Social Networking and Your Reputation

Reading two blog posts today reveals once again the importance of the issue of reputation management on the web. Like it or not, it is going to become an important part of any service professional's efforts for the foreseeable future. Transparency is great, with that comes issues of anonymity and the problems inherent to the process. Russ Capper of Prudential brings up some valid arguments when asked his opinion on the matter.

HAR has been working on a system for consumers to rate Realtors. Im not sure if it will have a social component via the public MLS or how transparent it will be, but it looks as if they have identified it as an important issue and are working on some sort of a program to address it. Heres a quote from an article in the Houston Chronicle regarding a recent survey commissioned by HAR

"More than 75 percent of those surveyed said reading previous customer comments about an agent would be beneficial.

To that end, the local trade group is developing a system so sellers can rate real estate agents on performance, said Rob Cook, chairman of the association and broker/owner of Robert D. Cook Properties. It will be similar to eBay, he said, where buyers can rate sellers."

I look at it this way, networking has always been a mainstay of any service professional's success. Like so many other things, the web isn't changing the underlying principle, it's only facilitating it in a different albeit more permanent manner. How many times has something made it full circle in your sphere of influence that wasn't true about you? The high road is always in the same place, whether or not it's on the information highway really doesn't matter. What really makes a difference is how you deal with it. I've found that it's important to manage your reputation with the people that matter in your life and leave the rest of your detractors to their own devices. If you're operating with integrity it's waste of time to chase down everyone trying to get them to understand there are two sides to every story. 

My opinion? Pay attention to reputation management, but don't let it become an obsession.