Updated for 2024

Here are some of the top, effective and free online reputation management tips to help build, boost or repair a web presence for CEOs, businesses and professionals such as students, lawyers, financial advisors, or those in the art world.

The tips range from content creation, social media, search engine optimization (SEO), monitoring, and off-site suggestions, and are listed roughly in order of importance and effectiveness. 

Some can be accomplished by simply dedicating extra spare time and a varying degree of effort; other online repair techniques require research and technical expertise, such as defining effective key search terms and adding them to your website’s title metadata; others tips could require a helping hand from an online reputation management expert.

The key is being consistent and proactive and highlight the importance of quality content, being active on platforms like LinkedIn, addressing negative links, and leveraging platforms like Wikipedia and YouTube.

Whether it’s staying updated with your website, guest blogging, or creating engaging infographics, each strategy plays a crucial role in shaping your web presence.

Remember, however, that online reputation management is a long-term process, and can take about six months or more to complete, requiring about two or four hundred hours of consistent work, one to three hours per day depending on the issue. 

But if you have more time than money, here are some free solutions that can get you going.

1. Create Website with Name Business as Domain

Making a website or updating a site with quality content and using your name or business as the domain name is one of the top repair tips.

Basically: if your name is “John Smith”, then get a domain, “Johnsmith.com”, “John-smith.com”, “John-smith.org”, “Johnjsmith.com”, etc. Or if your business is an attorney, financial advisor, brand, or other business, be sure to incorporate that name in the domain.

Add legitimate information your readers or clients truly find valuable. Also, the site should be updated frequently. I highly recommend WordPress because of it’s thousands of free or low-cost templates, but use anything you are comfortable with.

2. Write an Informative, Consistent Blog

Even in 2024, writing a blog is probably one of the best reputation solutions.

Be sure to post instructive and engaging articles weekly or very frequently. Write what you know and cater to your clients’ needs.

It is best to use a catchy title, have good images (don’t swipe swipe them: purchase photos or use a Creative Commons image), use headings to break the piece down into easy-to-read sections, and insert one or two links back to your site.

3. Create Quora and Reddit Accounts 

These two platforms seem to be much for important in 2024. In the past, being active on these sites used to be way further down the list, but due to algorithmic  changes, are now extremely important.

Quora is a question-and-answer site that more recently has been appearing extremely high in search results. Create a profile, ask questions, answer other’s queries and maintain an active presence there.

Reddit is an extremely popular site that aggregates news and comments on various topics. It can sometimes be hard to add a comment or link because it is geared to block spam or low-quality posts, but if used properly, it can help drive traffic and build an online presence.

4. Be Very Active On LinkedIn

For business connections, nothing beats LinkedIn, even if it’s gotten more spammy.  As with any social media site, fill out the profile and make sure you include website links in your contact information.  An additional online reputation management tip: customize your URL with your name or business.

5. Attempt to Remove Negative Links or Reviews

Removing a negative review post, link, image, or blog post is sometimes possible but frankly, however, it’s usually tough once something has been published.

So instead, politely contact the author or webmaster, professionally state your case, and request the item to be removed. Be sensitive that you don’t want to open a “hornet’s nest” by reaching out to the author.

There might be options that an online reputation management specialist might have, such as reaching out to Google if it’s regarding reviews or posts that violate their Terms and Conditions.

6. Create a Neutral Wikipedia Entry

A Wikipedia article is massively beneficial. Since search engines highly value it, it will usually rank on the top of the first page of Google and Bing, making it a powerful online reputation management tip.

Creating one can be problematic and not easy, however. First, the entry must be truly noteworthy, backed up with verifiable sources and legitimate links. 

One approach focuses on major recognizable accomplishments that can be documented, such as receiving major awards. 

Also, note that your article could be taken down by administrators or other editors/readers if your achievements are not substantiated.

Finally, be aware that if negative articles came out, you could be “adding fuel to the fire” by creating additional unwanted attention on Wikipedia.

7. Create a YouTube Presence and Videos

YouTube and videos are compelling ways to repair an online reputation. Create one that focuses on you and the positive things you do.  Keep it brief and as professional as possible, offering useful information. Using your smartphone could be fine so long as you are authentic or provide great content. Start simple with you at your desk answering a frequently asked question by a recent client or a targeted solution that people are searching for.

8. Stay Clear of Additional Negative Comments

Don’t comment on negative content or posts because it will only push its ranking higher.

Tempting as it might be to tell your side of the story, this will only make things worse, so step away from the keyboard.

9. Build Positive Links to Your Site

Links to your website help drive traffic and shows search engines such as Google that you are a noteworthy, thus helping your positive ranking.

Developing a good linking strategy can be extremely time-consuming but is worth it. However, here are a few simple approaches. First, focus on creating excellent content, and others will naturally link to you over time. Or, create a presence on some of the other platforms listed here and include a link to your website in the profile section. 

