Protect Your Privacy

Your privacy is what allows you to get away from the daily stress that life graciously gives to you. It is that one moment of the day where you don't have to worry about a case you are working on, completing a deal or anything that will more than likely bring on more stress to you. What about your online privacy, how important is that to you? Are all your social media accounts secured? Are you the only one who knows the passwords? These unfortunately situations can bring a lot of harm to your online reputation if you are not careful.

There has been a commercial on TV lately talking about privacy but not about your identity or credit cards but your social media accounts. The times have certainly changed and a new market has opened up, people are now becoming victims of fraud not by their bank accounts but by their social media accounts. Keep in mind that social media is just an extension of your personality when you are not in office or in a professional setting. So for people to become victims of fraud on these platforms raises a lot of questions.  

My first question is how much information you are putting on these sites, I know when filling out an application you have options to put phone numbers, email addresses and even your location! Those options right there are can be trouble if you choose to fill them out. Your email address should not be published online; you should never put your phone number online especially on a social media account. While your location is acceptable it should stop with your city and state nothing more.

You are already exposed by having your pictures online don't make easier for a potential hacker, stalker or creep to find you steal your identity and create another life for you will you live your own life. It is a crazy thing to imagine but according to some articles and TV commercials this form of identity theft is becoming very popular.

The best thing you can do to make yourself less likely to be a target is have an account on just one social media account, cut down your exposure. You don't need to be active all over social media you're just asking for attention and you will receive it. The best way to get through this efficiently and thoroughly is to hire an online reputation management firm that will help you restore your reputation

Just when you thought it was safe to come out and play online it's not. You find yourself looking at you but you already have an account, you then realize you have been hacked and it is not a good feeling.

How is Your Online Reputation Compared To Competitors?

Nobody wants to lose a step when it comes to their rivals, that is why keeping a close eye on your online reputation is a must. Business owners and professionals are becoming more aware of how important it is to maintain their online reputation and are taking different measures in order to achieve their goal. It is well known that a negative online reputation will cost you customers, and possibly your dream job that you were seeking. Take action now.

How does your website reflect your business? This is an important question that must be taken into consideration in order to become aware of how you are stacked against your competition, or if you meet the standards you claim. If your website claims that you will give your customers the best customer service possible make sure that you live up to your word. Hire the right staff, and have employees that are well trained in order to give the customer the best possible customer experience.

Keep your ears open and listen to what your customers have to say. If a customer claims to be unhappy about a recent encounter do something about it. The worst possible thing to do as a business owner is ignoring your customers, put in the time and effort in order to make sure your customers are happy with the brand that you represent.

Many companies are hiring an online reputation management company in order to better help them in building a positive online reputation. It does not matter if you are a big company or small, online reputation will make or break you. Work with your online reputation management company in order to build a fine establishment with a reputable name because at the end if it is reputation that outweighs everything else.

Centel Media™, an online reputation management company, has shown to be a reputable company and work hard on building the type of reputation that you need in order to be successful. They have trained professionals and experts working with you on your online reputation, and will make sure that you have the upper hand when it comes to your competitors. These experts have the skills and techniques that are needed when it comes to dealing with negative content surrounding your name.

Something Old, Something New

In today's world we are quick to dismiss anything that is not modern or not up with today’s time. We are truly doing ourselves a disservice when we choose to leave "old" methods in the past. Little do we know most businesses have been around before we were born and just because we have social media and most if not all businesses are active on those websites does not mean that they should be the measuring stick for how a business is supposed to be developed.

Before this technology boom businesses depended on other means to survive and promote their business to the masses.Social media came along and has given businesses a chance to expand and get their brand out to a wider audience, but a business should still have a foundation where they don't have to depend on social media to develop their business. I actually think that businesses that thrived before technology became so big are at a huge advantage over everyone else.

