“Let it all hang out” takes on a whole new meaning
by Miki SaxonEvery company, from largest to smallest, has always had a street reputation compounded of their own PR and the perceptions of their employees, customers and vendors as shared with the people in their circle, who then shared their version of what was said with their circle, and on and on.
With each telling, the information changed slightly, sometimes better, often for the worst, but continually diluted. Even when the media was involved, the information had a modest lifecycle and, whether good or bad, faded with time.
No longer—”In perpetuity” has taken on a whole new meaning.
With the digitizing of the world and the ease with which individuals can share their thoughts and opinions on a global level, both companies and individuals need to stay aware of what’s said about them.
Most importantly, they need to realize that
- sooner or later it’s going to happen;
- there’s no way to stop or control it; and
- it will never go away.
What to do? In today’s parlance, deal with it. No matter what’s out there, sticking your corporate head in the same won’t help. Good, bad or ugly, find ways to address it—because it’s never going to go away.
March 12th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
[…] A few weeks ago I wrote about company street reputations and how the Net makes them perpetual—as in, unhappily ever after. […]
August 4th, 2014 at 1:16 am
[…] And positive buzz enhances both the boss’ and the company’s street rep. […]
February 11th, 2016 at 1:26 am
[…] turnover shrinks your candidate pool because it wrecks your street rep and street reps are forever—good, bad or indifferent—nothing fades away in this digital […]