Latest news with #onlineReputation
Entrepreneur
08-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Your Business Is One Google Search Away From a Crisis — Here's How to Fight Back
One Google search can shape a customer's decision — or drive them away. Here's how to take control of your brand image with six practical steps. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. When it comes to online reputation in a digital world, it's make or break. Up to 94% of consumers say a single negative review showing up on the first page of Google can be a red flag to avoid a company. This data only pinpoints the importance of digital hygiene, and in this article, I'll break down what Search Engine Reputation Management is and what it can bring to the table through six practical steps to strengthen your online standing. What makes SERM Special? SERM, or Search Engine Reputation Management, is the process of maintaining how your brand appears in search engine results. Its primary goal is to make positive content more visible, push down outdated information, and ensure that your online presence reflects your current values and products. SERM matters at all stages of growth — from launch (shaping first impressions and building trust) to times of crisis (guarding against misinformation or malicious content). The other benefit it offers lies in correcting outdated or misleading information about your business that might still linger online. Still, SERM requires quite a lot of resources and attention as it is an ongoing process, involving continuous content creation, media relations, customer review management and data analysis — all to ensure your reputation grows alongside your business. Here are the five core strategies of online reputation management: 1. Promote positive content Companies that succeed with actively maintaining their online presence see up to a 93% increase in satisfaction rates. A proactive content strategy helps push down irrelevant or negative search results by offering search engines more accurate and engaging alternatives. This can be blog posts, brand interviews, customer feedback and media features. Your goal is to identify the key brand touchpoints that influence perception and focus your efforts there. Real reviews and opinions of your customers also play a big role here — real experiences are the most powerful validators. Facing a dip in reputation, Nordstrom launched a campaign to generate positive content. They introduced new digital features like "Style Boards" in their app, published behind-the-scenes interviews about innovation and customer care, and asked their audience to share stories via social media. By 2025, Nordstrom had reclaimed a top-10 spot in the Axios Harris Poll of most respected U.S. brands. Join top CEOs, founders and operators at the Level Up conference to unlock strategies for scaling your business, boosting revenue and building sustainable success. 2. Manage customer reviews People mostly prefer to trust real reviews rather than traditional marketing; moreover, 54% of consumers would prefer comments rather than feedback from their family, friends or even influencers. The other thing to keep in mind is the fact that customer reviews are highly visible in search rankings. Use platforms like Google Business Profile, Yelp and Trustpilot to monitor and respond to feedback. For industries vulnerable to fake reviews or targeted attacks, services like Bazaarvoice, BirdEye and can help detect and manage suspicious activity. Another key to success is empathy and open dialogue. Make your customers feel cherished — respond to negative feedback with respect and offer solutions, actively ask happy customers for reviews, and run campaigns or contests that reward honest, thoughtful feedback. UnitedHealthcare, one of America's largest insurers, faced a corporate crisis that garnered quite a lot of negative feedback on social media. To manage their reputation, the company turned to Google Business Profile and specialised reputation management services to monitor and sort out across key platforms. Related: How to Build a Side Hustle That Stands on Its Own — Without Burning Out 3. Optimise for SEO Brand's reputation is directly tied to visibility. With 95% of search traffic going to the first page of results and 63% of users trusting Google's findings over other sources, it's clear why your positive content must be SEO-optimised. This includes using relevant keywords, structuring articles clearly, improving metadata and sharing through reputable platforms. Sharing your brand's professional opinions on business issues in authoritative media can not only highlight our expertise but also boost search presence. Uber coped with their 2022-23 crisis with an open acknowledgment of errors and a CEO change, and a cornerstone of their recovery was the SEO optimisation of positive content. The company promoted optimised articles, media interviews and case studies focused on their recent changes. This, combined with transparent PR and continuous monitoring, significantly improved their image by late 2025 4. Monitor mentions Swift responses are your secret weapon in conquering consumers' hearts. Data says 70% of clients expect a brand to respond to feedback within 24 hours. Those companies that meet these expectations see 35% more positive sentiment overall. Real-time