The
internet has created a growing need for individuals and businesses alike to
monitor what is posted about them. With
family, friends and competitors able to create postings anywhere across the
World Wide Web, it is only natural to assume that at some point we will need to
do a bit of damage control.
You
may be asking yourself “What is internet reputation?” An internet reputation is the reputation
created by our online activities and postings as well as the content posted by
others about us or our business. This
reputation can be either helpful or harmful depending on the basis of the
content posted.
Breaking Down Different Types of Content
There
are many types of content that can be posted on the internet that can affect
our reputation. Here we will discuss the
main types and exactly what effect they have upon our reputation as well as the
reputation of a business.
1.
Inappropriate Images – Inappropriate images consist of
everything including, but not limited to, college fraternity parties where we
are shown in a bad light, pictures of bar nights or fights and any images that
could be listed as vulgar.
These images affect our reputation in a harmful manner. Although the picture may be decades old, it
can still affect our present day reputation and create a mess for us in both
personal and business matters.
2.
Competitor Propaganda – Competitor propaganda is a very
common thing on the internet, with each company vying for the top spot in their
field. Competitors may post negative
comments on forums, malicious content on blog sites, or negative imagery in
advertising boxes in order to harm our business reputation or even personal
reputation in some cases.
This type of content is harmful in an obvious way. The competitor seeks to destroy our reputation through their postings and steps must be taken to have these advertisements and postings removed in an orderly fashion to protect our own reputation.
This type of content is harmful in an obvious way. The competitor seeks to destroy our reputation through their postings and steps must be taken to have these advertisements and postings removed in an orderly fashion to protect our own reputation.
3.
Stories And Articles Showcasing Inappropriate Activities – This is the type of
content often posted by family and friends in an unintentionally harmful
manner. There is no true malicious
intent; however the content should be removed in order to avoid a later
problem.
While it may sound ok for Aunt Ida to blog about what
a reckless youth we may have been, this can harm our reputation in spite of the
years that have gone by. Potential
employers do often search the internet to check out their candidates, and
although it may be very humorous to friends and family to hear about how you
streaked naked through the college campus twenty years ago, that employer most
likely does not need to know about it.
The
above examples are just a few in the growing list of content that should be
avoided in order to preserve our internet reputation. There are many ways to have this content
removed and it is best to speak to a professional management service in order
to be sure we’ve caught every possible piece of content.
Sachin
is a freelance writer who spends time blogging about a variety of subjects. His current interest lies within the field of
reputation management and his famous articles includes article on What is
internet reputation. He loves to travel and make new friends.
