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In today’s digital age, when someone is searching online for any type of business, the first website they seek out is Google. Regardless of the size of the company, the location or the industry, consumers will go to Google to learn more information about a particular company. In fact, some of the first things people may learn about a particular business will originate from what appears in a Google search. 

What does this mean for business owners? It means that having a positive online presence can go a long way. Business owners who are trying to gain customers through online searches should do everything in their power to promote positive brand awareness. One of the easiest ways to do this is by creating a Google My Business (GMB) profile for your company.

Businesses that have a complete GMB profile will show up through Google Search console, as well as appear on Maps when someone searches a given business name. Another feature that business owners can utilize through GMB is their automatic positive review sharing. This allows businesses to share suggested 4 and 5-star reviews as customer testimonials via Google Posts.  

When creating a Google Post, business owners can include a clever call to action with the link to a particular service page, which can strategically be used when sharing reviews. Also, posts can feature up to 10 images and videos, which can help add more context to a specific review when applicable. 

Is Google using a new Algorithm? Perhaps. Google watchers and online reputation management teams are reporting that Ripoff Report and a few complaint sites seems to have lost some visibility in Google’s search results at the start of November.

Our CEO Pierre Zarokian first noticed the change around November 6^th, after he checked different keywords related to his clients. He found only one that was still ranking high on Google search.

On Twitter, as well as on several private forum’s, there was barely any mention of the event at the time. In recent days, others have acknowledged that they have also noticed that something is amiss.

The RipoffReport website is a site where consumers can go to complain about business owners, products, and services. Because the website is listed so high in Google rankings, being listed there can destroy or seriously damage people’s online reputations and businesses. The site has a strict no removal policy, and has even defied court orders which demand the removal of information.

Other complaint sites which have also lost ratings include ScamBook, PissedConsumer, ComplaintsBoard, DirtyScam, and Consumer Affairs.

This has led some industry analysts to conclude that Google has indeed made changes to its algorithm in order to downgrade the ranking of these types of sites.

While it has been available on Facebook for quite some time now, a verification badge is something that is quite new to Instagram. It is pretty easy to verify yourself and start the process.

You must request verification

When you go into your setting, you will see an area that will help you upload your ID. This will be the first step in possibly getting your verification badge. You will need to follow the right steps and go from there.

Make sure to use the right ID

It is important that you use a government-issued ID when trying to get your verification badge. Don’t try to use a school ID or library card when getting your verification badge. This will look amateur and admins will most likely just dismiss your request.

You now just have to wait

Unless you are a minor celebrity, an established business, or someone who is searched for on a regular basis, you might not get your badge. It really is just a waiting game to see if the admins feels as though you are legitimate enough to have your own badge.

While getting an ID badge may be easier to apply for now, it really just depends if you are in the public eye enough for admins to feel like you even need this badge. Using the right ID is a great way to get started. You will be able to make sure you have all of the right items in place to help you have a better chance of getting your badge.

UPDATE 3/25/2020: Since this article was writen, Nik Richie is no longer the owner of thedirty. However, the site still does not remove content by request.

TheDirty.com which is a website that allows anyone to submit “dirt” on anyone, such as information on cheating exes, has been known not to ever remove posts, even though they offer a removal request page. There are a few exceptions and these have to do with copyright violations. Our company has dealt with several individuals listed on TheDirty who have sent in multiple removal requests which have been denied.

A search of the DMCA copyright violation notices at chillingeffects.org will show that several individuals have unsuccessfully tried to remove content by sending copyright violation notices to Google (and presumably TheDirty), but most of the time, neither Google nor TheDirty have complied. However, there are a few times that TheDirty and Google have removed content, mainly having to do when a photographer or someone with legal standing has requested. So unless there are some copyrighted images that you are the owner of or unless you have some legal representation, you may be out of luck in removing content from The Dirty, but even then the chances are very slim.

