Top 10 ways to quickly and easily protect your Brand on the Internet

1. Ensure that your “Official” Blog and Website are “optimized”

a. Your Brand specific keywords should be prevalent in the content and titles of the site
b. In the html code of the site, place your name and keywords in the “title tags”, “meta descriptions” and “keyword tags”
c. Content is King. Add relevant content to your Blog and Website regularly, using “keywords” (3 times per page)

2. Create a Wikipedia page profile for your Brand – Wikipedia pages are usually the 2nd or 3rd result on a Google search

3. Create a Linkedin.com profile. On this site you can link to your blog, and website. Create a “Fan Group”

4. Create a Facebook.com profile. Again, link to your official blog and website. Create a “Fan Group”

5. Create a Squidoo page – Use your name or Brand as the address, (example: http://www.squidoo.com/wineguy)  Add your bio, business info, pictures, videos and links to your official sites

6. Create Online Press Releases: Use prweb.com, businesswire.com or webwire.com to submit news and press releases. When and where appropriate, include your name and specific keywords (2-3 times) that are relevant to your business or brand (ideally in the headline and description). Again, link those press releases to your blog, website, Squidoo site, LinkedIn group, Facebook Site

7. Monitor websites/blogs using an auto notification: when there is news or blog posts about “your name” (or any keyword/phrase you choose) you will get an automatic notification. This can be done for free thru Google. If you want a more comprehensive service that incorporates Social Media mentions/discussions, use www.trackur.com ; it costs $18/month

8. Utilize Social Network Sites; As mentioned previously, create fan sites, groups, discuss your unique value proposition, share vision, add fans and supporters

9. Contact local/regional bloggers to offer interviews about your business

10. Register your office/headquarters on Google’s Local Business Center
 
Online Communities Handbook: Building your business and brand on the Web

Online Reputation and Brand Management

Do you know what people are reading about you, your product or organization when they search on Google, Bing or Yahoo?  If you have a blog and website you may only have 2 listings on the first page of Google.  That means there are 8 more spots on the first page of Google that your competitors, or detractors can post negative sites,comments or articles.  Because 85% of all internet "searchers" only look at the first page of Google, it is essential that you control as much of the real estate as possible! 
Let's use a local Restaurant as an example.  The restaurant has a website and a blog, so they believe they are doing a great job of promoting their business online.  Unfortunately, there is a competing restaurant in the same area.  The competitor can create multiple social sites, write editorials or press releases that are negative about your business.  If these competitors know a few tricks, they can get these sites, articles or blogs ranked HIGHER then your official site.  Additionally, if you have a bad restaurant review, this can get ranked on top of the first page of a search - UNLESS you actively manage and control your online brand and reputation.

Personal Reputation Management: Making the Internet Work for You