Thanksgiving
dates back to 1621 with the celebration at Plymouth in Massachusetts. The
Thanksgiving tradition continued to New England, but harvest festivals were not
regular events until the 1660s. On November 26, 1789, President George
Washington declared the first nationwide thanksgiving celebration.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Happy Hanukkah
Happy Hanukkah from Centel Media. In honor of the holiday, we present eight crazy days of online reputation management. Check back here for posts about new products and services. We’ll keep the candle burning for you.
Monday, November 25, 2013
The Government Goes Nuclear
It has
finally happened. After a 52-48 vote in the Senate, the Democrats have taken
away the Republicans’ ability to filibuster them. This is a pretty big deal in
our current political climate because the Republican Party has basically taken
every opportunity to filibuster as much of the Democrats’ legislation as
possible. At the same time, the filibuster was the last defense Republicans had
to prevent Democrats from seizing total control of some governmental processes.
The merit
of this move rests in a very grey area, because, from this point forward, all
minority parties will have no ability to negate important actions taken by the
majority. Yet, this 'nuclear option' was only considered because the stalemate
in Washington made any form of progress impossible. In all, this is a desperate
effort by the Democrats to end the government’s negative image in the eyes of
the American people.
Political
gridlock doesn't do a thing for the voting public and it makes the entire
government look incompetent, reinforcing the popular viewpoint that our
government can't do anything to help those it’s supposed to serve. If the
government was a business, they’d never make it off the ground, especially if
they kept the poor reputation they have now. Unfortunately, the government has
a lot more room for failure than any business would.
But, if
the government was a company looking to fix its image, what could it do? Well,
actual results would probably help, but that’s not enough. When the public is
set on a general opinion, it’s very difficult to break it. The only option is
to tackle that opinion head-on and reinforce another image, one that shows a
willingness to change and a plan to do so. Fixing a negative reputation is hard
enough, but online it’s an even greater challenge.
Centel Media™, the premier online reputation management firm, has many resources that could help any organization solve their negative image problems. Our negative suppression services, which cover articles, reviews, images, and videos, are designed to push aside negative criticism directed towards an individual or group. To help improve a reputation in need, we can also post press releases about what our clients are doing correctly. While it is easy to bash the government, one should keep in mind that there is always a chance for redemption. With the right reputation, strategy and action, even our dysfunctional government can be saved.
Jonathan
Wong,
Creative
Writer,
Matthew
Shaffer,
Editor-in-Chief,
Friday, November 22, 2013
Nokia Can't Take the Heat: Opts to Sell Out
Nokia was
once the king of portable phones, being the largest mobile phone company in the
world. Then, what happened? The smartphone. It left their mobile devices with a
feeling of antiquity. While they still sell other products, such as home phones
and networking equipment, mobile phones were how they stayed in the limelight
as a household name. The possible buyout from Microsoft might be the key to
recovering their image, but what could they have done differently in the PR
department to stay relevant on their own?
Commercially, there are a few factors that caused Nokia to fall off the pop culture radar. Their electronics, design-wise, always had a very dated feel to them, unlike the sleek appearance of modern phones like the iPhone and Galaxy. When those phones first arrived on the market, Nokia's brand was already established, but the company seemed unable to shed that old phone image. Thus, try as they may, it was inevitable they would fail.
Those silver, grey and black colors of Nokia's phones did categorize the ‘90s and early 2000s, but the company struggled to adapt as technology grew beyond their products. They have recently tried to change their image by designing decent smartphones, but their new models haven't added enough to distinguish themselves from the pack. That outdated image of theirs really followed them through the years.
Nokia could have used a more innovative phone redesign, but they also needed to change their appearance. How? Through advertising on social media sites. Go for a more aggressive marketing campaign by targeting younger demographics who’d be more likely to use mobile phones. With the right tactics, Nokia could have stripped away its old image and adopted a better, more modern, identity.
