Reputation Repair Versus Reputation Management
Two days ago, Fionn Downhill asked the question, “Is it Reputation Management or Reputation Repair?” Downhill’s company has yet to receive a call for pro-active management of corporate reputations. She calls proactive solutions “reputation management” and mid-emergency campaigns “reputation repair.”
It’s rather obvious that most executives are not going to understand the value of proactive reputation management. After all, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it… right? Managing something you don’t know or believe could actually become a problem is not worth the monthly maintenance fee of several thousand dollars. Or is it? Only the cautious, conservative investor is likely to acknowledge the wisdom in proactively managing and guarding the corporate brand reputation.
Why spend money on something that hasn’t happened yet? Well, as Downhill points out, “Extensive reputation repair can entail building out as many as 10 sites – in other words 10 separate SEO jobs. At the heart of reputation management is an effective organic SEO strategy, and as we know – good organic SEO is not cheap.”
Well said. Building out sites and pages to fill the top 10 results of Google, Yahoo, MSN Live, and Ask will inevitably cost you much more when you’re competing with a solid negative authorities already in the top 10. The earlier you establish your presence, the better your chances of remaining at the top.
Let’s consider the options:
$3k-5k per month for proactive reputation management, OR
$40k+ per month for last minute emergency reputation repair.
Hmmm….. tough decision.
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camille
for sure, reputation management is cheaper!
The thing we can’t estimate is public opinion. Some crisis are so strong that even if in google and msn engines, reputation is good, it doesn’t really cancel reputation in people mind. That’s the second reason why I agree with you…proactive reputation is essential.
Glen Allsopp
Great point, I just wish more companies understood the benefits of online reputation management
Paul Lee
There seem to be services springing up offering to manage the online reputation of celebrities and professionals. I believe one firm charges $25000 per year for a basic service, which would appear to be going rate for a pro-active “Web 2.0″ management campaign. “Disaster recovery” is a lot more expensive, than ongoing maintenance.
Aaron Francesconi
I agree completely. Proactive management is the best and only way to manage your image effectively. Although I have heard some argue about the ethicality of the practice of building more sites to counter a bad rep, I think you are just fighting fire with fire and that seems fine to me.
Joanne
Regular people have right to repair their reputacion, too.
Reputation is what people use to judge your worthiness for career advancement. You must take aggressive action to protect it.” No matter how good, honest or full of integrity you are in your career, accusations of misconduct or mistakes will come your way, particularly if you’re ambitious.
If it looks like your reputation may suffer a hit, it is time to apply a candid, clear, focused and firm approach to address the situation. Your reputation is what people use to judge your worthiness for career advancement. You must take aggressive action to protect it.
all that prices are excesive and crazy, that people must be out of their mind.
why they don’t have better and affordable prices.
camille
for sure, reputation management is cheaper!
The thing we can't estimate is public opinion. Some crisis are so strong that even if in google and msn engines, reputation is good, it doesn't really cancel reputation in people mind. That's the second reason why I agree with you…proactive reputation is essential.