Finding a Good Reputation Management Firm

Jun.30, 2010 in Internet

Online reputation management is here for good, of that there isn’t any doubt. Countless stories have been authored on the significance of handling an internet reputation, key movers in the business world have talked on the requirement of managing one’s online resume, and thousands of firms have appeared just about overnight to fill the requirement. With all these firms now operating, it can be troublesome for somebody new to the arena of online reputation management to grasp what to have a look for to set apart the good from the bad. There are 1 or 2 easy things to keep an eye out for, though :

Does the Firm have a rep?

It should go without saying, but looking into a the company reputation is one of the most unconsidered steps towards choosing the right firm. Because the bulk of people using these services are comparatively web and business savvy, reviews and critiques are common and generally only a short search away. Of course, it is important to be certain of the credibility of the reviewer as well - due to the nature of the business, one must expect masses of fake positive reviews authored by the company itself, and masses of fake negative reviews by competitors.

How Does the Company Perform in search engines?

Another straightforward test that is frequently unconsidered is running a simple keyword search for phrases the company appears to be using to describe its own business. Because online reputation management is ultimately a game of maneuvering search sites to end up in desired placement, how well a company is able to try this for themselves is very telling. If a company uses the phrase, “online reputation management firm ” time and time again on their site, for example, one can safely presume they’re targeting that as a critical key phrase. If they fail to show up in the 1st page of Google results for one of their top key phrases, their efficiency as a business should at the very least be questioned.

Is the Company made of Real folks?

Because reputation management is such a lucrative business, and because it is such an open field, there exist many cookie-cutter sites which offer very little of substance, but try and package it well. There isn’t any one-size-fits-all approach to reputation management, and it is important to find a company that’s willing to take a personal interest in handling the brand. A company with execs listed, along with their testimonials and some history, is much more sure to take that additional step than a bigger, faceless firm.

Do They Know Their Stuff?

Although it’s impossible to illustrate how good a company will be at their job before seeing them perform it, one can get a good general notion of how informed they’re on their field by supplemental materials they publish. Blogs, articles, and other support info play a key role in SEO, so all firms will include such materials. Whether these materials demonstrate a understanding of the field, and show an amount of sophistication, is a major factor in determining how probable they are going to be to succeed in managing a target brand’s reputation.