What To Do To Protect Your Online Reputation

When managing your online reputation, you might wonder what to do if you search Google for your name or company and find that a negative item appears about you on page one.Can you have such things removed?

You can't make a negative Google result vanish, but you can help push it farther down the rankings by sending out a steady stream of new content that shows you or your company in a positive light.Here are ten things you can do to quickly get quality content out there:

1.

Create a website.That might seem obvious, but many people don't have their own domain name and website.You can nab the top spot in the search engines for your name or company name just by having a website.

2.Create a blog.The search engines love blogs because they are updated frequently.Even if you leave the blog untended for a while it will still tend to rank well.Target certain names or phrases in your blog titles and the first sentence of the posts.You'll be on page one of Google before you know it.

3.Create pages and sub domains.The search engines view these as separate from your main site, so it's a way to brand yourself more and send out yet more content on the search engines.An example of a subdomain would be "products.yourdomain." Having lots of pages and subdomains out there helps crowd out any negative information that might be on the Internet about your company.This way you remain in charge of the conversations and your reputation.

4.Use Social Media.Use your business or personal name and create profiles in the social media (MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, etc.).Even if you don't want to use these tools, it is wise to at least reserve your name so that others don't create profiles using your identity, potentially damaging your online reputation.

5.Create a social network of your own.Ning is an excellent free social networking software that you can use for your own community (the free version comes with ads).Or you can pay $5/month and host it on your own domain.

6.Create a LinkedIn profile.This is especially important if you are a professional and are looking for employment.It's also a way for colleagues to find your contact info and a way to meet new clients.

7.Use Flickr.Flickr is a photo sharing site which you might not think of in connection with reputation management, but if you upload photos with your name or company name, they will rank well in the search engines.Include comments on the photos too.Be strategic when choosing your Flickr ID name, because that shows up well in searches.

8.Create a Naymz profile.You can link to all your other profiles from this one site and is a one-stop site for your brand.

9.Create your own Wiki.Rather than create a page for you or your company on Wikipedia (where you don't have total control), create your own wiki instead and build a profile there.Make one for your name or company name.You control who contributes to it.

10.Use Google Pages.Google loves these pages, of course.It's yet another place for you to post content that will rank well, and using these Google Pages is especially important if there is negative content about you on page one that you want to push out.

About the Author

Search engine marketing is the most powerful way to drive traffic on the web.

With Content Syndication you can control your internet brand.For more info on reputation management go to www.directhorizon.com

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Kick Start Your New Business With Company Formation Services

Thousands of people start their own companies every year.For some, the idea of being their own boss is too appealing to resist.Others may be attracted to the idea of making large sums of money and others simply identify a gap in the market and decide to rise to the challenge.Whatever the reason, each are solid reasons for starting your own company.Usually, people who do so are driven, ambitious and determined to be a success.This enthusiasm is essential when starting out however the real key to being successful comes down to careful and articulate planning.Without going through all the correct procedures and developing a solid business plan, your company may well run in to trouble.

A business plan is a written document that requires you to describe the nature of your future business and to consider its objectives, its strategies, the target market, and financial forecasts.While it needs to be ambitious it is essential it is also realistic.Will you have others working for you or will you be a one man band?Do you need to seek financial support to get started?How long will it take before you start making a profit?While writing the plan you should also consider your own personal attributes.Do you have what it takes?Do you have the time to put in long hours at the start to get the company off the ground?
The business plan has many purposes, from securing external funding to measuring the success within the business.It will need to start off with a solid introduction, followed by an executive summary, your business and its products and services, your markets and competitors, your operations, marketing and sales and financial forecasts.Finally close the plan with a concise summary.

If you are not confident with completing this document alone, it is advisable to seek the help of a company formation service.There will be lots of other complex issues when setting up your company such as finances, tax and business law to consider and unless you are familiar with these processes also, you will need to consult the professionals.Not all great business leaders read the small print, but all good business people have someone close to them who has.