monitoring tools such as Mention, Brandwatch, or Talkwalker analyse tone, frequency and reach of your brand's online mentions, helping to act before small issues escalate. Starbucks faced backlash over rising prices and service issues. With real-time monitoring and prepared response templates, they addressed complaints quickly, offered rewards to dissatisfied customers, and adjusted their content strategy to make positive content more visible. As a result, they saw a 15% increase in positive mentions and a 20% reduction in negative ones within six months. Related: How to Better Manage Your Brand's Reputation in the Digital Age 5. Be ready for crisis 70% of companies face at least one major reputation crisis every year. That's when speed and transparency become paramount. If a public issue arises, respond swiftly with clear, factual messaging. Use official channels and trusted media to provide updates, and show empathy by offering real solutions, not just apologies. When Ticketmaster's site crashed during Taylor Swift's tour ticket release, fans were left frustrated, and the company's slow response with no concrete tips only fuelled the backlash. Six steps to strengthen your reputation Here's a practical framework to improve your online reputation: Audit Current Search Results: Step into your clients' shoes – Google your brand and see what users see. Identify outdated or negative content. Choose a Strategy: Based on your analysis, focus on content creation, review management or SEO, depending on the nature of the issue. If you've seen too many negative reviews, address these whilst encouraging positive feedback. If there's scarce information about your business online, then creating and promoting fresh content should be your starting point. The choice of strategy hinges on your specific reputational challenges and the company's objectives. Publish Positive Content: Share useful, customer-centric stories and case studies that address real questions and concerns. Optimise for Search: Ensure your site and articles are SEO-friendly. Did you find the right keywords, optimised headings and descriptions, and improved page structure? Monitor Continuously: Regularly keep track of mentions of your company using dedicated monitoring tools. Evaluate Progress: Track search result changes, sentiment analysis, and customer feedback over time. See customer trust growing. It takes time to build your brand and grow trust, but your reputation can be lost in just a day. By investing in SERM, you're not just protecting your brand; you're actively shaping how the world sees your business.
Forbes
22-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
From Obscure To Iconic: Dennis Olympios And Emily Pappas On Using A.I. To Get Noticed Now
Let's cut to the chase. A.I. has changed our lives, whether we want to admit it or not. A former colleague of mine recently called me. He had been laid off. And, he wanted advice. Okay… 'It's a new world out there,' my friend told me. 'I just keep applying to all these jobs on LinkedIn, and I don't get any responses. Seriously, most employers don't even send me rejection letters. I think I'm being filtered by A.I.' Another friend of mine owns a small business. He's a consultant, a public speaker, and an author. 'Todd, I'm trying to grow my LinkedIn presence, and I'm getting quite a bit of traffic, but very little of it converts into new customers,' he told me. 'I didn't struggle online like this before A.I.' What's happening right now? Is there something I could, or should, know that could help these people? Is A.I. changing everything about how we build online reputation? And, if we're not using A.I. properly, will our online reputations suffer? I literally thought about my friend's situations for a couple weeks. I thought, 'If these people are struggling—two highly-accomplished individuals—then, I'm guessing this issue is much bigger than I understand.' Curious, I wanted to ask the experts. Seriously, what do I know? Let's find the experts who truly know how to help. This is why I reached out to Dennis Olympios and Emily Pappas. Who are they? They're the backbone, and masterminds behind a company called LinkedSuperPowers. If you want to understand LinkedIn, from any angle, these are the experts—because they've been studying it, and making a business from it, for more than 20 years. These two founders are literally the go-to experts in online reputation building. How to use A.I., LinkedIn, and other platforms to boost your online reputation. I called the power couple to find out their secrets. With more than five million social media followers, they must be doing something right. 'The world has dramatically changed,' said LinkedSuperPowers Co-Founder Dennis Olympios. 'And, it's about to start changing even more rapidly.' Olympios explained the back-story of the company. He explained how when the company was first founded, their primary focus was on helping individuals improve their LinkedIn profiles. 'When we started, I guess we were really in the business of helping people improve their online resume. And, that was great. We've helped tens of thousands of people improve their profile so they were noticed by recruiters. But, we quickly realized there was so much more we could do…' Olympios then began telling me about the evolution of the company. He said, 'We started studying why people were truly using LinkedIn. And, although I could break that down into countless detailed categories, it's easier simplify it down to four.' Online Reputation and A.I. 