The most insidious thing about search engines is that they lack any sense of human judgment. Search engines like Google use an algorithm that takes dozens of factors into account when it matches websites up with search terms. On a large level, this practice tends to work out fine—searches about current events, for example, generally turn up relevant results—but when it comes to small businesses or individuals, the algorithm often favors negative results, which can be disastrous. Some arbitrary factor in the search algorithm can cause a damaging bit of information (such as a negative review, unflattering photo, or condemning blog) to jump to the top of the search results page and stay there. No matter how spurious, how ridiculous, or how unreasonable a claim might be, the damage is already done. A bad first impression is very difficult to fix, and most people won’t bother to seek out a balanced opinion or find refuting evidence once they stumble upon a condemning bit of information.
This is where online reputation management services come in. In the wilderness of the Internet, individuals and companies are stepping forward and working to restore order. They use their knowledge of search engines and the general landscape of the internet to fix the damage done by algorithms that often favor the scandalous over the truthful. In some cases, they work to actually remove the negative content—but this can be impossible if a site admin flatly refuses, as they often do. Instead, most reputation management professionals improve their clients’ reputation by promoting positive content that is already out there or presenting a more balanced, accurate view that they work with the client to craft. The end result is an improved business or quality of life for the client, and a more balanced, accurate selection of information for the general public.
Reputation management services can be a lifesaver. By improving the visibility of positive or neutral information, it makes negative information more difficult to find. It gives people control over their own image so that they can achieve their goals and move on with their life. But reputation management services aren’t only for people who already have a tarnished online reputation. Even people and organizations with impeccable images should consider reputation management as a form of insurance—after all, the best defense is a good offense. By building up a wall of accurate, informative content, a person can preemptively block any potential reputation issues before they even become a problem.
Taking the plunge and signing up for online reputation management can be difficult. But as the internet becomes an increasingly important place for those searching for information, taking a proactive stance becomes imperative for those who want to maintain their quality of life and have the peace of mind of knowing that their reputation will remain undisturbed.
Resources:
Reputation Management Services
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reputation_management
