Monitoring alone won’t protect your reputation

There are applications available to monitor your reputation. So what? What are you doing about it? It is not enough to simply see what is being said – you need to actively influence the conversation. If you are there from the beginning, there is less of a chance for unfounded negative opinions to spread.

The best way to influence the conversation is to join in. Have your own blog, comment on negative opinions, even link back to them. If someone is saying something unfounded, politely set them right (this does actually work – mostly). If you already have an online following, you might be surprised at the people who will come to your defence.

If you have made a mistake, acknowledge it. Do something about it. This will build trust and respect. Monitoring is important, but it is only the first step. Be active when it comes to your reputation – damage control will be so much easier.