Manipurated: How Business Owners Can Fight Fraudulent Online Ratings and Reviews

by Daniel Lemin

Overview

“Manipurated” is a manifesto for business owners struggling against an online ratings and reviews industry that is holding their businesses hostage through manipulative practices. “Manipurated” uniquely combines an exposé of the shifty inner workings of this industry with a step-by-step playbook to empower the 30 million American business owners desperately trying to fight back. In today’s hyperconnected world, business owners are confronted with the challenge of managing their online reputation right out of the gate. The first weekend for a new deli, salon, café, or boutique store can be make-or-break with online reviews. Few business owners understand that amazing businesses can be permanently damaged with a few bad reviews. Managing a reputation online requires skills and tactics that are not always intuitive to business owners. “Manipurated” gives business owners an insider’s view of how the multibillion-dollar ratings and reviews machine systematically stacks the cards against them — and more important, empowers business owners to fight back with a six-step playbook to defend, control, and enhance their business’s online reputation. Both a warning and a call to action, “Manipurated” is a must-read for all small business owners who depend on online reviews.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781610352628
Publisher:	Linden Publishing
Publication date:	12/01/2015
Pages:	151
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

Daniel Lemin is a respected authority on the reputation industry. An early Google hire, Lemin was one of the first pioneers to realize the importance, impact, and power of online ratings and reviews on small businesses and the ongoing struggle business owners have with their online reputations. Lemin is an acknowledged expert on digital marketing, public relations, and reputation management and is a consultant for prominent Fortune 500 companies, including Nestlé USA, Procter & Gamble, Hilton Hotels, Sony, Suzuki Motors, Munchkin, and Best Buy. Lemin is also a senior strategist with the consulting firm Convince & Convert, a regular contributor to the Convince & Convert marketing blog, rated the number-one content-marketing blog in the world., and a frequent speaker at industry events and trade shows. Lemin holds an M.A. in communications and leadership from Gonzaga University.

Table of Contents

Section One Chapter 1: Main Street Under Siege Chapter 2: The Rise of Ratings & Reviews Chapter 3: Four Pillars of a Healthy Ratings & Reviews Ecosystem Chapter 4: Manipurated: Where It Went Wrong Chapter 5: What Do You Do Now? Section Two Chapter 6: Business Owner’s Playbook: How to Win Chapter 7: Step One: Know Where To See And Be Seen Chapter 8: Step Two: Good, Bad or Ugly – Make Every Review Count Chapter 9: Step Three: Freshness Matters Chapter 10: Step Four: Be a Peacock Chapter 11: Step Five: Use Reviews As Free Consultants Chapter 12: Step Six: Seeking A Higher Power

Editorial Reviews

"If you were learning to play chess, you'd want Bobby Fischer to be your coach. But what if you're learning to manage your reputation in today's digital-driven world? Well, search no further — your Bobby Fischer is here. Daniel Lemin is simply the best coach I know to help you understand how to optimize your online reputation. And this book is a step-by-step guide to that understanding. Investing in this book is, quite simply, investing in yourself."
—Robert Rose, Chief Strategy Officer, Content Marketing Institute

"Attention, business owners! You don't have to live in fear of online critics and fraudsters. Daniel Lemin is here to unravel the mystery of how these influential forums work, give you the tools to protect yourself and show you how to turn customer ratings to your advantage."
—Paul Gillin, author of Attack of the Customers, Secrets of Social Media Marketing and The New Influencers

"Business owners should take heed with their approach to developing a strong rating-and-review strategy. As Lemin so brilliantly points out, it's critical that they become familiar with how these sites work and fluent in the language in order to maintain a strong online reputation. Bravo!"
—Bryan Kramer, TED speaker and bestselling author of Shareology

"This book is long overdue! Study after study confirms that online reviews directly affect consumer decisions. So like it or not, your business is affected by online reviews. But that doesn't mean you can't make lemonade. Lemin's book, ManipuRATED, can help you do just that. This is not a quick-fix guide. Lemin provides practical advice for dealing with all types of reviews — negative or positive. But he also outlines a long-term strategy to help you stay committed and keep things fresh. Highly recommended for any business that relies on word-of-mouth marketing."
—Deltina Hay, author of The Social Media Survival Guide and The Bootstrapper's Guide to the Mobile Web

"It's about time that someone published a book for business owners whose endeavors have been unfairly rated online. ManipuRATED offers both a review of how online reviews work and, more importantly, a set of strategies on how to take bad reviews and erroneous postings and make them work to a business advantage. Online reputation strategist author Lemin's book should be on every business owner's reading list." —California Bookwatch

"With language and ideas that empower readers to take greater control of the online face of their business, ManipuRATED a is a fine and recommended business resource." —American Reference Books Annual

From the Publisher