Picking Your Online Reputation Battles

Part of managing your online reputation involves your strategy for handling the negative commentary that you acquire. If you write articles on the Internet, use Facebook, Twitter, or other social media outlets, or simply have a prodcut that people talk about, there is a very good chance you will encounter comments somewhere on the web that are less than favorable.

That's just the nature of the game. Some people choose to go on the defensive and immediately get caught up in a so-called "flame war." Others just ignore them. You may do a mixture of the two. The right call really depends on the nature of the comment and its potential impact on your brand or product.

Negative commentary has been discussed throughout the industry a lot lately. It was a common theme at the recent a humorous post on the subject for Jeremy Schoemaker's ShoeMoney blog.

"The fact of the matter is that the Internet is like a great big public bathroom stall," she says.  "Sometimes it’s clean, unassuming and well-stocked with supplies, but most of the time there’s piss on the floor, a deuce in the toilet, no toilet paper, and various atrocities scrawled onto the walls."

"Some people avoid them at all costs, electing to hold it until they get home," she adds. "Others put up with them, going in and out to do their business and not letting it affect their day-to-day lives."

Clearly Kelley looks upon the subject with a good deal of amusement. She's not alone. Have you heard of Baby Food Recall Shows Reputation Management Done Right