Those businesses are structurally stronger because they have had to use lesser means for promotion such as newspaper ads, radio and TV. While these three methods of promotion are still very strong they don't have the same effect as a mobile app or an e-mailed coupon. Before we were pulling out our phones to upload a coupon or opening an app we had to use newspapers and circulars. From a competition standpoint it really brought out the best in everybody because the pickings were thin, so you had to stand out and appeal to your audience if you wanted business.

That was the old way; the new way consists of mobile marketing, scan codes on the side of every product we buy and other tech savvy methods to increase business. If you want information on something just pull out your phone and scan it and a coupon along with a newsletter will be sent to you. What used to take hours now takes minutes to do.  

In my opinion it would be wise for a company to adapt an old school method and apply it to the way you do business today. While a technology based foundation is good, technology is changing every day and that means everyday your foundation shakes which is not good. If you were to apply some radio ads or create a circular that can be placed in papers that would stabilize you.

When one foundation becomes unstable you have another to fall back on which is going to keep you in business and guide you through a lot of tough times.

Social Media Reputation

Social Media is another way to connect with people, in some ways it is more efficient and takes less time than the standard routes of communication. It has also become an essential tool for businesses who want to attract a younger audience. In some ways social media has replaced your newspaper as the go to place if you wanted to get coupons for your favorite brand.

But just like anything online it is important to make sure that your accounts are not being used to respond to negative comments, it is important to keep it professional at all times. It may be tempting to respond to some comments but your businesses social media account is not the forum to do that. Your online reputation consists of more than just your website and comments that are written about you. Your socialmedia account is a big part of that.

Being that social media is less restrictive than a professional webpage people might find it easier to attack your reputation. The effect that this can have on your company is very damaging because everyone can see what someone one says about you. All it takes is one post and millions of people can view a negative comment about you which can get bigger if you do not take care of the problem as soon as it happens.

Your social media accounts are your customers go to place to get updates and more of an inside peek of your company. You want the atmosphere to be very inviting and pleasant, there should not be any negative comments left out in the open for everyone to see. It looks bad on your part because it makes your page look very sloppy, there should not be a compliment followed by three negative comments. Those comments should be taken care of and removed.

Monitoring your account is easier said than done, it can take a lot of time and attention away from your other business operations. It is very advisable that you hire either a team of experienced social media users or an online reputation firm that can help enhance your social media presence as well as monitor your account against any attack. Just like your online reputation it is very sensitive and should be handled by professionals who specialize in this particular field.

When dealing with your online reputation never hesitate to get help. It’s an investment that will pay itself off before you realize it.

Managing Your Online Reputation

Your online reputation should be taken with extreme consideration and managed with the right skills and technique. As a business owner you should be aware of all the negative content that can surround your name on a daily basis and that is why searching your name constantly on Google is extremely important. Checking your name should be a daily routine that you do, such as brushing your teeth, you want to make sure you are constantly on top of things so that if you see anything wrong you can fix it before it gets worse.

Buying domain names is also important because it will allow for you to have a control over the content that will be on the internet. Include your bio, blogs, anything that will help receive positive content to counter act the negative. Be sure to be organized where you put this type of content in order for others to easily view your information as well as other links to your social media accounts for example.

Social media accounts are very important when it comes to your online reputation. At the same time however, they can be your worst enemy if these accounts are not used properly. The point of a social media account as a business owner or professional is to network. Expanding your business, or meeting people that are in your field of business is the main idea. It is not a place to post inappropriate content, such as photos showing drinking or inappropriate activity. You will be digging yourself a major hole if you do not use your social media account in a professional manner.

Interaction with your customers and how you react to comments is also vile to your success. If you receive a negative comment on the internet remember to post without over reacting, or reacting out of emotion. Acting out of emotion will only cause your customers to think less of you, and perhaps lose their business. Remember that the customers that are going to leave comments about your brand name are either going to have a remarkable experience that is worth writing about, or a horrible experience in order to warn future customers. Make sure that you treat every comment with a professional attribute, and deal with the situation with a clear mind.

