Online Reputation Management – How To Make Negative News About Your Brand Disappear From Page 1 of Google
How To Make Negative News About Your Brand Disappear From Page 1 of Google
It seems like every day there’s a new story about a company that’s come under fire for some sort of scandal. In today’s age of 24/7 news cycles and social media, it’s easier than ever for bad news to spread like wildfire. And once that happens, it can be very difficult to control the narrative. That’s where reputation management comes in.
In the age of the internet, your reputation is everything. That’s why it’s so important to keep an eye on what’s being said about you online. And if there’s ever negative news about your brand, you’ll want to take steps to make sure that it disappears from page 1 of Google search results.
Table of Contents
What is Reputation Management ?
Reputation management is the process of monitoring, managing, and improving the public perception of a company or individual. It involves tracking what’s being said about you online and taking steps to address any negative publicity.
This can be done in a number of ways, but one of the most effective is through search engine optimization (SEO).
By optimizing your website and content for certain keywords, you can ensure that your brand’s positive message is the one that shows up when people are searching for information about you online.
Effects of Negative News on Your Brand
Negative news about your brand can have a number of negative effects, including:
- Damage to your reputation
- Loss of customers and business partners
- Negative publicity online
- Difficulty recruiting new employees
- Impact on stock price or value
- Social media backlash
- Brand erosion
- Lawsuits
- Regulatory action
- Even bankruptcy
If you find yourself in the midst of a PR crisis, it’s important to take steps to mitigate the damage as quickly as possible. The first step is to work with a reputable reputation management agency that can help you to control the narrative and get your brand back on track.
Johnson and Johnson - An example on how negative news impact the brand reputation
In 2018, Johnson and Johnson faced criticism when it was reported that its baby powder contained asbestos, a known carcinogen. This negative news caused the company’s stock to plummet and multiple lawsuits were filed against them.
In response to the scandal, Johnson and Johnson conducted an independent epidemiology study which found no link between their product and cancer. They also announced a voluntary recall of some lots of their baby powder as a precautionary measure.
To regain consumer trust, the company launched a multi-million-dollar marketing campaign focused on transparency and safety. They also introduced new testing methods for all talc-based products to ensure they meet regulatory standards.
Despite the initial backlash, Johnson and Johnson have managed to bounce back with their reputation relatively intact thanks to their swift response and commitment to consumer safety. But still, the company is not able to recover the losses it had to face.
How To Get Rid of Negative News About Your Brand From Search Engine
1. Create high-quality content
2. Create Google Alert
The first step is to create a Google Alert for your brand name. This will allow you to receive an email notification any time your brand is mentioned online. You can then take quick action to address any negative press.
Step-by-step guide on how to create Google Alert
- Sign in to your Google account and go to www.google.com/alerts
- In the “Create an alert about” field, enter the name of your brand
- Select “Everything” from the “Which type of alert?” menu
- Select “As it happens” from the “How often?” menu
- Enter your email address and click on “Create Alert”
3. Optimize for key reputation-related keywords
Optimize your website for reputation-related keywords. This will ensure that your brand’s name comes up in search results for those keywords, rather than any negative stories about you.
Do You Need Help In Mitigating Negative News On Google ?
4. Monitor social media
Monitor social media for negative sentiment and address it quickly and effectively. This will show potential customers that you’re responsive to customer feedback and care about providing a positive experience.
5. Reach out to publication
Reach out to publications that have written negative stories about you and offer them a chance to tell your side of the story. If they refuse, you can try asking them to publish a retraction or correction. This can help mitigate the damage caused by bad press and give you an opportunity to set the record straight.
6. Contact the author
Another way is to reach out to the author of the negative article and ask them to make changes or additions that would improve its accuracy or fairness.
7. Apologize if you’re at fault
One of the best ways to have the negative news about your brand disappear is to apologize if you’re at fault.
If there was something wrong done from your end then it is better to accept your mistake and apologize before it’s too late.
Example: Dove's Racist Ad
In 2017, Dove faced backlash and criticism from online news outlets and social media users for a racially insensitive ad. The ad featured a black woman removing her shirt to reveal a white woman, implying that using Dove’s products could lead to a transformation from black to white.
After facing immediate criticism and backlash for the ad, Dove apologized and pulled the campaign. They also released a statement saying they “missed the mark in representing women of color thoughtfully.”
In order to recover from this incident, Dove launched a new campaign focused on diversity and inclusion titled “Show Us You’re Real.” The campaign featured women of all races, sizes, and ages as well as individuals with disabilities. This move showed their dedication to representing all women in their advertising and marketing efforts.
To further highlight its commitment to diversity and inclusion, Dove also launched the Dove Self-Esteem Project in partnership with the Girl Scouts of America. This project aims to educate and empower young girls of all backgrounds about positive body image and self-esteem.
Despite facing criticism and backlash for their misstep, Dove was able to rebound by launching campaigns focused on diversity and inclusion as well as taking steps towards educating young girls about positive body image.
This caused them millions but they were able to bounce back to their original position, erasing their past mistakes.
8. Make a complaint
If you are not at fault and someone is allegedly damaging your brand reputation then it is vital you file a complaint. if you believe the article or news is in violation of their policies.
9. If necessary, take legal action
If all your efforts to negotiate fail. The final step is to take legal action. This should be a last resort, as it can be expensive and time-consuming.
10. Hire a company to deal with reputation management
The easiest way to deal with reputation management is by hiring an online reputation management expert to do the job. While this option may be more expensive than doing it yourself, it’s often worth the investment to protect your reputation.
Conclusion
In today’s digital age, your online reputation is everything. No one wants to see negative news about their brand on the first page of Google—but it happens.
But with an effective reputation management strategy in place, you can ensure that negative stories about your brand don’t show up on the first page of Google—and that potential customers see your brand in a positive light.
By creating a Google Alert for your brand name, optimizing your website for SEO, and working with a reliable SEO company in Singapore that has good experience in negative news and reputation management online, you can rest assured knowing that your good name is in good hands.
We specialize in SEO and online negative news reputation management and would be happy to assist you in developing a strategy tailored to your specific needs.
If you want to learn more about how SEO works, click here to contact us or leave us a message below for a callback.
Veronica Lim
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