Blog:  How to Manage Your Online Reputation: Our Viewpoint

Employment Matters” columnist Mindy Stern recently interviewed Reputation Communications’ CEO Shannon Wilkinson about online reputation management. These are highlights of the column:

Why is reputation management important for small business owners? Reputation management is important because most purchasing decisions by consumers are now made after conducting online research.  You can’t control what people say about you on the Internet, but you can counterbalance it with compelling, factual information and visuals to tell your story and engage potential clients, customers and journalists. That is what reputation management does.

How is reputation management relevant for job seekers? Reputation management gives you the opportunity to present your best self on the Internet. That is where it is being assessed by potential employers.

What do you consider the most important thing for our readers to know about protecting their online reputation?  The average Google page has 10 entries. The more of those you “own,” the more of a protective digital firewall you will create around your online reputation.