We found an individual that has sent in multiple emails for removal, but Nik Richie, the owner of thedirty, has refused to remove them and instead he has posted the full removal email requests, making the matters worst for this individual. In this case both the original poster and the victim have sent in request without any luck. The victim had even offered to pay for the removal, but Nik declined. Below you can see the full postings:

http://thedirty.com/2013/05/san-diegos-sugar-baby-laura-valente-this-is-good-one/
http://thedirty.com/2013/05/the-removal-chronicles-of-laura-valente-part-1/
http://thedirty.com/2013/05/the-removal-chronicles-of-laura-valente-part-2/
http://thedirty.com/2013/05/the-removal-chronicles-of-laura-valente-part-3/
http://thedirty.com/2013/05/the-removal-chronicles-of-laura-valente-part-4/
http://www.thedirty.com/2013/05/the-removal-chronicles-of-laura-valente-part-5/
http://thedirty.com/2013/06/the-removal-chronicles-of-laura-valente-part-6/
http://thedirty.com/2013/06/the-removal-chronicles-of-laura-valente-part-7/

Nik even posted this on top of the first post:
“*Update: Dear World, I’m not removing this post. Please stop asking. It won’t happen.”

There have been numerous lawsuits against TheDirty, but with the exception one case that is still pending, all have been lost due to the CDA law which protects public forums from liability of what others post.

How We can Help?

Reputation Stars offers TheDirty post removal services. If you have negative posts on thedirty that you would like removed, please contact us. We have successfully removed numerous listings from thedirty legally. If you would like to see some references, they could be provided.  We guarantee post removal from thedirty or you do not pay.

Google first launched its Instant Search feature several years ago. At the time, this function would display the results of a search as the user was typing. This kind of real-time search aligned well with Google’s mission to emphasize speed. The company dubbed the feature: “Google Instant”, but it is effectively dead as of this moment. Why did Google pull the plug? Read on to learn more.

Google Instant was first launched in 2010, and it was under the leadership of Marissa Mayer. She intended to create a functional that would be responsive to the user’s query and deliver results faster. It used predictive technology to learn what users wanted, and served results for better or worse.

Today, more than half of all searches are carried out on a mobile device. Instant Search no longer offers the same value to users that it once did, and so Google has discontinued the service entirely. You might recall the considerable media attention it garnered when it first launched.

Google’s new search feature, rather than suggestion websites to visit, will now show users some suggested search queries. User will be able to drill down further with a few extra clicks, but the shift is subtle that most will barely notice it.

For Google, this move will help bring the mobile and desktop experiences closer together. It will also do away with an uncomfortable feature many desktop users had already found ways to disable.

This won’t completely alter the landscape of search, but it will bring back some emphasis on competition for the search page.

Depending on the search term, these changes may help or hurt keywords related to your reputation management project.

MyEx.com has been prosecuted by the FTC and Nevada. The revenge porn siteurged users to “Add an Ex” and “Submit Pics and Stories of Your Ex” for ratings from other registered users. The results of this prosecution have ensured the removal of MyEx.com and that its owner, Neil Infante, is never allowed to operate again.

This vile web page charged victims amounts that ranged from $500 to $2800 in order to take down images and intimate content from MyEx.com. This media was open for public comment and scrutiny from anyone who joined the website. The site also frequently listed the victim’s full names, dates of birth, email addresses and other contact information which was used to harass.

MyEx.com’ horrible tactics caused real harm to the individuals who suffered as a result of being posted on it. Some of these victims lost jobs, relationships and ended up with a ruined life. Many paid the fees and still suffered fallout. That fallout is often what drove them to pay the fees. These intimate images were never meant to be shared, and have made victims the subject of threats and harassment.

The FTC $205,000 settlement prevents the site’s owner, Nei Infante, from ever posting intimate pics or personally identifiable information to the web again. Infante is also permanently banned from serving as an operating officer.

If you were affected by MyEx.com, take preventative action and get negative content removed immediately. Get a full audit of your web presence today.

Ripoff Report is a website setup to field anonymous complaints about a business or service, but some users post things that are untrue or damaging to your reputation. If you’re concerned about your online reputation management, read on for advice on how to remove Ripoff Report posts and salvage your presence in Google.

Social Media

If you’re worried about your appearance in search, than practicing good social media will help. Owning YouTube, Twitter and Facebook URLs from your brand will take up some of the space on page one of Google, making sure that negative content is pushed lower.

Request Removal

Ripoff Report does not typically respond to removal requests, and US laws protect them from anonymous content. However, a default judgment can help you.