Maintaining a Loyal Customer Base

It is easier to say you are loyal than actually completing the act of being loyal. It often an overused word that over the years has developed many definitions and meanings. What one person may think loyalty is another person might have a totally different perspective on it. Is loyalty at times overrated, yes in some instances but it is very much underrated as well. Customer loyalty is very important to your business and when you have solid customer loyalty it is very important to reward them.

With businesses popping up all over the place something you can thank technology for, getting customers is now easier than ever right. I mean you have to be a caveman if you don't have a computer and your phone should be smarter than you. The gadgets are very nice but that won't attract customers to you and it definitely won't sell anything for you. You could have the best mobile app in the world and your website could be the most beautifully designed website running, it is going to take a little bit more work than that.

How much work you ask well that depends on the owner and his or her drive to be successful , stand out from the competition and deliver the best product and service imaginable. In other words there's a lot of work to be done if you want to develop loyal customer base. Starting with the basics whatever sectors you choose to do business in always remember to be honest with your customers. Speaking as a consumer the worst thing you can do as an owner is make false promises or not admit when you're wrong or have made a mistake.

It is a proven fact that when you're open and honest you will be forgiven much faster than if you lied, granted the forgiving process takes time nonetheless you can find yourself back in the good graces of your customers in due time. With honesty taken care of let’s get to the service and products, what you won't do another will. I mentioned earlier that businesses are all over and you would be hard pressed to find one business that specializes in one field and not have any competition. You're competing for business so it is important that your product stands out and is the well ahead of your rivals.

Your services has to be just as good, customer service, shipping, prices and inventory has to always be on point. Customers today have so many options to choose from so you will constantly be measured by your competition detail for detail. Knowing all of this is key to longevity and loyal customers, I’ve mentioned before if customers feel comfortable using your products they will continue to give you their business for a very long time. It's a win-win for both sides in my book.  

Starting and creating a business is a headache in its own right, now you have to make sure that your business attracts customers and keeps them doing business with you for many years to come.

Etymology and Understanding Our Online Origins

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the ways in which their meanings have historically developed. In understanding the meaning of words, their origins, and their application to our lives, we begin at the root of the word and dissect it. “Photography” for instance is derived from the Greek photos - for “light” and graphos- for “drawing.”

Applying these same rules to our modern, online vocabulary, we can discover the deeper meanings of social networks use every day. Most titles or names seem self-explanatory at first glance; “Pinterest,” “YouTube,” and “Facebook” for example. We are so familiar with these networks that we gloss over their true meanings and functions.

As with most modern technological names, Facebook does not follow the traditional patterns of name origin. But, by dissecting the word, perhaps we can derive a new meaning applicable to our online selves.  The website began as ’“facemash” which derived from the nickname of Harvard student directories. When the site launched the second time it was renamed “The FaceBook,” which we all know now as “Facebook.”

If we apply the same logic to the word Facebook, dissecting it, the first word being “face” deriving from the Latin word facies- for “appearances”. The second word being “book” deriving from the Latin word codex, meaning the modern equivalent of book carved into a "block of wood".

In applying etymology to our online reputation, we can see that Facebook could literally mean carving our appearance in a block of wood. While this may not be as permanent as carving into stone, the basic gesture of carving has a significant impact, especially when it comes to our reputation. We are carving our online reputations. Therefore it is vital for us to remain consistent and constantly aware that we have an appearance to consider, not only of ourselves, but those we represent, and those who represent us.

  

The physical layout and design of your online self, on Facebook or other social medias, is vital. The initial appearances found online mimics the first impressions we often experience in person. Managing an online reputation can be exhausting and time consuming, especially when there are countless networking sites already demanding detailed management and more sites coming into popularity each day. While Facebook may seem like a fun pastime, or a way to keep in contact with old friends, and distance family, it is also a valuable tool in which we can carve our onlinereputations.

Summary: In applying etymology to our onlinereputation, we can see that Facebook could literally mean carving our appearance in a block of wood. Therefore it is vital for us to remain consistent and constantly aware that we have an appearance to consider, not only of ourselves, but those we represent, and those who represent us.