Have you Googled yourself lately? If you haven’t, you may be surprised by what you find. Nearly 50% of US adults say the results aren’t positive.
And that’s not something to be taken lightly. We live in a world where your online reputation can be your strongest asset or your biggest liability.
Employers, clients, colleges and customers are increasingly using Google as their sidekick before making important decisions. What shows up in your search results could mean the difference between a job and the unemployment line, a new customer and a lost opportunity, an investor meeting and an unanswered email.
There’s no excuse for being unaware of your online footprint. In fact, it’s downright irresponsible.
Statistics that prove the value of online reputation management:
- Online reviews have been shown to impact 67.7% of purchasing decisions. (2015)
- 84% of people trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation. (2016)
- 65 percent of people see online search as the most trusted source of information about people and companies. That’s a higher level of trust than any other online or offline source. (2014)
- Businesses risk losing 22% of business when potential customers find one negative article on the first page of their search results. (2015)
Perhaps the best reason to manage your online reputation is the following:
- Nearly half of U.S. adults said they have Googled someone before doing business with them. (2012)
- 45% said they have found something in an online search that made them decide not to do business with the person.
- 56% have found something that solidified their decision to do business with the person.
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanerskine/2017/09/19/20-online-reputation-statistics-that-every-business-owner-needs-to-know/?sh=458a07facc5c[↩]