Use Namechk in IRM Strategy

Every week I speak with another firm that is being attacked online by an ex-employee or competitor. The attacks come from fake names that are registered on powerful blogger tools like WordPress or Blogspot. In truth, there is nothing you can do to eliminate the risk of being attacked. With this is mind, you also don’t want to make it easy for people to injury your reputation online. Don’t learn the hard way; everyone needs an defensive IRM strategy.

A great tool in your Internet Reputation Management (IRM) strategy is called www.namechk.com . Type in your name (without spaces) and see how many social networking sites that are registered in your name. If you have not reserved the important ones for your IRM defense, do that immediately.  This site does not include ALL of the best sites for your IRM strategy so I have listed a good starting point for most  situations below.

Recommend Sites To Start With

• WordPress
• Blogspot
• Vox
• Squidoo
• Technorati
• Delicious
• Digg
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Ning
• Gather
• Multiply
• LiveJournal
• Propeller
• Spoke
• Naymz
• Biznik

Once you complete site registrations using your name, then you should reserve the same sites with your business name. Keep in mind that you may have to abbreviate your names if they are long. If your business name in Atlantic Laser Eye Center, on some sites you may have to select “atlanticeye” or “atlanticeycenter” due to length restrictions.

The goal is to slowly build out content, bookmarks or links on a dozen of the most powerful sites so that they appear when someone does an exact match on your name or your business name. Start with sites that allow blogging and get a few press release or customer testimonials posted on these free sites.

When done properly, you will have most of Google Page One and Page Two dedicated to sites and content that you control. Add a few press releases that have your name in the title and you are golden. Two free sites that work well are www.prlog.org and www.free-press-release.com.

Bloggers Are Powerful

This still does not stop someone from making a site like “www.brianpaschstinks.com” or any one letter variation off your business name but it will create a higher wall for attackers to jump over. It will create a balanced view when someone searches your name or that of your business.

Your online reputation is vital for your continued success. If you are too busy to get these sites reserved, contact our offices and ask for Jessica Guida. She can put together an estimate of the time required to setup a strong IRM defensive strategy before an attack comes.

Don’t be lazy. Use www.namechk.com to see what is available and reserve your key names before someone else takes them.