Company formation services can help you go through your taxation options and turn your business plans into reality.Or perhaps you are looking to target new geographical markets with your existing business.Company formation groups can use their expert knowledge to help with these tasks, as well as the more intricate details that you may not have even yet considered such as setting up bank accounts if you are conducting business overseas, or organise country specific phone and fax numbers.Their knowledge of the local markets and local contacts will be invaluable if you are addresses business in a country you are not familiar with.They also source local lawyers and accountants for you who are the best in their field so you do not have to spend hours scaling references searching for professionals you can trust as most company formation services will arrange this for you also.

You wouldn not really consider selling your home without turning to the help of an estate agent.So it is certainly advisable to seek out company formation services to help you get started with your new company and help turn your dreams and business plans into reality.
About the Author

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in New Business Development.

Find out more about company formations and why seeking advice from the experts can help you get your new business off the ground.

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How to Successfully Pitch a Reporter to Get Interviewed and Obtain Media Coverage

When I was up against a book deadline and needed a couple of people to interview who had achieved business results from podcasting, I put out a call through a service called Help a Reporter Out (www.helpareporter.com). This free service functions very much like paid reporter lead services such as Profnet or Travel Publicity Leads. Generally media people put out such calls either when they need interview leads extremely soon (like a deadline in two days) or when they have rather unusual interview needs that cant be satisfied through the usual channels (such as looking for someone who has diabetes, owns pets and is gay or lesbian).

Someday you may be in a position to pitch a reporter, so Id like to help you understand what to do and what not to do in this situation, and why, so you can seize the opportunity to meet the reporter's needs and receive valuable media coverage. Here is the meat of the request I made:

"Need phone interviews by end of the week with 3 podcasters who can cite specific, tangible business results achieved through podcasting. Tell me briefly the topic of your podcast, your URL, your results and your phone number. Thanks."

I received 30 replies. Of these, five stood out as excitingly fulfilling my criteria. At least half of the rest put themselves completely out of the running by ignoring my stated requirements, while several others were wasting their time and mine in their reply for other reasons.

Im not sure how I could have been more clear and explicit about what information I wanted from respondents in order to screen them. I said I wanted potential interviewees to tell me the "specific, tangible business results achieved through podcasting." Anyone who did not say exactly how theyd gotten new opportunities or earned money from their podcast got eliminated. Perhaps they had a great story to tell, but they hadnt pre-qualified themselves with me to tell it. Instead they said, in effect, "Im the one you want. Call me." One wrote, "We are number 1 in the world, business results are amazing. I am so busy I would rather speak on the phone." As far as Im concerned, thats hot air and does not show willingness to help me with my story.

This may sound "Mickey Mouse," but whatever details are in the reporters request are there for a reason, and it doesnt work to ignore them. I saw much the same thing happen when I judged a couple of business contests. The application form asked several questions that numerous otherwise appealing candidates left blank. These people were disqualified. The time and in some cases money theyd spent entering the contest was for naught.

Besides those who neglected to specify their podcasting results, a few people wasted their time by sending me contact information for someone who they said met my criteria, such as their boss, their client or someone they knew of from afar. For someone on a tight deadline who receives sufficient responses directly from interviewees, this doesnt work, either. From the underling or PR representatives suggestion, I have no way of knowing whether or not their referral is actually available to talk during my time frame. If you know of someone who fits a reporters request, always forward it to that person and urge them to respond right away instead of replying on their behalf.

Another bunch of people wasted their time writing to me because they did not have a podcast of their own but rather provided podcasting services for a fee. Id said, "Tell me briefly the topic of your podcast," and theyd violated that portion of my request.

One of the top five respondents whom I emailed back right away to set up a time to talk by phone took more than 24 hours to reply. "Sorry, your email landed in my spam folder," he said. "Heres when Im available today." Unfortunately, by then Id already completed the interviews I needed. Unfortunately too for another respondent who met all of my criteria: He initiated contact after Id finished all the interviews.

My advice on getting publicity by replying to reporters requests boils down to this: Reply promptly. Explicitly address the stated criteria in your reply. Volunteer only yourself. Check for the reporters email or phone call so you can follow through on having caught his or her interest.

Paradoxically, by treating the media person as a prince or princess, you position yourself to become a star.


About the Author

Marcia Yudkin is the author of 11 books, including 6 Steps to Free Publicity and Persuading on Paper. For more information on getting a profitable round of visibility for ideas, tips, products, services, events, expertise or controversial views, visit http://www.pressreleasehelp.com

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