads had more salt than the 2.1g contained in a Big Mac burger.
This news will probably let the patrons of McDonalds feel a little smug, but what have Marks & Spencer have to say on the matter? Claire Hughes, M&S’s nutritionist, had the following to say…
The Cash study misleads consumers regarding the actual level of salt content in the salads. She added that all the different pack sizes are clearly labelled, and that M&S is committed to providing a range of choices for consumers when it comes to what they want to eat.
So Claire Hughes clearly doesn’t care what adverse effects their ‘healthy foods’ are having on their customers. How concerned should people be though? Cash campaign manager Katharine Jenner said: “Many choose salad as a healthy and convenient lunch, particularly when watching their waistline.
“Rather than feeling healthy, however, they often feel bloated and sluggish, symptoms of water retention which can be caused by the hidden salt in these salads.
“In the long term the health problems are more serious, as salt intake is linked to osteoporosis and high blood pressure. Given the healthy image of salads it’s surprising to find that they contain such high levels of unnecessary salt.”
So… osteoporosis? High blood pressure? These aren’t things that your customers should be worried about, Claire? Your ‘Taste of Asia’ salad has a salt level of 2.81g – that’s almost as much as 6 packets of crisps, and 0.71g more than a Big Mac burger. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommends adults eat no more than 6g of salt a day – about a teaspoonful – to minimise the risk of high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease. People eating an M&S salad are almost half-way there!
Also guilty of flogging high-salt content salads are usual suspects KFC, McDonalds and other supermarket chains Tesco and Waitrose, and the fact that of the 270 salads studied only 6 contained less salt than a packet of crisps, is bound to have customers thinking twice about their diet. As yet though, only M&S has responded with any official statement – and an extremely nonchalant one at that.
So attention, salad lovers. They’re not just salty; they’re M&S salty.
HP reputation – fired CEO gets $28 million to leave
The high profile CEO of Hewlett-Packard Co, the world’s biggest technology company had to step down under a smokescreen set off by a sexual harassment case filed by a lady marketing consultant who was working for him. Mark Hurd, who was connected to 28 board members in 3 different organizations across 5 different industries was one of the most powerful figures in HP and was the architect of the work culture and success of this technology giant. It is ironical that the CEO Mark Hurd was in discussion for a new contract worth about $100 million, when he got marching orders that came with a purse of $28m, one third of the contract value that he was eyeing at that time.
HP said that it ousted Hurd after its investigation of a sexual harassment complaint found he had falsified expense reports and other documents to conceal a relationship with a female contractor who worked for HP. The sudden and shocking departure pf the HP CEO took the stock markets by surprise and HP’s shares tumbled sharply by over 7% as the first reports were flashed. Though HP maintained that the change of guard at the helm of affairs will have no bearing on the prospects of HP, investors opted to take a wait and watch policy.
The Mark Hurd episode became the overnight talking point for many journalists and anxious investors, which in turn left a dent on the online reputation of HP. However, HP was quick to act and ensured its brand protection by removing Hurd. In the coming days, how best the company recovers its lost ground would be of great concern for not just the share holders of HP but also millions of HP brand loyal customers and technology buffs all over the world.
Posted in Company Reputation, Reputation Management | Tags: hp, HP CEO, Mark Hurd fired, Online Reputation, sexual harassment case | No Comments »
How important it is to reply to the reviews?
Replying to reviews on your website is an important part of your online process. It is time that business small and big should start thinking about this seriously. Reviews may be good or bad, responding to them adds to the credibility of the company. It is also a part of your online reputation management that sustains your online image. To remain aloof to reviews is an unprofessional approach which reflects on the reputation of the company.
But what needs to be dealt with care is how you respond to reviews, as part of your business goodwill you need to understand that you are addressing the issue brought up in the review. The review may criticize your way of doing business, and as a responsible business house you need to take it from there while clarifying your position. This move will induce confidence and respect and customers feel privileged that you responded to their likes. Review sites are great platforms to build a solid rapport with your business associates. Responding to reviews generates a feeling that you are taking seriously what is been said, and that you intend fixing the issue.
Reviews are a mirror to your business that shows where your business or brand stands. It clearly shows how people perceive your company. A chance to amend flaws or even mend what is lacking. Lately it has been seen that nearly every company in today’s era pay attention to what is been said online. The race is in keeping the company customer friendly and leaving no stones unturned to achieve that goal. Nevertheless doing so surely enhances the friendliness of the company and builds a positive image. One should be really objective when replying to the reviews, as it’s a part of official dialogue.
Being pro-active in answering to your reviews shows the users that you care about them and this enhances your goodwill. So companies need to take every chance to respond to reviews and critics as this is an integral part of your reputation management.
Dudley do right for BP?
BP is making some serious PR changes quite like how political parties field local guys for elections Robert Dudley comes in waving the American flag. We hear about him talking of his times fishing and swimming in Mississippi growing up. While outgoing CEO Tony Hayward has termed the oil spill crisis like “stepping out from the pavement and being hit by a bus”. He seems to be stepping down to appease the masses.
