Nov. 18 2008 at 6:48 AM
TrustBuilder Posted by: TrustBuilder

Social media, specifically consumer recommendations is the most credible form of advertising but it does have another side.

Here is a point of view about the dark-side of social media that hasn’t gotten much attention to date but it certainly has been percolating for some time. A cornerstone strategy of reputation management is to constantly publish positive content that supports your brand or company. But the openness of social media also provides fertile ground for unscrupulous businesses to launch negative attacks against competitors. Read G. Crouch “Social Media As A Weapon”.

Active reputation management is becoming just as necessary for business owners to protect their good name as putting a lock on their doors to protect their physical assets.

Every reputation management strategy should include the proactive creation of a natural online reputation. Natural online reputations are the most cost effective and the most credible way to protect your business from bad social media.

Andrew Ward
Founder

http://www.trustfx.com

Customers are more likely to buy from businesses that they can trust!
Nov. 20 2008 at 12:00 AM
CraigL Posted by: CraigL
If you want to really see the down-side of social media and offering up a company's reputation to the common person on the street, just look at what eBay has done. They've not only offered anyone at all a chance to slander a company without any reason, they've put real-world penalties on those companies.

So if only one or two people, for no reason at all, choose to put an average "feedback" on very large sellers, eBay either penalizes those sellers or throws them off the site.

The result is that almost all powersellers are leaving or have left. Anarchy reigns, and eBay's reputation for being a cheap flea-market is increasing.

Reputation lies on a foundation of respect. In today's culture, respect has almost vanished, along with etiquette, manners, and statesmanship. To manage a reputation in a world where reputation itself means nothing is a serious problem. But to put one's reputation up for destruction by a "social network" is pretty much lunacy.


Edited by: CraigL - Nov. 20 2008 at 12:01 AM
Craig Landes
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Defining the undefinable. "There are 10 kinds of people in the world---those who understand binary numbers and those who don't." - Unknown

International Society of Curmudgeons
Nov. 20 2008 at 1:27 PM
cmdesigns Posted by: cmdesigns
Craig,
I am always amazed at your insight... I know you post on several forums here. You are an asset for others. I totally agree with what you have said. Respect has almost vanished.
Sincerely,
Catherine

Catherine Miller
Catherine Miller Designs
7 Cloverleaf Llane
Buckhannon, WV 26201-8889
304-472-3331
wwww.catherinemillerdesigns.com
catherinemillerdesigns@gmail.com
Nov. 20 2008 at 6:12 PM
CraigL Posted by: CraigL
The only reason I may sound as if I know what I'm talking about is because I follow the basic principle that Words have Meaning. :-) But thank you for the nice compliment. Craig Landes
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Defining the undefinable. "There are 10 kinds of people in the world---those who understand binary numbers and those who don't." - Unknown

International Society of Curmudgeons


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