While the internet has created a platform for anyone with a connection to share their views online, the downside for businesses is that it only takes one negative tweet or one negative blog post to ruin their reputation. While bad things happen to good people all the time, in business, the one bad thing can lead to decreased sales, a lack of trustworthiness, and far-reaching problems. So, what can you do if the one bad thing happens to you?
1. Get the Negative Result Taken Down
Now, it’s important to note that this may not always be possible. However, if you posted the content, you can delete it. If you personally control the content, it will be much easier to delete it than it will be to bury it. In all other cases, you have two options. First, you can reach out to the content creator and ask them to remove it for you. Second, you can see if it fits in with Google’s guidelines for Takedown Requests. While the content will still be archived online, if it’s deleted, it shouldn’t appear in the search results.
2. Run a Paid Social Media Campaign
This is an approach that should be handled with care, but when done correctly can help to overshadow the negative posts. While it won’t bury the negative results online, it can help you to build some positive traction towards a goal like increasing brand awareness or getting more customers. The focus behind your campaign should be related to your positive company culture, or the positive content you have created. You can then tailor it to be seen by those who matter. When done correctly, this should enable you to build more links to your positive content, while ensuring your business is portrayed in a positive way to those who matter.
3. Hire a Company to Boost Controlled Listings
Another option that you have is to hire a company like ReputationDefender to help boost your positive content in the search results. This is something that won’t happen overnight, but it can be a good long-term solution if the creator of the content refuses to remove it. What essentially happens is that the company you hire will create positive news stories about your company, and then work on an SEO campaign to boost these pages up in the search results. So, when someone searches for your business, they will be met with positive results while the negatives will be buried. Not only will this help to bury the negative results in the short term, but it will protect you against any bad feedback published in the future.
It’s important to remember that removing/burying bad search results and keeping on top of your online reputation is an ongoing process and not something you can do once and then forget about. That said, it’s a very important part of running a company in the online age and should not be neglected.