Reputation Management Nightmare
Posted by Jaci Russo
image via Flickr by nemesisnom
Recently, Google implemented a new feature called “real time search”. With search engine optimization being the big prize that everyone is striving to maintain, this could really put a wrench in the works.
Now Facebook and Twitter status updates are a part of that record.
Google Real Time Search for Brand
Think about what that could mean for your company or product. Now anyone that references you in a Facebook or Twitter post, posts that they think might be only seen by their friends, will now show up to the world.
Inc. Magazine reported that 90% of purchases are made after online research. When your consumer goes online to research you, they won’t just find informed analysis, they will also find comments made by anyone, even your competitors.
Are you protecting your reputation?
If not, you have to start doing so now. Your brand is to value to have someone hijack it. It only takes one negative comment to turn off a potential consumer.
What do you do?
- Make sure the names of your key executives, company, products, etc are all claimed on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
- Set up a “Listening Station” either through Google Alerts or a service like Radian 6 to know what is being said about you
- Create your own messages. Be proactive with telling the story about your company and product.
- Have a crises communication plan so you have a proactive solution ready if someone starts attacking your brand.
It’s not too late, but you need to start now. Prepare yourself.
It’s not just consumers that can be affected. What about your shareholders. How valuable will your stock feel to them if it is being trashed online? Ask United Airlines. They saw an 18% drop in stock prices during the week following the release of a consumer generated video ‘United Breaks Guitars’ on YouTube.
Building your brand is all about developing an emotional connection with consumers that is so strong it changes the conversation and turns them into brand advocates. Use the power of search engine optimization to help you build the brand.
