Online reputation management is exploding as an industry. As it has grown, so have its components, such as social media management and search-engine optimization, as well as reputation monitoring, which has become much easier to execute thanks to the renaissance in Big Data. There are reputation advisers, branding companies and crisis management firms announcing reputation management services, reputation monitors, global brand and reputation managers at mainstream and public companies, and SEO companies rolling out new reputation management tools.
Venture-capital funded online reputation management firms are preparing to go public. Mainstream PR firms are approaching firms such as this one to explore partnerships and buyouts.
As the fifth anniversary of Reputation Communication’s founding approaches in June (the fourth of our incorporation), this is an appropriate time to revisit the essentials of online reputation management and look toward the future. As the industry continues to expand, it will divide into niches. There will be an increasing need for specialization within online reputation management services. The more you understand them, the better the choices you can make for your organization – or for yourself. So follow these posts in coming days and weeks to learn what you need to know.
You can also follow us @reputationnews for a bird’s eye view of reputation management issues and resources that impact the highly specialized practice of online reputation management.