Beginning in February 2011, Google began implementing a series of changes to its search algorithm that remove more low-quality sites from search results. The update, termed “Google Panda,” correspondingly rewards high-quality websites.
Google Panda 4.2 is being phased in slowly over the coming months. If you see the search ranking for your website change abruptly, the update is the likely explanation. The updated algorithm penalizes spelling and grammatical errors, as well as slow speed and redundant content. Search Engine Land provides a comprehensive guide to Panda. It will answer many of your questions.
Jeff Bezos is the latest CEO to be under fire for unfair – or unpopular – employee treatment. Consumer reviews have long been a concern for companies large and small. But employee reviews, which can be found on sites like Glassdoor, are catching the eye of board members and top-level operations executives. They can influence the public’s view of a company, and even impact shareholder value.
Amazon’s workplace policies are the focus of a front-page New York Times business profile — one that has attracted over 5500 reader comments in 3 days, most of them negative. The sources of the article are testimonials from current and past Amazon employees.
The article signals a trend in corporate reputation management, and one we have seen gain momentum. The way you treat your employees—and how they review that treatment online—is an increasingly important part of your public image.
The New York Times today published “‘Right to Be Forgotten’ Online Could Spread,” an article discussing the imminent proliferation of ‘right to be forgotten’ laws and the problems they could cause.
So far, the law has been overwhelmingly used in ways most people would support—mostly removing links to private personal information. But individual nations have demanded that Google remove access to information worldwide, and other countries are considering more aggressive laws.
This will be a battle between advocates of privacy and of free speech, vastly complicated by notions of sovereignty. How it develops is critical to practitioners of ORM, but it could impact how the Internet is experienced by everyone.
New York magazine’s cover story “Cosby: The Women” is drawing a broad and powerful response—from the Chicago Reader calling it “required reading” to Business Insider describing it as a “bombshell.” And it is certainly a powerful story—one that people have been trying to tell for over 40 years.
So why is it finally being told now? It seems to have been kicked off by comedian Hannibal Burress’ comment during a set. But there is of course much more at work. It has become much harder to conceal patterns of criminal behavior: money and power are no longer effective shields.
Cosby was for decades able to block attempts by his victims to go public. But that is impossible in this new age of transparency.
New York article interviewee (and Cosby victim) Tamara Green expresses the change most directly: “In 2005, Bill Cosby still had control of the media. In 2015, we have social media. We can’t be disappeared. It’s online and can never go away.”
The article explains how easy it is to trace any Wikipedia edit (simply click on the “View History” tab in the upper right of a Wiki page. By clicking on each editor’s name, you can also see their Wiki editing history, including every page they have edited.)
We have published extensive information regarding Wikipedia’s policies, including the online encyclopedia’s plans to require disclosure from paid editors. In this case, the PR firm did not disclose their paid status. They also violated Wikipedia’s rules by removing verified information: When a fact is verified on Wiki by linking to a credible citation, you can’t remove it.
PR Firms Grapple with Non-Disclosure Clauses in Client Contracts
Even many well-intentioned firms editing clients’ Wikipedia entries would prefer not to disclose their paid status because client contracts usually include a non-disclosure clause. If you are a paid consultant and hesitate to disclose your paid status and identity for that reason, you can use an anonymous Wiki handle but explain your paid status in your profile. You will be adhering by Wiki’s rules (assuming you also follow their editing rules to a “t” – which you should) and you will be honoring your contract.
Following is the profile of an editor who has been working on the Wikipedia page of a high-profile personality who has been in the news. We recommend it as an example of best practices in disclosing your paid status.
In line with the Wikimedia Foundation’s updated Terms of Use as of June 16, 2014, this is to disclose that I am paid for some of the articles I create and/or edit, in most cases by the subject of the article. Whether paid or not, I always aim to contribute positively to Wikipedia and to edit within Wikipedia’s guidelines, with properly sourced, neutral, constructive edits. I hope my work is judged based on those standards. I will add a paid editing disclosure to the talk page or in the edit summary of any article I am paid to create or edit as of June 16, 2014.
Teenagers are fluent social media users. Many are adept at managing their online reputations and are careful about what they reveal online.
But social media leads some into uncomfortable situations that can harm their future opportunities. As a parent, relative, neighbor, sibling or peer, you can help them avoid that.
These sometimes harrowing predicaments can cause embarrassment, shame and fear, and make teens feel helpless or trapped in a situation that can spiral out of their control – and even endanger them. Carelessness, as well as common adolescent traits like not knowing how to handle a crowd situation or being overly trusting, can contribute to such issues.
Common issues they experience include:
– Joking about harming a teacher or peer in an email or text. Schools increasingly have rules that require immediate suspension as well as contacting the police when such material comes to light.
– Exchanging, taking or being the recipient of nude photographs or videos that go viral, being published on many online sites without their permission. This can lead to a criminal investigation, even if they were not directly involved in taking them, but were only present when they were. It can also result in what is known as “revenge porn.”
– Cyberbullying. The FBI publishes resources online to help educate potential victims about it. There are many other online resources, as well. One comprehensive such site is the Anti-Defamation League’s, which has extensive guides to help teens deflect and otherwise navigate cyberbullying.
If you have teenagers, or children approaching adolescence, visiting such sites and learning about the issues is the first step in communicating to them that you can always be approached if they have a concern and need help. If they fear you will be judgmental, are not available or will become angry, they will avoid letting you know if it does happen to them. If you feel they may be a victim and aren’t discussing the situation, consider whether they would be more comfortable speaking to another family member, a trusted counselor or law enforcement professionals. It is not an exaggeration to say you may save their life or future opportunities by doing so.
Our exclusive new guide to taking ownership of your online image is out. How to Look Better Online: Online Reputation Management for CEOs, Rising Stars, VIPs and Their Organizations was written by our founder, Shannon M. Wilkinson, in collaboration with our editing, content and design team.
How to Look Better Online draws upon our experiences improving and preventing the online reputation issues faced by a range of our clients. It is available as a downloadable eBook for all platforms. You can see a preview, learn more details and order a copy here.
Lifestyle celebrity Sandra Lee was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She chose to have a double mastectomy. That is a painful decision many women face. And as a woman that commands a public forum, she is sharing her experience to help other women and raise awareness of the disease.
This isn’t the first time a celebrity has publicly addressed personal struggles with breast cancer. But rarely is the public given such an intimate look at the experience. Sandra Lee’s unvarnished updates about the process—from pensive, brave photographs of her recuperating in her hospital room to serious images of her at home—put a human face on a difficult process.
New York Post’s “Page Six” column is one of many media outlets that has been following her progress, but she has reached her largest audience by publishing the photographs on her Facebook page. A benefit of social media is that it allows individuals to tell their personal stories to the public directly, without any intermediary. So Ms. Lee can keep ownership of her story, telling it day by day and ensuring it is told accurately. Even maintaining that level of control, sharing so personal a story in such an honest fashion is incredibly brave. We salute her choice.
