In Warren Buffet’s words, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently”. This quote perfectly encapsulates the risks of reputational crises that celebrities often encounter online. It takes only one instance for a celebrity’s reputation to get destroyed within a few moments.

As marketplaces thrive, thanks to endorsements, celebrities and influencers have become brand ambassadors. Leveraging the popularity of celebrities to give a brand identity is a potent strategy. However, this holds great risks to the brand as celebrities and influencers in the public eye often get caught in the crosshairs of negative publicity, hurting the online reputation of the brand.

It is imperative to note that reputation management is a long-term process to establish public trust, while crisis management is a short-term goal. Hence, chalking out a robust online reputation management strategy is the need of the hour. More often than not, reputation management takes a backseat until celebrities find themselves in a scandal, thereby worsening a situation that could have been salvaged with a proper management system.

A celebrity’s reputational damage calls into question the beliefs of respective brands and heavily compromises on their future opportunities. It costs them future business as a consequence of how the brand is perceived following an incident. Brands can reduce potential reputational damage with an online reputation management action.

Social media and global connectivity have worsened the stakes for a distorted reputation, but online platforms are at times a savior during sticky situations. Even a small mistake magnifies at a global scale on social media platforms. However, it also has the capacity to separate the good from the bad. Use the following tips to mitigate a celebrity online reputation management crisis. You can also employ an online reputation management agency to help you clear your image. 

1) Deploying dedicated teams with various types of expertise can reduce or control damage across various online channels. Specialized professionals for varying conditions provide a crisis-proof shield from reputational damage and helps celebrities stay in tandem with their goals.

2)  Suppress negative search results, if not completely remove them from the face of the internet. This can help the celebrity sail through a tough situation. Appropriate usage of press coverages and social media can build a celebrity’s reputation online. High-quality content published on top-ranking publications helps celebrities rank higher on Google searches, which can overshadow bad reviews. It takes time to suppress negative search results, but with the help of a professional agency, this task can be successfully accomplished.

3) Social proof and testimony provide credibility. Despite an impact on a celebrity’s reputation, good reviews help audiences to remain invested and interested. Social mentions and Google alerts are helpful ways to keep tabs on your online image. Thus, always be wary of what you post, and stay on top of your social media game by showing your knowledge and influence.

In an era where personally identifiable information (PII) on anyone is easily available and wrongly tapped, social media platforms can save the day by verifying the information.

Take a look at ways to remove negative search results:

●  Request the webmaster to remove the negative comment published against a celebrity.

●   Submit a ‘Legal Removal Request’ to Google.

●  Suppress negative search results on Google. Publish fresh content through assured media placements to boost your positive searches.

●  Create new pages with targeted keywords, publish press releases, and create video content on sites to remain relevant.

Reputation is built with a lot of effort, but it is very easy to disparage an individual. Thus, careful planning and execution of media strategies, along with tactful online communication during a reputational crisis, can mitigate risks for any celebrity. An experienced PR agency can come to your rescue to monitor and manage your online reputation.