Before January comes to an end it’s probably best we provide our readers with a rundown of what’s around the corner regarding online reputation management. In the last several months we’ve seen a number of changes to this still relatively new aspect of Internet business, and these adjustments are undoubtedly going to lead to further developments as 2017 gets underway.
While nothing is ever for certain, you can certainly count on the fact that, if anything is going to define online reputation management this year, it is to be something associated with the following:
New domains mean new opportunities and risks
Expanded lists of seemingly infinite domain name possibilities provided by ICANN have opened new opportunities for online entrepreneurs struggling to find worthwhile domain purchases in an otherwise competitive and costly arena. But this change also means that for the first time, YourFirstName.YourLastName can be a URL. In turn, your claim to that URL could affect future online reputation standing.
SEO is changing
People are less and less likely to be conducting Internet searches via a desktop computer keyboard. Increasingly we are relying on our mobile devices and in 2012 expect personal assistant apps such as Siri to receive some attention when it comes to the science of the search. Those engaging in efforts to improve their online reputation will have to start factoring more than just the Google search engine.
The citizen and the professional are set to clash
It’s an established American work ethic to leave your politics in the parking lot when heading into work. But when your boss or clients can potentially find you listed online as a donor to a political cause, your ability to prevent your opinions from affecting your profession becomes a little harder. Increasingly such information is becoming available online, so it’s important to remain vigilant regarding the ways in which your civic actions, however lawful, can influence other aspects of your life.
Reliable online identities are precious commodities
The value of online identities as a whole reflects the basic economic principle that supersaturation of the market leads to a loss of value. Indeed, there are so many identities online, the majority of which are impossible to confirm and improbably real, and thus a true identity online is the most precious of digital commodities. Maintaining a trustworthy online identity is at the heart of online reputation management, and as we enter 2012 it’s only going to get more complicated.
If your online reputation matters to you, then take the aforementioned matters into your own hands this year before they get ahold of you. We’re heading to a point where our online reputation is not merely part of our real world identity, but of greater importance when it comes to mantaining business success. To undergo such a drastic change safely, Internet entrepreneurs are going to have to be prepared for what lies up ahead.