So I’ve been giving some thought lately to “reputation management” in light of reputation dudebro trying to blackmail me. It was an ineffective and comical attempt, but still, it happened. I’m in a bit of a unique situation when something like this occurs as I have a long running blog (6 years this year). Dozens and dozens of blogs have linked to Associate’s Mind, as well as media outlets like the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Pagerank isn’t around anymore, but when it was Google thought I was pretty good. I can get a post on the first page of Google search results in a few hours. If you Google “Keith Lee,” it’s me and a retired NBA player.
That doesn’t make me special in the least, but it does mean that I have a buffer against someone trying to soil my reputation. I’m easily “Google-able.” It’s hard to displace my online presence because it is well-established. But most people don’t have a long running blog. They don’t have a robust presence across social media. They’re focused on doing their job – be it a lawyer, accountant, consultant, or whatever. Being concerned about a website, SEO, or social media is not something occupying much of their time.
Until something comes along and tries to take a swipe at their reputation. Then people care very much.
So I thought it would be worth the time to explore online reputations, black– and white– hat SEO, online marketing and the like. But I’m also aware that I’m a bit myopic on the topic. My experience and position is not that of most people. I needed to talk with someone else who spends all their time on this stuff so that I can provide you with useful information.
So I reached out to Gyi Tsakalakis:
Gyi helps lawyers understand how to use the internet for client development at AttorneySync. He also has a somewhat unhealthy relationship with Michigan football and loves talking defense. Oh, and coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.
I’ve known Gyi for a few years now. He knows what he’s talking about when it comes to online marketing and management. He’s also a (non-practicing) lawyer, and is one of the few legal marketers who consistently talks about ethical legal marketing and avoiding BS. I asked him if we could chat about online reputation management and he agreed.
If you’re curious or concerned about handling your reputation online, mark your calendars, and don’t miss it.
