Check out NPR’s amazing coverage of online reputation management, Startups Help Clean Up Online Reputations, or just listen to it.
People call me the cleaner because one of my strongest skills is cleaning online reputation. I call it “defensive SEO,” which is to say, if you have a lot of bad stuff come up when you do a vanity search, I can clean it for you so that the negative stuff so that it doesn’t show up until after the 100th return, or page ten, by default.
As of early 2006, I was one of the only one out there who could do it. I am still one of the best.
Some things to consider when you’re cleaning negative returns on Google and the other search engines: cleaning is easier after the body has been removed. If you are in the middle of a maelstrom of bad press and online vitriolic hatred, then you probably need to weather the storm for a while before the counter messaging and the defensive SEO strategy starts working.
That said, messaging, controlling your brand, your reputation, and your results on Google — promotional SEO — should be started well before you ever get smeared online. Getting your message, your intent, your true self, your words, you interests, your true bio, your positive images, your press packets, and everything you have ever published online well before sladerous things happen is essential.
Otherwise, you will be too vulnerable. The best defense is a fantastic offense, to be sure.
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Chris points out some really good ideas here. I think Online Reputation Management is the next big thing. For more information please sign up for this white paper.
http://www.blizzardinternet.com/whitepapers/online_reputation_mgt.htm