'What about A.I.?' I asked. 'How can we leverage A.I. to improve our online reputation? Doesn't it just make us more generic?' 'Yes, and No,' Olympios replied. 'It depends on how you use it, and/or how much thought, experience, and insight your A.I. provider has invested.' 'What does that mean?' I asked. 'Most people don't realize this…' replied Dennis. 'You can feed ChatGPT the smartest prompt in the world—and still end up with something that sounds like everyone else. That's the problem with generic AI.' 'You did something different,' I asked. 'We did something totally different,' he responded. 'We took 11 years of hands-on experience optimizing LinkedIn profiles—working with C-level execs, entrepreneurs, coaches, job seekers, founders, consultants—and we poured it all into one custom-built AI tool called LinkedIn Profile Optimizer 2.0. This isn't just another AI gimmick. It knows what works—because we taught it.' 'It's all your expertise in one tool,' I asked. 'Yes, my friend. And, it's 100% free for everyone,' said Dennis. 'And, our results have been mind-blowing.' I finally asked the question you all are probably curious about. 'If you're giving away all your experience, knowledge, and insight through a FREE A.I. tool, how are you making money?' 'This is where we need to revisit the concept of 'online reputation.' At LinkedSuperPowers, we're not just focused on LinkedIn anymore. Yes, it's a start. It's a phenomenal start. But, we can build an online brand and identity for people that is much bigger. Forbes, CBS, Inc., CNN, Entrepreneur, Fortune, Harvard Business Review, FOX, Us Weekly, USA Today, The New York Times, TED, and People are only few of the outlets we've assisted our clients to get featured in through our exclusive PR services. We help people and companies build stronger online reputations. Yes, we created a free online A.I. tool. It's impressive. But, reputation is the key. Trust is the key. Transparency is the key. A.I. should be used to make us all a little smarter, and us all a little more transparent.' 'So, for someone (from any of the four categories) who wants to get noticed NOW, what's your advice?' 'Start with our free tool,' said Olympios. 'Start with LinkedIn. It's the anchor of any online reputation. If you want to go bigger, contact us.' By the way, I tried the tool myself. And, it was extremely impressive.
Forbes
09-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Beyond Compliance: Why Financial Firms Must Get Ahead Of The Algorithm
Chad Angle, Head of ReputationDefender at Gen Digital | Expert in Growth Strategy, Online Reputation Management, & Executive Privacy. U.S. corporations invest between 1.3% and 3.3% of their total wage bill on regulatory compliance. This equates to nearly $240 billion per year in labor expenses and potentially much more in other costs. But while no one is going to argue about the importance of compliance, it is a critical error to think that due diligence ends there. The unfortunate reality is that it doesn't matter how squeaky clean a financial advisor's past behavior is—all it takes is a single negative online post that pops up on page one of the Google search results, and their reputation is at risk of being irreparably damaged. What is particularly frightening about this situation is that it doesn't make a difference whether the information in the negative post is true or not. Once that information is out there, it is often the first thing that people will see when searching for or researching a financial advisor. Not only is it virtually impossible to remove damaging information from the internet, but many financial professionals may not even be aware that it's out there, prominently displayed on the search results. While this risk exists for virtually everyone, financial advisors are particularly vulnerable due to the fact that they work in a trust-based industry. Negative reviews from disgruntled former clients, evidence of regulatory infractions, results of lawsuits or other damaging developments and even negative content maliciously posted by competitors can all have a detrimental effect on an advisor's credibility and mean the difference between attracting and retaining valuable clients and losing them. Fortunately, there is a solution to stay ahead of negative Google search results: online reputation management. Through a variety of data-informed strategies, including reputation monitoring, suppression of negative search results and customized reputation strategies, financial advisors can stay ahead of the Google algorithm and ensure that those critical first few pages of their search results don't contain critically damaging content. Even the most upstanding, compliant advisor can suffer catastrophic damage if a malicious or uninformed post makes it to the top of the search results. Advisors are at risk of suffering reputational damage and losing clients. In this modern digital age, when virtually everyone has immediate access to the internet, even the perception of unethical or illegal behavior can be just as damaging as an instance of regulatory noncompliance. Many people make the mistake of thinking that potential clients