DMCA

If any of the content posted belongs to you, for example the user used a picture from your website, then you can ask for removal of that copyrighted content. You’ll need to file a DMCA with the site, and with Google, but the content should vanish if you can claim you own it.

Court Ordered Removals

You can get a default judgment if you sue John Doe. This only works if the posting is anonymous. Essentially, the judge rules in your favor because the defendant doesn’t show up to prove his or her side. With that judgment, you can get websites to remove your content.

Consult a reputation Management Firm

Reputation management is a good route to pursue when you can’t find other solutions. The tips listed above may work for some of you. If the posts return, you may also need a good firm to manage these repeated incidents and reclaim your status in search.

Proactive reputation management is an excellent strategy for any scaling brand concerned about its image online. Being proactive means you stay on top of alerts to your brand, that you remain agile and can respond to customer concerns, and that you’re in touch with your brand’s appearance online. Here are some tips to help you create a system for yourself.

Domain Real Estate

The first thing you can do is to buy up all domain real estate for your brand within reason. You should buy all the common extensions of your brand name, including .com, .net, and .org, and you may want to try some variations on that name too. If you’re a bigger brand, buying your brand name with the word “sucks” attached to it is a good way to secure yourself from negative press before it happens.

Social Profiles

Another great way to expand your presence in search is to secure any social profiles around the Web. Start with the major names, like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, then branch out to the lesser known but still heavily trafficked properties (like Tumblr or Pinterest). This way, if you start to see a lot of activity on any platform you can quickly join the conversation.

Start Pitching Content

The final component to consider is to start promoting yourself by putting more of your work on various blogs. If you can get more guest articles published, you’ll start drawing in readers from outside your blog seeking your expertise. In addition, you also build links to your various profiles. These signals tell Google to identify your sites with your name, thereby improving your standing and reputation in search.

According to the Harvard Business Review, negative Yelp reviews can severely hurt the bottom line of your business. Restaurant’s seem to be among the most susceptible to the reputation management problems that come with poor reviews. Here are some of the ways that a negative Yelp review can affect your business for the worst.

Fewer Patrons

Negative Yelp reviews mean that fewer people will want to visit a given business, and many will be turned off immediately. Yelp reviews do carry some influence on social media, and users will be able to see the star rating immediately on the site itself. In addition, Google snippets may include information about a restaurant’s reviews, which are visible when a user searches for your brand.

In short, negative reviews cause a lot of image problems. Users will see these reviews and some will conclude your business isn’t up to their standards.

Less Revenue

Fewer patrons means less revenue. Negative Yelp reviews are a lot like leaving money on the table. You should do your best to try and read these reviews for critical feedback. If you change your customer service, users may leave positive reviews or take down their negative reviews.

Final Thoughts

Make sure you carefully read the terms of service for Yelp. They do not allow business owners to provide incentives for better reviews, and your site can be cited if you attempt to buy reviews online.

If someone has said something about you that is untrue, and damaging to your reputation, it can feel like you have no recourse for making things right. If you try and petition site owners that allow this kind of content, they may not respond to you. Here are some options for online reputation management if you’re ever in this situation.

Social Media

Practicing good SEO and social media allows you to push unfavorable results out of the top search pages. This helps improve your reputation when someone searches for content about you.

Request Removal

This strategy doesn’t always work because of US laws protecting site owners, but it’s always a good idea to try.

DMCA

If you own any of the text, or the images or video, that have been posted then a DMCA is a solid strategy. You simply claim ownership over the copyrighted material, and the site owner typically has little recourse to fight you.

Find Out Removal Guidelines

Yelp allows original posters to remove their reviews. Find out if you can talk with those users, and what you can offer them to try and get them to remove the negative review.

Court Ordered Removals

If the poster is anonymous, you can sue John Doe to get a default judgment. If this works, you have a court order you can present to the website in order to try and get removal from hosting companies and search engines.

Consult a Reputation Management Firm

Reputation management is a good last resort if you can’t solve the problem on your own. A variety of fixes are available, so you should definitely try and see what you can do before you consult a professional. However, understand that consulting a professional may come with guarantees of removal that can be valuable too.