Search engines have truly become reputation managers. You are your Google results, regardless of what the reality may be. First impressions really do count and if your first one isn’t a good one, it’s likely to be your last. Do not leave what the search engines say about you and your brand to random chance.
Proactive brand managers practice defensive visibility and ranking strategies that help influence what potential customers, employers, mentors and the media see when they search for information about a company and its brands. Use these strategies to encourage positive results in your search engine results.
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Have one or more active websites that feature you or your company’s name in their domain names;
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Publish a blog. Search engines love original content that is freshened regularly;
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Create profiles on social and business networking sites to claim your name and brand and build your online reputation. Linkedin.com can be a great tool for promoting yourself. Check out Ning.com and consider creating a social network that is focused on you and your brand, or one that takes ownership of an issue that is important to your business or product category;
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Claim your name online before someone else does. Websites like Naymz.com allow you to create a profile that links all of your profiles together (Google loves links);
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Publish and syndicate original content to circulate your name throughout the online community;
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Post comments (include your web address!) on high visibility blogs (www.bobparsons.com), share photos online and link your website to trusted websites whenever possible.
Remember, you have to Be Visible to Get Found. Anything that you do to improve your online presence will also help generate positive search results. It is a win-win situation. Reputation management is good branding SEO. There’s nothing ‘black hat’ about it ….. Lori
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