Why Online Reputation Management Is Necessary
The internet is now the largest source of information ever created and people are using it to form their view of reality. If you lead a public life, or have a business, Online Reputation Management is just a part of today’s world. There are more than 60,000 searches performed on Google every second and people could be looking for information about you right now. ORM gives you the ability to put accurate, up-to-date information out there for everyone to see and make sure that your public image is accurate.
The Negativity Bias
People are naturally drawn to negative information. Unfortunately, when this human tendency mixes with Google’s search algorithm, the likelihood that negative information will be featured prominently grows. Psychologists call this effect “The Negativity Bias” and for any public entity it represents a very real risk to image and livelihood. The only way to counteract this effect is by actively producing content that shows the world a positive side to your image. People are far less likely to enthuse about your business online, so ORM relies on purposely created positive content to give companies and public figures a fair chance to be seen accurately.
Who Are You?
If someone doesn’t know you personally, how can they form a fair opinion of who you are? People are researched for any number of reasons on Google and, if the person looking into you knows little about you, a case of mistaken identity is possible. You wouldn’t want to lose out on a job or have people spread inaccurate information about you because of mistaken identity. ORM gives you a way to nip these problems in the bud. Using ORM to define who you are online gives you a way to make a difference in how you are seen and make sure your image is what you want it to be.
Keep Your Image Current
If you or your company has struggled with a negative news flow in the past, ORM is one of the most effective ways to recover from rough times. No one is perfect. If you made mistakes that you aren’t proud of, let the world know that you have made positive changes. It is very unlikely that people will create narratives about your recovery, so you have to be the one to demonstrate all the changes you have made.
People love a comeback, so use ORM to show off everything you have learned and how well you are doing right now. Many people struggle with crafting positive content about themselves, so using experienced professionals is a good move. No matter what your reputation management needs are, make sure to engage them. Leaving your online image to chance is a big mistake and it could be costing you more opportunities than you can imagine.
