Analysis: Google’s Online Reputation Management Tips Fall Short

Earlier today, we outlined how Google has finally acknowledged the importance of Online Reputation Management. In a post at the search giant’s Official Blog, Google advises web surfers to:

1) Think twice before putting your personal information online.

2) Contact webmaster to try to remove negative content from the site where it’s appearing.

3) Proactively publish useful, positive information about yourself or your business online.

Unfortunately, Google’s advice, while undeniably useful, is overly simplistic and vastly underestimates the considerable effort that goes into effectively managing one’s reputation online. Does the average web user really know how to find the contact information for the webmaster of a site? Do they know how to write strong, compelling copy that launches to the top of page one? Sadly, the answer is no. People need help managing their reputations online, which is why ReputationDefender exists today.

It is disappointing that, after finally deciding to wade into the reputation management discussion, Google has come out so flatly. For a company that has so much control over how the Internet functions, one would expect Google to present its users with better and more nuanced wisdom.  While Google certainly isn’t the reason that libel and slander exist online (that’s a result of our own inability as a society to treat each other respectfully), the company could do far more to reduce the visibility of clearly false and defamatory content.

Improving your online reputation calls for real, tangible results. If this is what you need, it’s time to bring in the
experts.