MICHAEL JACKSON ASSAULTED DURING MEMORIAL SERVICE

Tens of thousands mourned today as Michael Jackson’s gold coffin lay at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Millions more watched on TV.

Across the nation movie theaters sold tickets so that the spectacle could be viewed as a larger than life experience. Yet as fans everywhere stopped to show their respect, Michael was assaulted.

Michael Jackson was called “monster” and “faggot” and his sexual orientation and conduct was bantered about as though he could somehow defend himself. Yes, this is the wonder of the Internet. MySpace, WordPress, YouTube and hundreds of thousands of blogs and forums allow anyone to attack anyone–even the dead. As we mark the halfway point of 2009, online slander and anonymous writers around the world attack at will without repudiation.

Anyone studying this issue for more than five minutes would draw the conclusion that online reputation management needs are reaching critical proportions. Without the traditional defense of the court systems, absent conventional conflict resolution by organizations like the Better Business Bureau and lacking the common sense of going face-to-face with your accuser, the options for online self defense are few.

While someone of Michael Jackson’s stature has no reason for anyone to come to his defense, almost everyone else needs help. Being deceased has its benefits. Words no longer hurt; his interviews seemed to always include statements of pain from allegations and hateful speech. Michael Jackson will no longer deal with vicious uncalled-for attacks on him. For the rest of us however, the war continues to rage. Hundreds of thousands of small businesses continue to be slandered without any validation of the anonymous claims made. Business damaged, income lost and names slandered, all without being able to rebut the accusations.

The only cost affective recourse may be Search Engine Reputation Management. While not perfect and not always 100% effective, it remains the most direct and cost effective method for quickly addressing negative postings. Is it far reaching to tie Michael Jackson’s memorial service to online slander? Consider that the day Michael Jackson died there was such bandwidth consumed by social media that sites like Twitter were actually knocked down for a time. Consider the fact that literally millions of complaints are posted and available to anyone at any time. Social media creates the conduit for opinions that might be questioned if voiced through traditional media sources. We have moved way past George Carlin’s “seven words that can’t be used on TV”. As you prepare to express yourself regarding today’s events remember to respect those who have passed on…and also those who remain. RIP.

-Steven Wyer

Steven C. Wyer is the Managing Director of Reputation Advocate, LLC (reputationadvocate.com) The firm specializes in online reputation management services for both individuals and companies. Steven Wyer can be reached at 888-229-0746.

OPRAH ATTACKED WHILE SLEEPING

As far back as May of 2005, Oprah, the darling of day time television, has been ruthlessly attacked morning, noon and night. She is not even safe as she sleeps behind guarded gates and personal security. Despite her estimated billion dollar net worth, she is helpless to defend herself.

First there is oprahsucks.com. There are multiple posts, comments and even a mailing list for this series of attacks. Debbie Schlussel, a conservative political commentator, radio talk show host, columnist, and attorney owns this website and wastes no time in letting her opinion be known.

Then there are the multiple YouTube attacks on Oprah. There are forums, blogs, posts on many different content sites and a dedicated website just so people can voice their distain for her.

Adding insult to injury, this week the stalwart publication Newsweek has come out against the global media diva. She has been attacked through virtually every form of media, but none has given voice to the masses more than the internet. What is the source of my information you may ask? Google. Simple, straight forward search results. Had these types of results been found for a small business owner or business professional, their career would most likely have been ruined. Fortunately, the big “O” has enough money to simply ignore these complaints.

Ordinary, small businesses cannot afford to ignore online attacks. Doctors, lawyers and officers of public companies are severely impacted by online complaints. Even state and national government officials cannot combat this new form of slander. Conventional approaches to reputation management issues simply do not work and ignoring such online information simply supports perceptions that such claims are true.

Fortunately, there are now reputation management service providers that represent clients against negative search engine results. These reputation advocates operate under yet another acronym; SERM. Search Engine Reputation Management professionals bring a unique set of skills and address these complaint sites and negative postings with unconventional discretion. This service business is sure to experience significant growth over the next few years as these online search attacks grow in number and veracity

While the super stars and the super rich simply brush aside attacks on their character, most cannot. As real income and real opportunity are impacted, all professionals must monitor their online presence and manage the content found. Very few of us can simply say “O” well…

-Steven Wyer

SOCK PUPPETS & CAPTAIN KANGAROO

Do you remember sock puppets? As a kid I would draw eyes and mouths on my white tube socks. I think I learned it from Captain Kangaroo or Mr. Green Jeans.

Stick my hand in the sock and there it was; a new being capable of expressing my long repressed emotions. Sock puppets could bite, hit and say things that I risked getting my mouth washed out with soap for.

We have our own versions of sock puppets today. We no longer need markers or tube socks, just a computer keyboard and five minutes. When I was a kid, I had to get the attention of someone before my sock puppet performance could be commented on (usually a sibling saying “Mom, brother just hit me with his sock!) Today Google automatically scrapes nearly all blogs and twitter feeds, providing a global stage for every performance good and bad. Any “performance” can get high up on the Google rankings without even trying.

Put out an inferior product, have a few misunderstood customer service / marketing maneuvers, and there will be a swarm of online bad press from modern day sock puppets. Maybe this won’t kill you, but if it’s bad enough to get spotted by Consumerist.com or AwfulMarketing.com then you’re going to see your business page rankings start to get nailed with a bunch of bad reviews and publicity.

Negative blog posts on sites such as ripoffreport.com and complaintsboard.com have turned up the volume and given credence to a new generation of sock puppets. Performing through pseudonyms or without identity and with no recourse available to the person attacked, these puppets are damaging businesses, professional practices and multi-generational brands with the stroke of the keyboard. The sites posting these complaints remain largely untouchable and conventional recourse has satisfied very few victims.

This is why you and your company need to keep an eye on the amateurs and overall “chatter”. It should now be part of every branding strategy to ensure that your online identity doesn’t get on the wrong side of the renegade sock puppets of the world. Complaints, negative reviews and malicious postings by just a few people can drive away a great deal of real business and you will never even know what you have missed.

Captain Kangaroo had a bunny rabbit as his foil. Performances were always concluded with moral lessons about kindness, friendship and respect. Sherry Lewis had Lamb Chop and life was simpler. But with all of these nostalgic references to puppets set aside, sock puppets today should be taken very seriously. Without a reputation management company on your side, you will have no one to call for help as you are attacked and there is no conventional rescue.

-Steven C. Wyer, Reputation Advocate