Some traits are considered more universally characteristic of a good reputation, such as integrity, reliability, professionalism, etc. That said, what is valued in your particular field or industry can influence what defines a good reputation for you specifically. For some products, affordability may improve your reputation, while affordability can actually discredit other kinds of products. Professionalism can vary, as professionalism in the entertainment industry may look different than professionalism in the legal field. Your online reputation is made up of what exists about you online. A good reputation is one that, based on your search results, social media presence, etc., will improve engagement with your target audience, while a bad reputation will deter engagement. Assessing Your Online ReputationWhile you do want a comprehensive understanding of how you come up online, which involves auditing your full digital presence, assessing your online reputation should be more focused on the overarching narratives, which are usually influenced by the most prominent results. To evaluate your online reputation:
- Ensure that you are searching in an incognito window with your cache cleared to get the most accurate results.
- Search the branded term(s) that should bring up results about your business.
- Take note of what you see (not only in search results, but in suggested and related search, Google reviews, the news tab, etc.).