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Fighting Rogue Online Reviews, How SEO Saves

As conscientious stewards of the brands we serve, we keep a close eye on the rumblings within the World Wide Web...and luckily we work with beloved brands boasting loyal followings of fans saying great things about their products online. But occasionally we still run across a bad Internet apple, or blog post, as the case may be.

The good news is that our clients aren't alone in their occasional suffering through spotty reviews or disgruntled customers. And most companies (and their PR agencies) understand that in today's age of instant information it's no longer possible, or even advisable, to attempt to squash these "alternative" opinions.

But a snarky blog post or bad review can still hurt, as some bigger companies like Delta Air Lines, Wal-Mart and Starbucks admit, having recently felt the sting of high-profile Web sites like http://www.deltareallysucks.com/, http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/ and http://www.ihatestarbucks.com/.

Today, Brandweek writer Mike Beirne offers some solid tips for optimizing positive messages, keeping the company Web site on top and helping to push rogue reviews off the front Google page.

We're fortunate to have clients we're proud of with happy fans, but the struggles of others are still a good lesson for all companies to keep Web site tags, key words and content current and searchable so the key messages float to the top. It's like the old "if a tree falls in the forest" question...if Google can't see the good stuff, does it matter if it exists?

- Erica

posted on January 17, 2008


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