BP will have its first non-British CEO and this is sending a message to the US that they have someone who will think about their side of the story – someone who has a genuine interest in cleaning up the mess and someone who has admitted to facing colossal issues to tide over the problem. Bob Dudley sure seems like the man we need.
BP also needs to understand the horror people feel knowing that stringent security measures could have averted this enormous problem. Well there is also the politics of further deep sea drilling to considered and the oil lobby’s sheer power on the other side. BP has made quite a few PR duds to its credit, like publishing full page glossy advertisements, censoring press and sponsoring events during the crisis. Hardly the right time to seem looking for PR and not to mention the neat retirement amount and pension fund that Tony Hayward is set to take away.
Whoever made a lot of the decisions that BP made needs to go and that is where the new CEO steps in. And this is what Dudley said..
“We will fulfill the promises we’ve made”
“Meeting our commitments is critical for BP’s long-term success. Taking over this role, I will not reduce my commitment in the region.”
“It’s not our intention to exit the U.S. nor do we believe we will have to. We fully intend to maintain those businesses and restore our position in the Gulf.”
Posted in Bad Press, Company Reputation, Damage Limitation, Examples | Tags: Bad Press, BP, BP Oil crisis, New Chief, Oil Spill, Robert Dudley, Tony Hayward | 1 Comment »
Reputation management, a solid formula is also essential for small corporations
Is reputation management more important a matter to small businesses than to large corporations? Yes, small companies have a lot more to lose from a storm of negative comments and it can actually destroy them when compared to a multi million dollar firm that has the deep pockets to afford such an awful attack. A small company may not be often able to wait or counteract in accordance with big corporations.
But there is always a solution for small firms to control their online reputation by taking a proactive approach by constantly using organic SEO to boost positive listings in SERPs, address negative publicity swiftly and professionally.
Reputation management has always been a success factor in ensuring a company’s success. Online reputation management involves maintaining your company’s positive image over the web and combating the negative publicity as soon as it arises.
With a plethora of sites through which consumers exchange their ideas, the anonymity that the Internet provides may encourage disgruntled customers to voice the bad experiences with a sole purpose of sabotaging the company in question. Unfortunately no matter how well a business is run, there will always be dissatisfied customers who will take to the Internet no matter how willingly you try to address the situation.
Transparency is always important in managing your online reputation. When faced with such scrutiny, it’s best to address these problems directly instead of hoping or assuming they’ll clear all on their own. Let your customers know what you are doing to improve your company’s brand image and when problems seem to arise, make them know your side of the story as well.
Of course, it’s far easier to have reputation management services from experts and work on building your business and products better.
What can reputation management do for you?
Reputation Management services has become a key aspect for almost all companies. This dynamic service is coming to be regarded as a major boon for all businesses, brands, individuals and products who were victims of this so called reputation crisis. Your company’s reputation might be immaculate at present, but one can’t predict when the situation turns around.
Reputation management services might be something new, but in such a short span of time it has proven its mettle and has got recognition globally. From politician, sports personalities, celebrities, companies to doctors have all embraced it as yet another aspect or PR. It can’t be denied that many companies and brands are benefited with the effective tools of reputation management. No matter its a small business or a Fortune 500 company, reputation management service is meant for all.
It is debated that, the results of these reputation management services comes gradually and not in a haste. Well, to bring your reputation up is a systematic process needs patience, as this is a sensitive area. To promote a brand or key phrase and to optimize it correctly asks for time, and to further push down the negative results and at the same time bringing up positive contents needs a concrete strategy and proper allocation. Meanwhile the use of a pro-active SEO campaign is a smart way to bring up your brand image and reputation in search engines.
Many companies argue that, its really pain staking to sit and watch all negatives about the business, even after resorting to these reputation management services, but they have to understand the sensitivity of the issue. Reputation management campaign works as a process and it slowly weaves a positive image for your brand, making sure the credibility of your brand or company is never lost.
How it works :
After analysing the position of the company online, with the help of the articles, web pages, blogs and pictures, the reputation management plan is designed. After judging your present status online and by knowing how people perceive you, the repair works of your online reputation starts off.
As we all know ‘Google’ does an index of new pages fast, so by publishing blogs, web pages and articles about your company we can bring the positive side of your business. As your page gets cached by Google, you can work more stringently to rank those pages on the top searches. It can take a minimum of six months to get the results, but at the end of the day you are satisfied with what Google is coming up with about your company or brand . You have more control of your reputation and that makes all the difference!
Posted in Celebrity Reputation, Company Reputation, Damage Limitation, Online PR, politicians, PR / Public Relations, Product Reviews, Reputation Management, Reputation News, Reputation Online | Tags: Brand, Business/Finance, Celebrity Reputation, Communication, Computing, Google, Google Inc., negative comments, Online Reputation Management, Politician, politicians reputation, PR / Public Relations, reputation, Reputation Management, Reputation management services, Reputation system, Society, Technology/Internet, World Wide Web | 1 Comment »
Apple iPhone 4 flaws and reputation damage
As Apple Inc strives to pacify the irate customers over the antennagate fiasco, its shares have tumbled to an all time low and online consumer polls show a swinging brand loyalty among its users. Apple would be wary of the media headlines that talk about the antenna flaws even today as it might result in a dip in its future sale figures. In a Reuters online poll, 56 percent people opined that the controversy made them less likely to buy an iPhone. Ever since the complaints started trickling in, Apple has so far lost about $16 billion in market value.
