Turn Those Negative Tweets Around

With the proper approach, Twitter can be a great asset. No matter what you may be using Twitter for, be it business or personal use, tweets represent you in the public eye. Now, any tweet with the mention of you or your business may generate more traffic, it can also bolster or break your reputation. Handling your Twitter account with this in mind can change your Twitter problems around and give your interests the center spotlight.

With the immense number of people on Twitter, there ought to be a group of users with malicious intent regarding you or your company. What you say via Twitter, no matter what is tweeted, can be accompanied by negative reactions. Understanding this part of Twitter culture can help you be aware of the consequences. The ability to hide those detrimental tweets will prevent the spread of negative reaction revolving you and your interests. With these obstacles removed, you are given the freedom to push whatever information you desire to the public and allow positive tweets and retweets to be connected to you and your Twitter page.

However, suppressing these negative tweets comes with a price. While it certainly helps keep your interests on the front lines, it also prevents you from getting a grip on what you've done that instigated the negative reaction in the first place. This is where understanding the public's view of you comes into play. Be sure to take the time to get a better understanding of what the public thinks of you or your business and adapt the necessary changes.

Negativity comes in many different shapes and sizes. Whether it is through offensive language or hurtful opinions, tweets with negative elements should be caught, identified and tracked so that further non-constructive tweets can be curbed. Being notified in a timely manner when such tweets are found can make an enormous difference in preventing further damage. Remember that appearance means everything to you or your business's interests and any destructive tweet could grow into a bigger problem if not dealt with.

It may seem like all of this is a lot and incredibly difficult to handle alone, but online reputation management firms like Centel Media™ can help with page design and promoting so that you can focus on improving the necessary aspects you desire. With help in your Twitter dealings, you or your company can focus on spreading out and reaching new and exciting opportunities.

By Matt Shaffer,

Creative Writer,

Centel Media™.

What Online Reputation Management Can Do For Your Hotel

Hotels offer services that require an appearance suited to the delicate tastes of incoming clientele. If a hotel is perceived as dirty or lacks good customer service, then the chances of a prospective guest choosing this hotel is dramatically decreased. With the hotel industry crowded and competitive, it takes a solid appearance to entice potential customers towards your hotel. With most hotel bookings done online, managing your hotel's reputation across the channels of the Internet has become essential.

When searching the web for a hotel to stay in, travelers often land on websites designed to compare all the different hotels in the desired location. Obviously, there are several factors that a client will look into to make his or her decision. How much will my stay cost? Can I get two beds? Is breakfast complimentary? Each of these questions is important to address in the information your hotel provides to each comparison website. These elements may be difficult or even impossible to change depending on what your hotel offers, but that doesn't mean you have nothing to help entice your clientele.

The comparison websites are always equipped with a comments and reviews section that allows past customers of your hotel to speak their minds on the experience they had while staying as your guest. These reviews have just as much importance to your hotel's appearance as any of the questions listed above. And better yet, online reputation management firms like Centel Media™ can help your hotel handle these comments and provide you with honest, respectable reviews that will aid in highlighting your hotel's unique strengths. Placing these strengths front and center gives your hotel an extra advantage in grabbing your potential customer's eye.

With as many hotels as there are, finding those unique elements that separate you from your competition is one of the most important pieces to improving your reputation. What's even more important is knowing how to show off these strengths. Using the proper approach, your hotel can brag about what makes you different, comparing your strengths with the weaknesses of your competition. The uniqueness of your hotel will offer a compelling argument to your customers that will stick in their minds and make your hotel memorable. Luckily, Centel Media™ offers a chance to make these goals a reality, and gives your hotel the opportunity to grow.

By Matt Shaffer,

Creative Writer,

Centel Media™.

What Can Make or Break Your Business? Your Online Reputation Management

With today's rough economy, it is essential to find a reliable online reputation management firm to allow your business' website to step above the competition. Without that assistance, your business will be lost amongst the overwhelming search engine results of thousands of other companies similar to your own. In addition, any negativity that has bred on your website will flourish and drown out the unique aspects of your business that can be highlighted as key strengths that separate you from your competition.

