There are many things to look out for in the personal reputation management industry. One of the single most important aspects of the industry seems pretty simple and non-threatening–Blog Comments. But the fact is that blog comments are almost always anonymous, short, and free to post. So one person, in only an hour, can manage to leave comments all over the Internet which do severe damage to the reputation of the individual or business that is being maligned.

It doesn’t stop at the blog post, however. Often times, some of the most passionate and/or nasty comments will come in the comments sections of these blog posts. If you need to defend your brand or product out there, don’t overlook what people are saying in the comments themselves.

It cannot be understated how important blog comments can be–they serve as unofficial reviews, basically.

http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2009/11/16/5-less-obvious-online-reputation-management-issues

Negative search results are a disaster for any company whose image is important to its function. These days, that means virtually any company. It is essential that companies present themselves with a squeaky clean image in such a competitive atmosphere. I found an article that had some very good things to say about internet defamation.

If something negative about you or your brand starts showing up in Google search suggestions, you’re in for a bit of a battle.  There really isn’t an established method for dealing with this problem.  There are a few tricks I’ve seen work in the past.  For obvious reasons, I can’t give specific examples, but the overall tips aren’t person or brand specific.

The only part I would disagree with is that there isn’t an established method. There are many methods of dealing with internet defamation, ranging from litigation to online reputation management. Read the author’s tips at the link below.

http://www.searchenginejournal.com/advanced-orm-influencing-google-search-suggest-and-sublistings/16483/

That first job is sometimes tough to get. Any recent graduate, of either high school or college, can tell you that simple truth and put a personal touch on it to boot. It has become even more difficult in recent years, with the rise of both the Internet and search engines. This heightened level of inter-connectivity has allowed for prospective employees to plus applicants’ names into search engines in order to look for additional information about them. What they are greeted with is predictable: Forum postings, blogs, and social networking profiles. In the Twitter-First Century there can be no secrets online.This can make it quite difficult to get a job, especially if negative things have been written about you online, as these things are extremely likely to show up in your search results. This is called web libel and it can certainly be minimized by removing it from your search results through an online reputation management campaign.

http://timesonline.typepad.com/schoolgate/2009/12/looking-for-that-elusive-job-read-how-graduates-can-use-the-internet-to-secure-it.html

There are few things more infuriating than being libeled. When someone speaks, or writes, something about you which is untrue—it can unhinge your entire world. This is especially true of wide-spread libeling, which most often occurs on the Internet.

Companies are especially sensitive about this problem because it can be so problematic for them. Businesses, from small to large, spend money on advertising their websites—but this is ineffective if their search results are negative. Online libel is a constant source of frustration for these companies because pranksters, malcontents, or competitors will utilize the anonymity of the Internet to hurt the bottom line of companies. They will write articles, create websites, blog, post on forums, or complain to consumer-oriented sites, all of which will eventually find its way to the company’s search results.

We all do it regularly, Google a company, movie, or celebrity in order to find more about them. What others have said about that product, company, or person will color our vision of them, too. So, it is important that this information at least be true, if not neutral.

Reputation Hawk is a company which provides services to these companies and individuals who have been unfairly maligned. They offer the ability to mold a company or individual’s search results into a collection of links that more accurately reflects reality. ReputationHAWK has been recognized as a leader in the industry of online reputation management by a number of media institutions, like the Chicago Tribune, Newsweek, or Computerworld.

There are many reasons for individuals and especially companies to conduct comprehensive web reputation management campaigns. Building a buzz, attracting more clients, protecting a brand–all of these can result from an extensive online reputation management campaign. Unfortunately, most companies seem to think that online reputation management is only useful after their image has been damaged.
http://www.nikkipilkington.com/internet-marketing-articles/internet-marketing-article-10-reasons-why-you-could-need-online-reputation-management

This article gives some good advice on how to hire an online defamation professional. This can be very important for large companies or celebrities who are suffering from image attacks online from misanthropes and malcontents. Finding the right company to help you is almost as important as getting help at all–because some companies just do shoddy work.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2103122_hire-reputation-management-adviser.html

This article points out that students should be wary of what they post on social networking sites–and that is 100% true. While social networking sites can be helpful in many respects, they can also be detrimental to your efforts to get a decent job. A recent poll by ExecuNet found that 77% of recruiters run online searches on job candidates, that is enough to derail even the most competent of job searchers if your online reputation is not well-kept.
http://www.theplainsman.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Employers+Take+a+Look+at+E-Image%20&id=3991499&instance=home_news_lead_story

So what does Winston Churchill and WWII have to do with reputation management? I’m not sure I agree with the article’s overzealous metaphor–but I certainly agree with the crux of his message. Business reputation management requires constant vigilance and a preparatory and defensive stance.
http://searchenginewatch.com/3628700

Does an online reputation really matter in the big scheme of things? I have heard many stories about companies, and people, suffering tremendously because of their less-than-stellar online reputations. Web reputation management is an effective way to repair your reputation online.
http://www.searchenginejournal.com/social-media-profiles-online-reputation-management/11544/

This article is certainly correct in that the Internet is a wonderful resource that can also be used as a weapon against certain individuals. In the information age, it is absolutely critical that individuals have some sort of protection against this sort of online defamation. That is why online reputation management companies exist.
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/family_relationships/story/865275.html