A company like Nokia should have used the services of a top-rated online reputation management company like Centel Media™. We deal with all things online, from social media support to the suppression of negative criticism from sources such as articles, images, videos, and reviews. We can even provide ways for your company to rebrand itself by designing websites, creating press releases, and optimizing Google AdWords. Hopefully Nokia can improve after their expected deal with Microsoft, but don't let your company fall to Nokia’s lows before taking action. If you’re without the right online approach, call on Centel Media™ to secure your online reputation management strategies.
Jonathan
Wong,
Creative
Writer,
Matthew
Shaffer,
Editor-in-Chief,
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford: An Honest Role Model?
The
outspoken and embattled mayor of Toronto has certainly grabbed headlines around
the globe. Rob Ford prides himself on his honesty and refuses to step down no
matter what he confesses to. He feels the voters of Toronto should decide
whether or not he leaves office when they vote next year.
The city
council does not agree. For some odd reason, they don’t like videos of their
drunk mayor going viral. They don’t like his admission of smoking crack cocaine
last year during a different drunken episode. And, they haven’t seemed to be
fond of reports that he bought illegal drugs while in office. But, as the
council scrambles to divest Ford of his powers, he’s stood by his promise that
he will not take a leave of absence.
Yesterday
the allegations against the mayor reached a new level as he was accused of
sexual impropriety. This infuriated him, causing an epithet-laden tirade that
stunned reporters. Yet another apology followed. His explanation? “When you
attack my integrity as a husband and a father, I see red.”
Despite
his confessed actions and suspicions of greater wrongs not yet uncovered, Ford
has his share of fans. In an era when politicians often try to portray
themselves as patriotic, family oriented, and trustworthy, only later to be
debunked by scandal, Ford’s honesty has a refreshing ring. In most of his
interviews he talks about staying in office to serve the people, and he
genuinely seems to mean it.
But how
far can a political leader go before his mistakes become too much? It raises an
interesting question of conscience for voters. What mistakes are unforgivable?
Shady financial dealings? Drug use? Alcoholism? Extramarital affairs? Or is
everything okay provided when caught, the politician apologizes profusely and
appears repentant?
Right now
the public can’t seem to get enough of Rob Ford and his out of control
behavior. Monday it was announced that Rob and his brother Doug would now host
a TV show. Maybe crime does pay.
At Centel Media™, we know the Rob Fords of this world are rare, but everyone has a
reputation to consider. Your competition may be trying to smear yours with
innuendo or outright untruth. Our team can monitor your online presence to make
sure that you are accurately and positively portrayed. We can monitor your
online reputation and suppress negative online articles, videos and reviews. Don’t
be caught unaware or unready for whatever media coverage might come your way.
Let us help you.
Chris
McEachern,
Creative
Writer,
Matthew
Shaffer,
Editor-in-Chief,
Monday, November 18, 2013
NSA Compromises Cisco's Future
Recent
stumbles by the U.S. government (the federal shutdown, Snowden's disclosure of
the NSA's spying program, the slow pace of Obamacare) has made people
understandably worried about the direction the country is heading. Most of
these topics are highly debatable, but we often overlook the repercussions
these events have on organizations that aren’t directly involved. Not all
actions have immediate consequences, and knowing how to deal with these
problems as they come is a large part of running a successful business or
nonprofit.
One company that knows the ramifications of government influence is Cisco, responsible for the creation and manufacturing of communications equipment. Many items off their catalog are used by the United States government, and because of the NSA disclosure, products, such as their phones, are not selling well this quarter, mainly because foreign markets are putting less trust in their equipment out of fear that the NSA may be spying on them as well. Thanks to the shutdown, much of the business sector has been cutting back on purchases, citing dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the economy by willingly throwing the market under the bus in order to play political games. Cisco has admitted that all of these factors resulted in $90 million of lost profit.
Cisco is one of many companies affected by forces they cannot control. There are several business solutions to approach such a problem. To curb their losses, Cisco needs to do all they can to prove their equipment is free of NSA spying devices. Another solution could be to market themselves more heavily to the public. With the right approach, they could highlight their accomplishments to change public perception.
