Unfortunately, more and more individuals are witnessing online defamation involving dishonest people. Often Web bullies, business rivals, former employees, or past romantic relationships — intentionally try to ruin other person’s online image by sharing derogatory material related to him or her.
Such derogatory attacks can destroy an individual life and even can lead businesses towards bankruptcies. Mainly, small and medium-sized firms with little resources to combat such fraudulent or defamatory reputation attacks may get real damage if not plan things properly.
The real-world impacts of a negative reputation are numerous, ranging from difficulties in finding a job to declining a full-fledged business income to severe and permanent emotional repercussions.
So what if you are going through or facing an online defamation threat or defamation? Below, we’re going to go over some choices and advice on how better to manage any online reputation challenge. Here is the list:
Look for Litigation Alternatives:
False allegations can be offensive and frivolous, but legal and public relations professionals suggest calm and thorough deliberation before going for a lawsuit. Defamation is a false allegation made publicly that hurts your image. But if it’s insulting but not wrong and based on truth, then it won’t count as defamation. Analyze your situation first, find reasons behind that specific derogatory attack for which you’re concerned. If you could handle that situation without consulting with a lawyer, that would be a good strategy.
Filing for a lawsuit can be a good strategy in certain situations. You may win that legal case too, but it won’t help you for an extended period if you would not settle things with the person or entity behind that defamation. It should be on your last option cause a lawsuit may be expensive, can cause emotional distress, and the result can be uncertain.
It could even trigger countersuits. It’s easier to take other measures first. Simply asking from the author or requesting the owner of the website on which that content is being published to remove that offensive content is often useful. Some blogs and website administrators delete inaccurate and insulting comments on a polite request. More systematic cease and desist letter also triggers hesitant website owners to delete harmful content immediately.
Respond Promptly:
When an opponent makes defamatory attacks in the online media, the natural instinct is to combat fire with fire and target-attack in the press. However, targeting the accuser in the media will only add more fire.
If the situation is too difficult, take quick action, but again it should be wise and should be based on some adequately planned strategy. Taking swift action is vital to avoid the defamatory remarks before online defamation and to the damage to the image of the organization or individual’s reputation. If that will happen, it can spread quickly and can exist there for years and maybe for a person’s life. But whatever you do, do after consideration.
Reach any Online Reputation Monitoring Service:
An online tracking tool with automatic email notifications will inform you when your brand, product names, business executives and other keywords are listed or mentioned online, allowing your organization to respond almost instantly. So working with a media tracking system that tracks conventional media, social media, and other online channels and reports result in an automated dashboard can be beneficial.
Promote or spread positive material
Reputation management firms also advise producing other content that would drive un-favourable or malicious content down in indexes. This approach often works, but only if the published material is based on truth and is genuine a, it won’t go down or would be challenging to de-rank it. Experts recommend: do not spam the web with phoney press reports, awards or consumer feedback. Viewers may mark content as fake, and rivals and media may get notice of this. So try to be genuine in all the situations.
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Preparations are Vital:
Effective planning and documenting may effectively silence slanderous assaults. Register the marks of the company immediately. Carefully demonstrate adherence with the laws and regulations and propose incorporating the owner/operator policy in the liability insurance of the organization. Employee agreements should preclude the breach of secrecy and details about how to treat employee problems and complaints.
Arrange a PR crisis strategy that describes the crisis management team and the designated spokesman and outlines procedures for contact with the press, the public and internal communities.
Bottom Line:
Slanderous and derogatory threats can pose harmful damage to the individual and to all kinds of organizations, including small companies that are more vulnerable to such attacks as compared to big organizations. Due to the increase in the usage of internet, almost anyone can use social media and the internet to propagate false accusations or statements. In most cases, quick action is necessary to avoid untrue information from spreading and to cause further damage.
Any question related to handling a defamatory attack to your online reputation? Consult with our professionalist and get the expert advice. Contact us now.
