Radically Transparent: Monitoring and Managing Reputations Online [Paperback]

Andy Beal (Author), Judy Strauss (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470190825 | ISBN-13: 978-0470190821 | Publication Date: March 4, 2008 | Edition: 1

The explosion of social media blogs, social networking sites, and video sharing sites has ushered in a new era of digital transparency that puts the power to enhance or destroy a reputation in the hands of the consumer. This timely and practical book shows you how to harness the power of social media with crucial, proven tactics and strategies for every phase of online reputation management. Using step-by-step instruction and tested techniques, the expert authors unveil a detailed blueprint for building, managing, monitoring, and repairing your reputation.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

People Are Talking About You Online

What are they saying? How do you find out? How do you respond? And how can you use the conversation to your benefit?

The explosion of social media—blogs, social networking sites, video sharing sites—has ushered in a new era of digital transparency that puts the power to enhance or destroy a reputation in the hands of the consumer. This timely and practical book shows you how to harness the power of social media with crucial, proven tactics and strategies for every phase of online reputation management.

Using step-by-step instruction and tested techniques, the expert authors unveil a detailed blueprint for building, managing, monitoring, and repairing your reputation. They detail important public relations, search engine optimization, research, and online content creation strategies and provide a seven-step action plan so that you can develop the skills necessary to monitor and manage your reputation. You'll learn how to:

• Navigate the new rules of engagement in a transparent world

• Define who you are and develop your personal or corporate brand

• Create positive PR buzz with your online content

• Gain visibility in web search results and harness SEO tools

• Understand the pros and cons of e-mail before you hit "Send"

• Use the latest Internet tracking methods and understand how information spreads online

• Apply solid strategies for reputation repair when things go wrong

This is sure to become the definitive guide for members of any company or group who want to join and shape the often brutally honest conversation across social media about their brands, products, and people."
—Tom Giles, Editor, Technology & Science, BusinessWeek.com

This is an indispensable guide to managing your reputation online. With compelling case studies and tools to use right now, it's a must-read and a surefire wake-up call!"
—Dr. Leslie Gaines-Ross, Chief Reputation Strategist, Weber Shandwick

Radically Transparent illuminates a path that leads to an engaging conversation with your customers. Read this book so that you can participate, measure, and influence what others are saying about you."
—Bryan Eisenberg, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Waiting for Your Cat to Bark?

Branding has evolved from a one-way monologue to a two-way conversation. It's vital you know the strategies needed to join the conversation and build your radically transparent reputation."
—John Battelle, national bestselling author of The Search

One of the best written books I've seen on a vitally important topic: the underbelly of transparency in the age of Google. How do you control your digital identity when everything is findable online? Read this engaging book for practical, persuasive answers."
—Debbie Weil, author of The Corporate Blogging Book

In this new world of instant connection and networked customers, understanding what people are saying about your company, your products, and your competitors is vital for business success. Reputations, like trust, are built over time, but can be destroyed in an instant. Follow carefully what this book says—the career you save might be your own!"
—David L. Sifry, founder and Chairman, Technorati, Inc.

About the Author

Andy Beal is a consultant and one of the world’s most respected experts in online reputation monitoring and management. He has worked with Motorola, Lowe’s, Quicken Loans, NBC, GlaxoSmithKline, and SAS. Founder of the award-winning Marketing Pilgrim blog (marketingpilgrim.com), Beal has been featured in Dow Jones, Washington Post, and BusinessWeek. He is a frequent speaker at such trade shows as Search Engine Strategies and Direct Marketing Association, has published more than three dozen articles, and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and BusinessWeek.

Dr. Judy Strauss is a consultant, international speaker, former entrepreneur, and previous marketing director of two companies. She is an award-winning author of 11 books and numerous scholarly articles on internet marketing topics. She coauthored E-Marketing, the first textbook on internet marketing. She currently teaches e-marketing, communication, and strategy topics to MBA and undergraduate students at the University of Nevada, Reno. She has won numerous awards for teaching, writing, and entrepreneurial activities.