simply aren't searching for them on Google and other search engines or looking at reviews. In reality, only 4% of consumers reportedly never check business reviews. The vast majority of people are actively using reviews to help them decide whom to hire and work with—and in the financial industry, where trustworthiness is paramount, the weight of that statistic cannot be overstated. There's another aspect of reviews and search engine results that most people miss, and that is the fact that search engines actually use reviews to help them rank search results. In other words, it's not enough to simply ensure that there aren't any negative reviews out there that can damage a financial advisor's reputation—it is also important to have positive reviews and a positive narrative that can help to elevate the advisor to the top of the search results, as this increases the odds that they will attract new clients. Online reputation management and search engine optimization are strategies that can help to improve an advisor's online presence in two ways—suppressing negative content (typically by moving it down off the first few pages of the results, the point where most people limit their searching) while at the same time elevating positive content so that it shows up on those ever-important first few pages. The internet has become ubiquitous in society, and to build a strong brand that attracts new clients and retains existing ones, financial services companies must manage their online reputation. While most of that work must be done organically through the development of a strong team, offering top-notch services and maintaining responsive customer service, achieving excellence is no longer enough to sustain a brand. It's equally important to protect their reputation for excellence—and that's where online reputation management comes in. Leaders of financial services companies can implement proactive measures to maintain a positive online reputation. Firstly, regularly publish high-quality, informative content on reputable platforms such as industry blogs, LinkedIn and respected financial news sites to boost your firm's positive visibility online. This approach ensures that valuable, credible content consistently appears at the top of search results, naturally suppressing any negative content that might arise. Engage positively with online communities and promptly address client feedback, publicly and professionally, to also demonstrate transparency and trustworthiness—critical attributes within the financial industry. Additionally, encourage satisfied clients to leave authentic reviews on credible platforms like Google Business, Yelp or industry-specific review sites. This can powerfully influence search rankings in the company's favor. Implementing a structured process to solicit and share client testimonials can also help ensure a steady flow of positive online content, further elevating a company's reputation. Lastly, continuous monitoring of the firm's digital footprint, including social media mentions, online reviews and search engine results, is essential. Early identification and rapid response to any emerging issues or inaccuracies can prevent negative content from gaining prominence, safeguarding the firm's reputation proactively. Another option is to invest in outside help from reputation management consultants. Leaders planning to do so should consider a team that will leverage search engine optimization (SEO), conduct regular online audits for compromising information, clean up and suppress any negative press or posts and attract organic traffic and positive reviews through a multifaceted, strategic plan specifically tailored to the needs of their clients. For financial firms with dozens of advisors who could potentially experience damaging online activity, or independent financial advisors who can't afford the loss of business that comes with even one negative review, online reputation management should not be overlooked. Otherwise, no amount of investment in compliance can guarantee a strong reputation or long-term customer loyalty. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Globe and Mail
24-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
TrustReviews Surpasses 100,000 Client Milestone with Industry-First Dual-Action Online Review Management Platform, Outpacing Competitors in Digital Reputation Market
Company's Legal-Backed Removal Strategy Delivers 4.2x Faster Results Than Industry Average While Boosting SEO and Increasing Conversions for E-commerce and Local Business Clients NY, US - May 23, 2025 - the pioneering online review management platform specializing in comprehensive online reputation solutions, today announced it has surpassed 100,000 clients served since launching its dual-action system combining negative review removal with positive review generation in 2016. This milestone positions TrustReviews as a rapidly growing company in the online reputation management sector, with the platform helping businesses increase conversions and boost SEO performance through its integrated approach. The announcement comes as online reputation management becomes increasingly critical for businesses, with fake review manipulation creating unprecedented challenges for e-commerce reputation and local business reputation management. Changing the Game with an All-in-One