P.T. Barnum is famously quoted as saying: “Any publicity is good publicity…”. In today’s digital age of instant access to a myriad of information at one’s fingertips, the volatile nature of just posting anything on the internet can have a long lasting effect on the subject. Whether the subject be a person, a business or any number of things, if it’s created and posted on the internet, it’s accessible in one way or another.
There may have a been a time when Barnum’s quote lent itself to a more advantageous outcome, but today “any publicity” can be a curse or blessing.
We’ve all seen examples of how social media can frame public perception, and the follow up and answer to that can be the deciding factor for the outcome.
Online reviews, social media accounts, the world of blogging and simply just giving your thoughts on a subject create “footprints”.
In the situations where damage has occurred, and an individual or business needs to correct it, it is important to understand that negative and damaging content can never truly be removed, unless it is the decision of the source who posted it. Sure, there are some exceptions, but if the situation has evolved to where a “remedy” or reputation management is needed, knowing what’s possible and what to expect should provide some clarity about the resolution.
Reputation management is an “approach” to a problem and every case can be different. Consultation and research is the only way to find out what sort of responsive measures will be needed to correct the situation.
If this is a service you may be needing or looking into, understand that any and all disclosure is and will remain confidential.
It is highly recommended that any case that needs reputation management follow through and have it done, doing nothing can be just as damaging.