Search results change each time Google reconfigures the formula by which they compile and rank webpages. Most recently, Google has indexed Facebook fan pages and they are now searchable to some degree or another. The extent to which the search results have changed won’t be apparent for a while, but expect changes.

Google on Wednesday began indexing Facebook Fan page status updates in real-time search results. The announcement, made through a tweet on Twitter, fulfills the promise the search engine made Dec. 7 at the Computer History Museum.

We don’t yet know if this means that facebook statuses will show up in live searches, but we do know that there has been a change as it regards Facebook and Google. Reputation management firms will have their work cut out for them.

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=123214

The top ten business tips from Simply Business are very forward looking–a good deal of them involve online goals and strategies. They give a number of good tips which could help a company to avoid Internet libel. They have this same sort of article this week:

Every week we select 10 articles we think are worth reading at the end of your work-week. Start your weekend now – have a look at these articles selected by our Simply Business knowledge team.

They suggest that everyone company take its brand into their hands, instead of letting consumers or detractors control the battle of branding. This is as true as any word that was ever written about online reputation management.

http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk/knowledge/articles/2010/02/2010-02-19-top-10-business-advice-articles-of-the-week0/

Surprise surprise, this article points out what we all knew already–but the numbers are a bit surprising. Employers, when you interview with them, are using social networking sites, like Facebook or Myspace, to find out more about you. We’ve all known this, but the number of employers who are using social networking sites is shocking!

At the end of the day, it’s all about perception. Probably 70% of the human resource professionals who I consider my colleagues have actually incorporated online screening as a part of their recruitment process

That is an imposing number of HR professionals who might find the pictures of you shirtless, drinking, or what have you. This is nothing a little personal reputation management can’t fix.

http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/Employers-Say-They-Check-Your-Facebook/S1TCS40HuEeb6o0jIPzjzA.cspx

The article linked below tries to identify the top ten trends online that are going to become bigger over the next year. An angry ex-employee or stupid mistake can ruin the reputation of a company quite quickly. This is why Internet reputation management made the top ten list so easily.

Last year, Domino’s Pizza landed itself into trouble when two employees posted a video of themselves handling food unhygienically on the internet. Cotton On experienced backlash on Facebook when it continued to sell baby clothes with slogans such as “They Shake Me”.

Griffin says businesses can avoid such catastrophes by carefully monitoring who is talking about their brand, and being ready to address any situation as quickly as it appeared.

With examples like this becoming increasingly commonplace, Internet reputation management will only gain popularity in the coming years.

http://www.smartcompany.com.au/internet/20100202-online-trends/2.html