One effective way they can redeem their reputation is to utilize online advertising strategies. Centel Media™ is rated as the top online reputation management company for our great services in the support of online ventures. To better advertise an individual or business, we have several tools, including press release formation, Google AdWords optimization, social media and website page creation, and Wikipedia submissions. Our trained staff can create compelling and fascinating content to attract more attention from potential fans or clients. No matter what you’re trying to accomplish online, Centel Media™ is there to guide you to a better online experience.
Jonathan Wong,
Creative
Writer,
Matthew
Shaffer,
Editor-in-Chief,
Friday, November 15, 2013
Baldwin's Stalker Will Get the Last Laugh
Alec
Baldwin is one of those Hollywood actors with a mixed image. On one hand, he is
respected for his acting talent and charisma in movies and television. On the
other hand, he has well-publicized scandals that involve airliners, mobile
games, and hurling insults at his own daughter. Like him or hate him, he
remains an influential and popular actor. Most actors and actresses deal with
harassment from the paparazzi constantly, an act many would consider a legal
form of stalking. But it’s when there’s a true case of stalking that an actor
or actress runs into problems that may spiral away from their control.
Enter one
Genevieve Sabourin, a Canadian woman who met Baldwin on a movie set in 2002 and
later in 2010 at a dinner. She claims to have had a very intimate relationship
with him starting in 2011, but Baldwin has flatly denied her allegations in
court hearings, adding that she was imagining all of these scenarios in her
head. While one can make the argument that Baldwin is lying due to his past
mistakes, Sabourin's behavior and activities have not made her case supportable
in the least. Baldwin has been avoiding journalists regarding the trial, while
Sabourin gleefully absorbs the media attention. She was also arrested many
times and even defied a restraining order by attempting to contact Baldwin and
his wife online.
Baldwin
has a big problem here. Once again, he’ll be needing to spend some time
cleaning up his image after the trial. Even if Sabourin's story was proven to
be completely false in the future, he still has to deal with the current media
backlash and negative comments by people who don’t like how Baldwin handled the
case. Even worse, if someone manages to prove his side of the story wrong, his
marriage would most likely end and nobody would ever take him seriously again.
Any negativity will have an adverse impact on the targeted person or organization. Centel Media™, the top-rated online reputation management firm, has the ability to restrict negative commentary surrounding a client on the Internet, especially if the criticism is unwarranted. The service suppresses negative articles, reviews, images, and videos down from the top pages on a search engine. To counteract damage, we also create press releases that steer public attention towards positive characteristics that show your value and originality in comparison to others in your field. Don't let negativity, stalker or otherwise, damage your reputation, consider letting us handle your problems.
Jonathan
Wong,
Creative
Writer,
Matthew Shaffer,
Editor-in-Chief,
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Rand Paul is a Cheat
Senator
Rand Paul has been spotlighted in the Republican Party because he stands up for
his beliefs. He is most famous for creating a filibuster against the White
House to prevent using drones on American soil. This week, his reputation
suffered a devastating hit with allegations that many of his speeches, and even
some portions of his book, have had plagiarized phrases. Accusers located the
sources, which include Wikipedia and The Heritage Foundation. While these
sources don't seem to mind very much, the implications are still having a
negative effect on Senator Paul’s image.
This
incident sheds doubt not only on the Senator's office but on the man himself.
Paul has been unwavering in the defense of his reputation. He has called for
metaphorical duels with detractors and reassured people that he would never try
to misrepresent himself. According to him, his past work should prove his honor
and integrity, but accusers have relished in detaching the known figure from
his image. By admitting that his office made some mistakes and promising to add
footnotes to all his material, Paul has attempted to redeem himself. But that doesn't
change the fact that his office has made an inexcusably unprofessional mistake.
Businesses
often suffer image problems like these, and the solutions are not always easy.
Rival companies look for situations that allow them to gain an advantage over
their competitors. Disgruntled employees and dissatisfied customers lurk online
at various sites and news outlets, waiting for the opportunity to lash out at
an establishment they feel has disenfranchised them. Every company has to deal
with this problem, and letting it fester can lead to disastrous consequences.
These
allegations may hurt Paul's chances in 2016, but Centel Media™ believes that
every company or individual should be able to maintain a positive image. If
your brand has been the target of negative publicity, online reputationmanagement services can help you regain your standing. When you or your
company’s reputation has taken a hit, we can provide negative suppression
services that target articles, videos, images and reviews. Our
team of writers and computer experts can publish press releases to show
off your company’s accomplishments, further driving negativity into obscurity.
