My friend Michael Fertik has launched a nifty web service called ReputationDefender and it’s received a fair amount of coverage in the last week across the blogosphere (see here, here, and here). Ostensibly, ReputationDefender is addressing the fear factor of personal (or familial) PR on the web. For a monthly fee (ranging from $9.95/month for a 24 month subscription to $15.95/month for a six month sub), the company will track mentions of one’s name across the Internet and allow users to request what I would call “PR interventions” (for an additional $29.95 per intervention). In other words, ReputationDefender (”RD” - my term) might discover that someone I barely know on Facebook has mentioned me in a description of a bacchanalian weekend that I’d rather my employer never see - RD to the rescue! They’ll do the hard work of expunging said mention.
The company is advertising its services as especially relevant to job or school applicants, parents concerned about their children’s online identities, and anyone under the sun who cares about their web presence - the last of which describes me. And probably you, too. In fact, I’d argue the service extends beyond reputation defense to reputation monitoring. I’m more curious to see where I show up on the web than I am concerned about what’s being negatively said about me online.
I registered on the site tonight and eagerly await my presence report which I should receive “within about 3 business days.” There’s a concierge feel to the service that I think they’ve nailed just right (and must, given the monthly subscription). Here’s the welcome note new users are greeted with:
Welcome to Reputation Defender!
Thank you for signing up for MyReputation. We will start searching the web for information about you right away. You should receive your first report within about 3 business days.
An agent has been assigned to your account. If you have any questions at all, log into your account and send them a message from The Message Center.
Thanks,
The Reputation Defender Team
There’s clearly a market here and I think RD has strong prospects. Maya’s Mom and Minti would seem obvious advertising channels. Good luck, Michael!
[...] A fairly new website based in Louisville wants to help you. ReputationDefender, an Internet start-up, wants to help you search and destroy all defaming material about you and your children. The company, started by Michael Fertik and Darran Winslow, promises to search the Internet for potentially harmful material about you and wipe it out. ReputationDefender, though somewhat new, has already been featured on an array of websites, blogs and even in our own beloved Courier-Journal. [...]
[...] I’m flattered to see that two of the five startups currently profiled have previously graced the pages of this blog (here and here). But I’m not sure how I feel about the emphasis on “non-Valley” as it relates to technology, founder history, and funding to generate an “Outside the Valley Score.” Let’s celebrate the building of startups, especially ones that might not benefit from the Valley PR machine, but talk more about what makes them interesting as businesses in their own right. After all… It’s a target rich environment. [...]
[...] I’m flattered to see that two of the five startups currently profiled have previously graced the pages of this blog (here and here). But I’m not sure how I feel about the emphasis on “non-Valley” as it relates to technology, founder history, and funding to generate an “Outside the Valley Score.” Let’s celebrate the building of startups, especially ones that might not benefit from the Valley PR machine, but talk more about what makes them interesting as businesses in their own right. After all… It’s a target rich environment. [...]