photo credit: Nils Geylen

Your reputation can be intentionally managed: social media marketing can create profiles that are so strong, that you are 100 percent secure in what people find when they “Google’ you. For example, I regularly say “Google me” to potential clients, confident in what they will find on the first page organic search results for my proper name. This is because I have built online social media profiles to ensure this.  I typically ‘Google’ any potential vendor before I do business with them: reputation matters prior to payment.

According to Wikipedia: “one’s online reputation is similar to the conventional concept of reputation, but in cyberspace. In cyberspace, reputations can be easily made due to the high transfer of information. But they can also be easily broken, due to the lingering, semi-permanent nature of the World Wide Web, especially the general existence of sockpuppets (easily created pseudonyms). An online reputation is often achieved while in a pseudonymous state. A digital reputation can be useful in situations where credibility must be established…”

 What are the best ways to manage one’s reputation? Example: type Israel Rothman into Google’s famous search box: In addition to my website, you will find:

1. My Associated Content profile where I brag a little about my success with my clients.
2.My WebProNews profile where I write for the Jayde Search Engine Newsletter.
3. My Active Rain profile
4.My MySpace Profile
5.My Linkedin profile
6.My MyBlogLog Profile
7.Biznik Members (a group I am no longer in)

Including two listings for my website and an extra article on Associated content the first page (top 10 organic results) is completely managed, legally, ethically, protecting my interests.

While this takes a little time and effort, this complete security is free. You now have your list to begin managing your reputation online!

These active profiles also create traffic and clients by referring thousands of visitors to my website from my profiles.  Notice our very robust MyBlogLog Community at the right: every time I post to the group, they all recieve it instantly, and I regularly see their faces (avatars) visiting the site.

You can do this for yourself, and there are even companies who can do it for you inexpensively (us).

What are you doing to manage your online reputation?

For more information, visit our FAQ above!