The nature of one’s online reputation isn’t often thought of, or worried about by the average person. Think about it, how often do you Google yourself? The reality is, nowadays, online reputation should be at the top of mind for everyone. Given the nature of the internet, and the ability to search and scrutinize the character of people, what shows up under your name can impact your life in a serious way.
No matter who you are, having a negative online reputation can interfere with your daily life. If there is inaccurate or unflattering information about you on the Internet, your career, relationships, and family life will likely be affected.
Your Online Reputation
Today, a simple Google search is enough to change how you are viewed in the public eye. Negative information spreads quickly, and the front page of your search results may be filled with links and stories that damage your reputation, or hold personal information that breaches your privacy.
Many people research prospective employees, current employees and relationship partners, before making a decision on associating with that person.
In the current competitive world, your online reputation acts as your stock-in-trade. Having information out there on the web that reflects poorly on your character can have some serious repercussions.
Examples of How a Poor Online Reputation Can Interfere With Your Life
Unflattering online information can fall into three common categories: accurate but damaging stories, inaccurate and unfair reporting, private and personal information. Everyone makes mistakes, and the principle that everyone deserves a second chance has been wiped out by the public’s reliance on online search results.
Negative Stories Or News Articles
For example; if you have received a speeding ticket, your name and city of residence may be included in a local news story. It is difficult to combat legitimate news stories, but companies like Erase.com/Guaranteed Removals have the technical skills to tackle the problem. One mistake does not define a person, however, the unforgetting nature of
the internet can allow a mistake to impact a person for the rest of their lives if it is not dealt with.
False Or Inaccurate Information
Another situation where you may experience online reputation issues, is when someone with a very similar name is discussed or accused of something online. It may be hard to untangle your name from this other person’s damaging behavior. Expert reputation management companies can step in and help to clear up this type of problem.
Other common situations include smear campaigns, cyberbullying, or online defamation. Unfortunately, the internet and search engines give online trolls the ability to seriously damage the character of any individuals they decide to target. The publishing of inaccurate and harmful information about a person is very common, and can impact the victim’s lives in many different ways.
Negative online information is something that cannot be ignored. Starting new relationships, finding a new job, and even your current employment can be impacted by the nature of your online presence.
Combating Negative Online Information
Trying to remove negative or misleading information about yourself is a difficult proposition, but there are several steps that you can follow to get started.
1. Discover the Original Source of the Information
The first thing you need to do when encountering damaging information about yourself online, is fully research its origins. This could be a delicate process given that links and information are commonly shared and reposted across multiple websites.
2. Contact the Webmaster
The best way to have negative information removed is to have the original webmaster who posted it do so.
When you get in touch with the person in charge of the website or publishing of the negative content in question, you need to be as diplomatic as possible. It would help if you came armed with the reasons why the information should be scrubbed. You may also need to pay a fee to have the information removed.
3. Be Persistent
The process of having bad information removed from the Internet is long and grueling. It may be a full-time job. You will have to be persistent and keep pressing your case.
4. Post-Positive Information
It is possible to counter negative information with positive content. This could mean writing articles or guest posts for news sites and other publications which show your skills in a flattering light. This method can help to address the balance between positive and negative information found online.
Protect Your Online Reputation
To protect yourself against future problems, make sure that you are cautious about what you post online. Even something as innocuous as a message board post from years ago can be construed as damaging information. You need to keep a close eye on your social media presence, regularly monitor your search engine results, and ensure that you are not misrepresented.
If this process is too involved for you or your efforts are not succeeding, it is best to get in touch with Erase.com/Guaranteed Removals and ask them for help. These companies have proprietary methods for removing damaging online content, and improving your overall online reputation.