Product Details

• Paperback: 378 pages
• Publisher: Sybex; 1 edition (March 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470190825
• ISBN-13: 978-0470190821
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #491,387 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Radically Great Read, March 1, 2008

By 

David Saunders "704 947 8048" (Huntersville, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Radically Transparent: Monitoring and Managing Reputations Online (Paperback)

I am an internet marketing professional and seem to buy way too many "SEO Books" from Amazon - they all get resold as I lose interest and find nothing inspiring in them.

This book is by far the best read since John Battelle and The Search

For those of you that really want to enhance your online reputation (and don't we all?) this is a must read.

Some great examples of big companies needing "damage repair" after a blog post and some of the ways great companies have repaired their damage.

Let's face it the Internet gives us citizen journalism and all the brutally frank criticisms that can bring from an average Joe.

If you're into online PR and being Radically Transparent you should by this book and unlock the power of your walled garden

David Saunders
Charlotte NC

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Andy Beal--A leading authority on online reputation management, March 3, 2008

By 

Patricia Skinner "Patricia Skinner, Wellwritt... (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Radically Transparent: Monitoring and Managing Reputations Online (Paperback)

I've been online for well over a decade and from the very beginning I've been passionate about online marketing. I congratulate myself that fairly early on I identified Andy Beal as someone who could teach me a lot about online marketing in all its guises. He has validated my opinion consistently over the years.

His latest book, Radically Transparent: Monitoring and Managing Reputations Online, co-authored with Judy Strauss, is quite simply a masterpiece. This is a reference work that is highly informative and immensely valuable even for an experienced online professional. For the rest of us it's a tome that's simply not-to-be-missed.

Managing your online reputation is a fairly new problem. If you've suddenly realized that being pro-active about it is essential, you are on the fast track to success. But how do you manage your online reputation effectively? Beal and Strauss provide you with absolutely the latest and best knowledge to take your reputation management strategy in hand.

Whether you want to establish your brand or counter a smear campaign that's affecting your bottom line, this is definitely THE book for you to buy.

Learn how to use no-cost social marketing tactics to launch yourself as an expert, and see how you can turn negativity around to reflect positively on your business.

You need this knowledge now if you're to stay ahead of the game.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Internet Reputation Management - the best, October 29, 2010

By 

Geir Lolleng - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Radically Transparent: Monitoring and Managing Reputations Online (Kindle Edition)

Basically the book describes how to position your company or yourself on the internet. It is partly a "self-help" book, but is also a good vehicle to establish a knowledge base. You will also be able to optimize your ability to hire advisors or subcontractors in the field.

Anyway, in my opinion. every business person needs the fairly basic knowledge about reputation management on the net that is provided in this book. Personal and company reputation and image on the internet are not just going to be essential in the future. It already is. The only question is whether you acknowledge it or not.

There are a number of books in the market in this area each focusing on different aspects of the issues. You can easily find more specialized books on for example SEO (actually the authors recommend some books in this specific area). However, this is the best book with a general approach in this area I have found so far.

The book is easy to read without being too over simplistic. In my opinion the authors' recommendations are based on good judgments. It includes a number of useful examples and references.

I would like to emphasize one aspect with the book which is very rare and indicates an extraordinary self-discipline from both the authors. They do not brag about their own achievements in the area. They are smart enough to understand that any sensible reader would assume they are excellent advisors and teachers in the area! This means that the book also will be well accepted outside the US for example in Asia where I live.

Perhaps many will disagree (not at least the authors), but I think the term "Radically Transparent" which also happens to be the main title of the book is a bit silly. The term indicates that being 100 % open is a goal in itself which is a view I strongly object to. But perhaps it is a fact that any author with some self-respect (I have been there myself!) feel a need to create a new "buss" word. However, as the term is sensibly defined in the book and therefore does not in any way harm the general value of the book.

In my view the book represent an excellent and extraordinary useful vehicle in the area of internet reputation and image management. Geir Lolleng.