Meanwhile, an extensive 90-minute news conference held by Apple’s chief executive has helped to fix the public relations damage to some extent, though much remains to be done to resolve the issue . The press conference of Apple CEO Steve Jobs that came as a surprise to many customers and investors did not touch upon the future course of action that Apple may take to sort out this mess, though it cleared the doubts of the users and redirected their attention to the positive aspects of this coveted brand.
The company said the media had blown the issue out of proportion, but offered free cases to consumers to help mitigate any signal strength problems.
Industry watchers are betting that despite all the odds like the pending lawsuits, poor reviews from Consumer Report and ever increasing user complaints, Apple might not be willing to initiate an embarrassing recall, which might be more damaging to its well earned reputation for quality products.
The wrap around antenna flaws of the hyped iPhone 4 had hit the headlines soon after the model was launched. So, Apple needs to come out with a proactive strategy in identifying and finding a permanent solution to this issue as any delay could prove detrimental to the establishment of iPhone 4 brand in the market. Apple has initiated quick fix methods like offering free protective cases for the users to offset the signal problem, till it comes up with a permanent solution. It is indeed a race against the clock for Apple as it has to move past the issue quickly to ensure its brand protection before it snowballs into a major scandal.
Related posts:
Posted in Company Reputation, Damage Limitation | Tags: antenna flaws, Apple iPhone 4, brand image, reputation, steve jobs | 3 Comments »
Reputation Management 2010 – a half year report!
Six months into 2010 and you realize the one thing that’s been recurring is big reputation crises. And how the mighty have fallen in reputation terms!! From Tiger Woods to Toyota worries, from BP oil spill crisis to Mel Gibson’s rants, from the Duchess of York scandal to the performance duds by the millionaire football stars, 2010 has brought its share of bad luck to haloed people and companies.
Reputation Management has never been this important and it’s sadly when a crisis happens that you actually tend to quantify reputation in terms of money. Reputation is indeed money and even if you argue that time is a healer, the business you lose in this period of crisis is never coming back to you.
The cool thing about Online Reputation Management (ORM) is that it encompasses PR, SEO reputation management, Branding and Crisis Management. You practically have your defense lined-up for you, ready for action. With ORM in place the bumpy ride to recovery from a crisis is largely smooth.
Finally by outsourcing ORM you actually get a whole team working for you round the clock. Being active on blog networks and social networking sites daily may not be possible when you have to go about your business. ORM goes a long way in protecting your reputation and brand online and should be part of your advertising or PR portfolio.
At Reputation Management For.com we’ve been ranking reputation of celebrities and companies based on how they fare online and we’ve often been alarmed at the naiveté with which online reputation has been handled. However, there’s much to be done to change this and this is where we come in. From regular monitoring to highlighting positive stories to damage limitation and burying negatives ORM is not be ignored.
For nowadays anyone can be an investigative reporter- a citizen journalist with phone cameras and other gadgets and anyone’s a paparazzo and celebrities beware! These are times of sting operations, consumer forums, and review sites all as keen on reputations as we are.
So yes, the year 2010 seems to be going down history as a year that could well use some reputation management on its own and here’s hoping the next six months see companies and celebrities with sound ORM in place.
Posted in Celebrity Reputation, Company Reputation, Damage Limitation, Online PR, PR / Public Relations, Reputation Management, Reputation News, Reputation Online, SEO, Social Network Sites | Tags: BP Oil crisis, Celebrity Reputation, company reputation, Mel Gibson, Reputation Management, Tiger Woods | 1 Comment »
Reputation management- A useful way to track the competition
Back in the day, if somebody wanted to bad-mouth your business, they had to risk their own reputation to do so. Nowadays they can do it with the aid of thousands of social networking and blog sites with complete animosity. If someone posts a false or a malicious comment or blog, they can go without being noticed – being one among the numerous sites online. So, it’s tempting and easy to be malicious.
Reputation management is more than a service simply for those people who have had negative content levelled against them online. ORM is predominantly for protecting your reputation and keeping it consistent for the entire duration. By paying attention to your customers, you can ensure that you are always offering them what they want, and can adapt your advertising as to attract other potential customers to your custom.
When you open the social media floodgates, you create a channel for people to come and ask help for their various issues. So they may either ask you questions about the various products or services, or it might be a disgruntled customer who is posting negative comments about you, because they are dissatisfied about your product or service.
It is important to monitor your business online:
If you cannot monitor your brand on your own, then you need to make use of the services of an online reputation management firm like Reputation Management For.com, who will do the trick of helping you build, regain and protect your brand name. We offer various services and packages and have great tools and systems in place to protect your name online; it will ultimately help you to have complete control of your business.