I’ve recently encountered an ecommerce client with a severe brand and reputation management issue. Their situation is hardly unique, so in the interest of moz-like information sharing, I’d like to cover their scenario in case it can help some of you who manage ecommerce companies/clients.

For the sake of client privacy, we’ll call this client, “Flamingo Crossing.” Flamingo Crossing sells a high-end product to the posh VPs and real estate agent types who relish living in the lap of luxury. Flamingo Crossing not only sells their product through an ecommerce store, it also sells through a list of approved vendors. Now comes the problem(s). Continue Reading

I’ve spent my fair share of time scouring the Web in search of the perfect WP theme. The truth is, I’m no designer, and I’d rather use a theme I can make minor adjustments to for just the right look. As the number of blogs I’m involved with continue to expand out of control (currently 7), your feedback is needed.

Point me in the direction of themes you think would fit the Reputation Advisor content. Heck, we might even award a prize to the person who helps me find the perfect look.

What do you think?

It’s been a month since the last post. Work picked up and writing has become a daily ritual as I 1)ghostwrite an article per week, 2)write website copy and press releases at work, and 3)do some odds and ends projects in my own free time. Check out my latest CultureFeast blog about Neil Patel’s recent comments on personal branding.

Patel brings up a great point in one of his QuickSprout posts. He says that you have to think strategically in order to make your 15 minutes of fame last longer.

I’ve already passed up my first 15 minutes of fame. Rand Fishkin of SEOMoz decided to chastise me in front of the world last October for an article I wrote nearly a year before. My CultureFeast website jumped 150 daily visitors just because of that. Unfortunately, I didn’t make the most of my 15 minutes and I faded from view. I had a good excuse, really. I was concerned about how my responses might affect the company I worked for, so I kept my responses mellow and more good natured than they would have been otherwise.

Of course, my traffic dropped back down after a month, and I experienced the equivalent of a speed freak’s morning after.

All is not lost, though. According to Google Analytics, CultureFeast is now at an all-time high with more than 8,000 visitors this past 30 days. I owe it all to my wife, who has a Papaya Clothing store addiction.

Because of my writing about all things Papaya Clothing related, I should be the company’s online marketing manager. The company doesn’t even have a website and I’m working on presenting them with my analytics and comment results to show them how I can drive business to their website if only they will build one.

Something big will happen. Either Papaya Clothing Co. will heed my warning and use me or someone to build and optimize their website, or their reputation will be damaged online when all the potential customers start bashing them for not giving customers access to their products and store information. It’s a tense situation. I don’t know which way the company will choose to go.

I am available to help if only Papaya Clothing will wake up and smell the house burning down.