We all have searched on Google, and we all know how likely it is for us to click on the links that show up first on the list of results. Letting your business fall further and further down that list of results may be the difference between the success and failure of your business' website. Getting possible customers to see your website when they search for your services can make a world of difference for your website and thus, the likelihood of gaining new clientele.

But what happens when a possible customer does click on your webpage? Well, the content that shows up first has an enormous impact on that viewer's perception of not just your website, but your entire business. A well designed website can do wonders, but the content must also reflect an air of professionalism and positivity to entice your customers. Negative comments or reviews can change a customer's perception in an instant, rendering any professionalism or enticement mute.

That perception of your business does not only come from your website, but any website that has a direct or indirect connection to your business. Social media is often that first glimpse of your company new clientele will see. Ensuring that your company's pages on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are kept up-to-date and free of negativity maintains that professionalism and reliability your business needs to survive. Along with your social media pages, other websites that have reviews or comments about your services are equally important to the perception of your business.

Centel Media™ can help you achieve all of these goals. Improving your company's appearance online will give you the tools to grow your business. Through improved search results and the suppression of negativity on your website and social media pages, Centel Media™ will steer your business in the right direction.

By Matt Shaffer,

Creative Writer,

Centel Media™. 

Speak From the Heart

The best thing you can do for your business or brand when it is embroiled in turmoil and scandal is speak truthfully but most importantly speak from the heart. Customers don't want to listen to a written apology or statement that in all likelihood wasn't written by you.

It makes you seem like a puppet who is just trying to save himself from further trouble. Though that is your goal it should be done with your fans and customers in mind, these are the same people that supported you when you were starting out and stuck with you through thick and thin. It is your responsibility not to give some weak speech or apology that you don't mean, all it shows is you could care less about the support you get from your customers.

Admitting your mistakes and wrongdoings are the first step in speaking from the heart, doing that means you are willing to accept whatever punishment comes your way. The next step should be speaking from your own personal point of view, say what needs to be said not what you think needs to be heard trust me if you do the latter people will smell it a mile away.

It bothers me sometimes when people read statements off of papers. I am not against it and I know you are not going to memorize a whole speech but what messes people up is their body language. The language that your body gives off and the expressions are going to overpower the words that are coming out of your mouths because we will be drawn to that rather than your words. Most people don't realize while they are speaking their body language is being analyzed and interpreted as well.

You would think that they would be properly trained before they went on TV to give a statement but I guess they fell asleep on that part on the lesson. For those with celebrity status i.e., athletes, actors and actresses this is a recurring theme that I see with them on a daily basis. Not only do they seem like they don't care but when being interviewed to give explanations the body language only cements their stance.

Soon enough they will learn that they should be a bit more professional and humble, after all you are speaking to people who support you and your future somewhat depends on their approval or disapproval of your actions. It is your best interest to present yourself not only professionally but honestly, no matter what you have done if you are honest in due time you will be forgiven.

Be Careful how you present yourself when you are speaking to the public especially if you are trying to redeem yourself. Negative body language and forced speeches will get you deeper into trouble rather than out of it.

Results May Vary

If your online reputation has been damaged, your first step in repairing it should be hiring a reputable firm that will help bring you back to the position you were at before. While the reputation management firm is doing its job, you need to be making sure you are doing yours. That means doing things that you did not do previously, things that contributed to the development of a negative reputation.

I can give you the key, but it is up to you to not only use it, but to use it wisely. That is how a company who is undergoing a reputation repair should be approaching their second chance at success. Your main objective should be to make your company better than it was before by capitalizing on overlooked opportunities, instead of repeating mistakes.

The firm you hire is going to do their job no matter what. The public will begin to see you back in the positive spotlight, but you cannot rest on your laurels and assume that just because you have made it back into the good graces that the work is done. That could not be farther from the truth. By assuming, you are setting yourself up to fail again and this time you might not come back from it.

Individuals who hire reputation firms are under the same rules as businesses, but they are more in control. This is because they are the brand, so there is more of an emphasis on the individual rather than teamwork. Just like a business, you have to show what you are doing to improve your image and reputation in conjunction with the professional help you hired.

Doing charitable work is one way to show you are trying to change your image. Become a spokesperson for an organization of your choice. What is important is that you should want to improve your image and reputation. If your income depends on you getting work, but your online reputation is a mess and your image in public is even worse, you can forget about getting good work.