We want you to own your online reputation and will not allow any detractors to
cast doubt upon you or your business.
Jonathan Wong,
Creative
Writer,
Matthew
Shaffer,
Editor-in-Chief,
Monday, November 11, 2013
Veterans Day
Veterans day is a federal holiday
in honor of those who have served for our country.
President Woodrow Wilson declared
November 11, 1919 as Armistice Day, a day that would be in remembrance of those
who died in service.
In 1945, Raymond Weeks, a veteran
of World War ll pushed for making November 11 a holiday for all veterans.
On June 1, 1954, Congress
replaced Armistice with Veterans.
Friday, November 8, 2013
Will the Real Slim Shady Please Stop Being Homophobic?
With over
a decade of commercial success, multiple Grammy awards and the title of best
selling artist of the 2000s, Marshall Mathers aka Eminem has made an
outstanding career using his quick and clever lyrics to produce a great
following of fans and critics. Known for his ability to vary between
playful and hard-hitting raps, Eminem has firmly established his versatility.
Yet, both critics and fans are still pondering upon certain decisions the
artist has made in his choices on wordplay.
In 2009,
with the release of his sixth studio album “Relapse,” the artist was confronted
for his blatant and insulting use of offensive language. Within his
verses, he targeted famous artists (Adam Lambert and Clay Aiken) who are
identified as homosexuals. Eminem’s delivery suggested prejudice towards the
artists for their sexuality. Homophobic slurs were riddled within his
rhymes on his first two albums back in the early 2000s, bringing many to
question his position and attitude towards the LGBT community.
When confronted
on the matter in 2009, Eminem was quoted as saying that his lyrics should not
impress upon his fans or other artist that he, as an individual, is homophobic.
However, his defense hasn’t been enough to soothe critics. It seems that Eminem
has found himself on the wrong side of changing times.
In the
past several months, new policies and old laws have been both instituted and
struck down. One of the greatest victories for the LGBT community came during
this year’s Supreme Court decision to end DOMA. DOMA prevented same-sex couples
from gaining the same benefits as legally recognized married couples under
federal law.
Such
dramatic change has had its impact on the rest of society. Attacks on gays and
lesbians are now frowned upon by the larger part of America, and has resulted
in the destruction of many reputations. Upon his newest release, “Marshall
Mathers LP 2,” a follow up to his hit 2000 album, “The Marshall Mathers LP,”
Eminem has once again found himself in the headlines of newspapers and magazines
for the wrong reasons. “Rap God,” a single from his newly released album,
takes shots for about a quarter of a verse, demoralizing “gays” with lines
like: “So gay I can barely say it with a straight face…”
Amidst
the flare of critics and artists posting comments and articles bashing Eminem
as homophobic, the rapper is managing to stand his ground by responding to the
media, stating that his words do not entirely reflect his positions.
Chalking up his use of gay epithets as commonplace for him having been
involved in rap for over two decades, the 41 year-old states that he is not
anti-gay and uses such language out of the context of homosexuality.
Whatever the case may be, the negative attention, along with his
seemingly unsatisfactory explanation, may sully the established rapper’s image
for old fans and new ones alike.
Centel Media™ is rated at the top for their services in managing online reputations.
Situations created by individuals who don’t consider the full breadth of
their decisions, and how those decisions may impact others, can be crushing for
any business or career. Ensuring that you or your company is represented
properly at all times is key to present and future success. With services
like negative
article suppression, Centel Media™ professionals will provide what you need, when you need it, to renew
and refine your company’s image.
Chikira
Bennett,
Creative
Writer,
Matthew
Shaffer,
Editor-in-Chief
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Bill de Blasio to Bloomberg: Move Over
In the
last public polling of New York voters from NBC and the Wall Street Journal, it
appeared that Democratic mayoral hopeful Bill de Blasio would win in a
landslide election against his Republican opponent Joe Lhota, and that’s
exactly what happened. 73 percent of likely voters cast their ballots for de
Blasio, while Lhota ended up at a comparatively puny 24 percent. These strong
results can be attributed to a large number of factors, and for de Blasio, it
all came together at the right time.