Never buy links! Google continues to weed out bad links, and if you have any, the result could quickly be blacklisted and ruin your reputation further.

10. Make a Presence on Related Industry Platforms

Identify good, interesting, and useful platforms specific to your industry, and add your online presence. Be sure to fill out all the profile information, including links to your site and blog, your photo, and links for key articles. For example, for law, use Avvo.com; for finance or business, use Crunchbase.com; for creatives, use Behance.com, etc.

11. Write a Whitepaper and Publish

You are an expert in your field—whether it be mortgage-backed securities, rental properties in the Hamptons, or contemporary emerging art galleries in Chelsea. 

Create a detailed whitepaper or thoroughly written informative document on a topic of your choosing, and then post it to a well-regarded site such as Scribd.com.

12. Join College Alumni Groups

Add yourself to high school, undergraduate, or graduate school alumni sites.

Usually, sites with “.edu” domain extensions are ranked extremely high by Google.

13. Update Your Web Site with Title and Description Metadata

Be sure your website is optimized. This could be complicated and might involve an SEO or reputation expert but make sure your name or company is included in the Title metatags of some of your pages. The page’s Title is the link that Google displays when searching for you, and without it set up properly, good information is less likely to be found.

14. Tweet Several Times a Day

Google is using cues from social media engagement more and more so than X (formerly Twitter) is still an excellent online reputation management tip. Gain good followers, put out helpful information, and link back to your site.  Tweet (or what ever it’s called now) consistently several times a day.

15. Add Images to Pinterest Every Week

Adding visual information to Pinterest can also be very powerful. Comment on others, “Like” and “Pin” compelling images. The best times to post images are after 8 pm or on the weekends. Look to gain Followers and develop Boards that are clear, colorful, and have a specific niche.

16. Post Images to Instagram

Although depending on your industry, success on Instagram can vary, but minimally make an account and add your website in the Profile section. Comment on others, “like” and add your own images showing cityscapes, views of your desk/workspace, a current project, a travel site, meeting locations, etc.

17. Be Active On Facebook Every Day

Is Facebook “dead”? Nope. Be very active on social media sites, i.e., Facebook, by posting good content. These should not be purely promotional but instead should be geared to engage with your friends. For example, add images, ask questions, and comment on other’s posts at least once a day.

18. Get a Presence on Relevant Blogs

Follow useful blogs and online sites in your field, and be an active voice there. This includes writing comments on others’ posts, adding newsworthy links, and writing original articles tailored for the site.

19. Complete Image File Information

As mentioned above, images are more important than ever to Google, and having a properly named image file and metadata is crucial.

Again, you might need help from a professional, but be sure the images’ file name includes your name and/or one of your key search phrases.

For example, if your name is “Jane Smith” and you work in finance in New York, then perhaps name your profile photo, “headshot-jane-smith-finance-nyc.jpg.”

Be sure when adding images to blogs to make sure all additional fields are completed too, such as Title, Description, Alternative Text (this is the metadata).

20. Write an Informative Guest Blog

Writing an article or blog post as a guest can be very helpful but not as much as in the past—be sure to work only with blogs focused on your industry. 

Start by following blogs and topics that are appealing or relate to your business, and eventually pitch them an idea for a blog topic. This is a great way to get links pointing back to your site.

21. Make Comments on Online Communities, Forums, Publications

Follow good, interesting, and online sites, forums, and communities specific to your industry.

Check them frequently and commit to making one comment daily to show that you are a “thought leader.” 

Also, be engaging. Don’t simply say, “good article,” which sounds and lazy “spammy,” but put some thought into each comment.

22. Monitor Google Alerts For Updates

Monitor your online reputation by signing up for free Google Alerts. 

You need a Google account, but you should have one already—if you don’t, get one immediately. You enter the word or phrase you want to monitor and when it shows up online, you’ll get an email notification.  

Usually, enter your name or your business name.  If it’s a common name, you can include an attribute about your name, such as, “Jane Smith Finance”.  You can also select how often you want alerts (select immediately) as well as other options. This is a great way to monitor negative–and positive–articles and posts being written about you.

23. Give a Talk or Speak at Conferences

Being visible in public is a way to generate positive news about you and build an excellent reputation, so pick some topics that you are an expert in and contact a local library, club or business organization and offer to give a talk.

While this tip might not technically be “online”, it certainly can be listed on the organizations’ website. or promoted through social media.

 24. Create Yelp Reviews for Others

Yelp is a popular review site, and having a presence there is a way to boost your online reputation.  Create some legitimate reviews for places you genuinely like, and avoid the temptation to write a glowing review for yourself posing as someone else—it’s illegal and if you get caught, this could damage things further.

25. Create Infographics

An infographic is a clear, graphic representation of an idea, and is a very popular way to share information. 

Generate an infographic based on a blog post using a free tool.

Questions?

Some of these tips can be time-consuming and may require special help.
Feel free to reach out with any questions.