Businesses should want to change because they need customers to survive, not the other way around. The beauty of competition is that we have options, so if you don't think it is important to fix your reputation, expect to see your profit consistently drop. Even if you decide to get help to repair, there is no guarantee that customers will come back. So, it is in your best interest to get to work and immediately fix any glaring holes in your image before they get too big.

Positive results come from changing your image for the greater good and longevity of your company.

Catfishing; Don't be a Victim

Catfishing has been around for a while. It was one of the lesser known forms of identity theft, until it got pushed into the spotlight when a star college football player admitted he was victim of catfishing. I recently found out someone I know had been a victim for four years. Recently, someone was posing as him on various social media accounts.

Four years is a very long time to find out that someone has been living your double life without you even knowing it. It seems even longer for that person who had to keep up appearances until he finally slipped up and was caught. This not only affected the victim, but his family as well. Imagine the shock they must have felt when they were told that same person was not him and this has been going on for many years.

Catfishing has gotten so big over the years that the major cable channel MTV has created a television series titled "Catfish". The show is fabricated in some aspects, but it gives real life situations that many victims of catfishing have gone through. The effect of being catfished has a very strong impact, not only on someone's personal life but his or her professional life as well. Imagine losing your relationship with your significant other because of someone posing as you and getting to close with others, which will ultimately cause a rift with you and your partner.

The effect it can have on your professional life can be very damaging. I always talk about being careful when you are posting things on your actual account, but when it is an account you didn't even know was created, that can put the nail in your professional coffin. We know employers are looking at social media accounts more than ever. If you find that you are qualified for jobs, but not even getting so much as a courtesy call then you should check your social media accounts. Make sure that the only accounts out are the ones you control.

Catfishing is the ultimate online reputation destroyer. It is one thing to ruin your reputation yourself or have customers complain, which will damage your reputation a bit. But, when you have someone who you don't know and an account that is out there and being falsely run by someone other than you, it makes you seem helpless. Like I said earlier, you should always check your social media accounts and be absolutely sure that you are the only one who has access and control of them. With identity theft on the rise and social media being a prime target for it, no shortcuts should be taken when it comes to protecting your online reputation.

 There is nothing scarier than not being able to control your online reputation. It is your responsibility to make sure that you can protect yourself against false accounts that can destroy your reputation.

Protecting Your Child From Dangers Online

Kids today are exposed to more than they should be and it can have a very dramatic effect on them and their futures. Online activity for kids has only increased as time has progressed which means that the risk of them getting caught up in something damaging has gotten greater. Parents must take extra precaution and monitor their children online and try and keep them safe.

The internet can be the ultimate learning tool for kids and young adults as it can provide numerous ways for them to learn and interact with other children across the world. Schools are beginning to implement computer learning classes to give the next generation a head start for their future. Another reason is competition; countries around the world want to produce the best and brightest kids that will soon be leading their country so they introduce them to technology at a young age to stay ahead of everyone else.

Using the internet for educational purposes should not have a restriction on it, learning should not be capped. But when it comes to playing games and when you start to become more social on the internet that is when parents need to step in immediately to lay down some firm ground rules for their children. Before allowing their child on a particular site parents need to review it first to make sure the content is age appropriate. Parents also need to allot time for certain activities, maybe an hour a day to socialize and play games and then you block access to those sites for the rest of the day.

Parental locks are very important as well, cable providers often advertise blocking access to some channels so your kids are not influenced by what they see on them. Controlling what your children see at an early age allows them to still be children they should not be exposed to adult situations at such an early age especially on the internet. Children that see unsuitable situations are more likely to want to engage in some type of bad activity online especially when they get older.

As a parent you have to talk to your children and explain the impact that bad activity can have on their futures. You shouldn't sugar coat anything it is best to be straight with them and tell them how they might not be able to get that job because of something they did when they were young. The younger they are when you have this talk the odds of them not getting caught up in anything will increase because they will always have their future in mind and will be hesitant to mess that up.

Teaching your children about the positives and negatives of online activity can help prevent them from ruining their future before they get a chance to enjoy it.