Approach Most reputation management companies only offer review removal or focus on getting positive feedback. TrustReviews brings both together, using a legal-backed removal strategy and automation to help brands build real trust and see results faster. "Traditional online reputation management companies force businesses to choose between defense and offense," said Daniel Ledlin, TrustReviews Reputation Specialist. "Our platform does both at the same time, backed by a legal team and proprietary technology. This way, we help businesses improve their online image, get more conversions, and rank higher on search engines." Proven Results Demonstrate Platform Effectiveness TrustReviews reports strong client performance outcomes: Technology and Legal Innovation Drive Success TrustReviews differentiates through several proprietary online review management innovations: Legal-Backed Removal Strategy: Unlike competitors who rely primarily on platform policy violations, TrustReviews employs a team of specialized attorneys who challenge fake reviews based on defamation law, creating higher success rates for complex negative review removal cases. Automated Positive Review Generation Pipeline: The company's proprietary technology integrates with client business systems to identify satisfied customers and automate customer review solicitation, generating authentic reviews that comply with all platform guidelines while building brand trust. Real-Time Online Reputation Monitoring: Advanced AI-powered monitoring detects new negative reviews within 4 hours on average, enabling rapid response before reputational damage occurs to e-commerce reputation or local business reputation. Market Position Strengthened by Experience and Client Base With over 8 years of experience in the online review management space, TrustReviews has established itself through: Addressing Critical Business Pain Points The growth of online reviews has created significant challenges for businesses: Small businesses struggle with the impact of fake reviews and malicious customer reviews Negative reviews can significantly impact a business's ability to increase conversions Many business owners lack the time and expertise to effectively manage customer reviews and online reputation Businesses often lack knowledge about legally backed removal processes for challenging illegitimate reviews Poor online reputation can negatively impact SEO rankings and local search visibility "TrustReviews has identified a genuine market need and created an online review management solution that addresses both immediate threats and long-term brand trust building," noted industry observers. "Their legal-backed removal approach resonates with businesses that have felt helpless against fake review manipulation, while their positive review generation system helps increase conversions and boost SEO performance." Transparent Pricing Disrupts Industry Norms Breaking from industry tradition of custom quotes and complex pricing tiers, TrustReviews offers transparent, flat-rate online review management pricing starting at $247 monthly. The company's 100% Money-Back Guarantee reduces client risk. "Online reputation management shouldn't be a luxury service available only to large corporations," Ledlin explained. "Our flat-rate model and Money-Back Guarantee make professional negative review removal and positive review generation accessible to every e-commerce business and local business that depends on customer reviews to build brand trust." Strategic Expansion and Future Outlook Building on its client milestone, TrustReviews announced plans for continued growth and expansion of its online review management services. The online reputation management industry continues to grow as businesses recognize the importance of managing their online presence and customer reviews. Success Stories Janet Morrison, a local business owner, credits TrustReviews for improving her reputation: "Their legal-backed removal service solved our review problems, and the positive review system made it easy to collect authentic customer feedback. We saw better conversions and built stronger trust with our customers." David Park, an e-commerce entrepreneur, agrees: "The dual approach made a real difference for us. Our online reputation, SEO, and customer trust all improved." About TrustReviews Founded in 2016, TrustReviews is the leading dual-action online review management platform serving e-commerce businesses and local service providers. The company's proprietary technology combines legal-backed removal of negative reviews and fake reviews with automated positive review generation, delivering comprehensive online reputation management through a single platform designed to build brand trust, increase conversions, and boost SEO performance. TrustReviews serves clients across 47 states and maintains strategic partnerships with major e-commerce platforms, payment processors, and business software providers. The company's removal team includes former platform policy specialists and online reputation law experts who have successfully challenged thousands of fraudulent and defamatory customer reviews. Every TrustReviews online review management engagement includes a 100% Money-Back Guarantee, real-time progress tracking, and ongoing online reputation monitoring. More information is available at