For
starters, let's take a look at the soon-to-be former mayor of New York, Michael
Bloomberg. Bloomberg is one of the more well-known names in the country and
arguably the most powerful mayor in the world with his network of both public
and private connections through all forms of government, businesses, and
investments. While not everyone has agreed with his tactics, he has left an
undeniable mark on the office with his Republican-turned-Independent policies
in a solidly Democratic state. However, one of the reasons why de Blasio ran
away in a landslide is because of Bloomberg. It seems New Yorkers may be a bit
fatigued after his three terms as mayor.
For de
Blasio himself, regardless of politics, he has done just about everything right
to be a strong political candidate. He used his campaign experience as a
political operative to make himself a well-known and vocal public servant,
running counter to an opposing candidate that wants to uphold the status quo.
What
businesses can learn from de Blasio is how he managed to get himself out into
the limelight. He started small, then worked his way up and made a name for
himself. When campaigning, he knew exactly who his targeted audience was: the
people of New York City. He also understood his voters wanted a change from
Bloomberg. And finally, he advocated himself in clear support of his own cause
with no evidence (so far) of flip-flopping, something which helped get
President Obama elected in both his terms.
With Centel Media™ help, you can achieve your goals, just as de Blasio did yesterday. Our online reputation management firm seeks to provide all businesses with proper control over their image. We offer services that will publicize your brand through press releases, as well as optimization assistance for social media and Google Adwords, further boosting your ability to advertise yourself online. Knowing the wants of your customers, and running a clearly identifiable ad campaign will add up in a big way to make your business more successful than ever before.
Jonathan Wong,
Creative
Writer,
Matthew
Shaffer,
Editor-in-Chief,
Monday, November 4, 2013
Friday, November 1, 2013
Not Everyone in Red Sox Nation is Celebrating
Baseball
fans across Boston celebrated in riotous joy Wednesday night at the final out
of game six of the 2013 World Series. For the third time in a decade, they have
become the national champions. The media frenzy capped off the win with
commentaries and analysis of players, managers, coaches, umps, and any other
topics and angles they could find.
Yet a
disturbing undertone hummed beneath the usual statistics and congratulatory
numbers repeated in the news and splashed across our computer screens. In
describing the winners, the losers were held up to scrutiny as well. Not
necessarily just the St. Louis Cardinals, either.
One
popular memory dredged up for review was the
last time Boston played a game six at Shea Stadium. In 1986, the Red Sox were
in a ‘win the game or lose the championship’ situation against the Mets. In a
disastrous mistake, Bill Buckner failed to make a rather routine play, allowing
a ground ball to roll between his ankles. Boston lost the game and the
championship, and Bill Buckner lost his outstanding reputation.
In his
20-year career, Buckner participated in 2,700 games, won a batting title, and
played in All-Star games. But mention his name to baseball fans across the
country, and what will they remember? Buckner’s mistake.
Titles
like the World Series are never won or lost by one person. A whole team is
responsible for the position in which they find themselves during a
championship run. But, when a team fails in such as way as the Red Sox did in
1986, the fans often need a scapegoat. Poor old Buckner just happened to find
himself in the crosshairs.
In
Wednesday night’s game, Cardinal’s rookie pitcher Michael Wacha took the blame
for the devastating loss. Wacha had been a superhero, a young kid who leveled
Boston in game two, and whose postseason stats astonished even the most
seasoned fans. But by the morning after the World Series loss, pundits clamored
to figure out “What happened?” as they pointed fingers at his disappointing
performance and burdened him with their defeat.
In
today’s world of internet immediacy, one mistake can be magnified until
reputations are decided by skewed or inaccurate information. Centel Media™ is an online reputation
management company who can protect your image and your name from a bad call.
Let us make sure that you have what you need to level the playing field in your
own high-stakes game.
Chris
MacEachern,
Creative
Writer,
Matthew
Shaffer,
Editor-in-Chief,
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