The perfect example for the need for online reputation management for real estate agents took place four years ago when a real estate agent and blogger for Redfin, a real estate company, blasted her competitor in an unauthorized blog post.  The responses by other real estate bloggers and subsequent media attention drew greater attention and visibility to the negative post.  Redfin responded by firing the offender, but the post remains in its entirety with a disclaimer from Redfin’s CEO with a link to their retraction and apology.

As competitive as the real estate business is, it’s essential to ensure that your online reputation is clean online and offline.

Below are some tips on reputation services that can enhance your image online and what to do if you are negatively attacked by a competitor.

1.  Play nice.  Yes, real estate competition can be brutal.  No matter how badly you want to respond to a negative attack, it pays to maintain decorum online.  If you find yourself the victim of a negative review from a client, or a bashing from a competitor, step back before responding.  Remember, just as their words are immortalized online, so are yours.

2.  Showcase the positive.  Start your own blog detailing your personal successes as a real estate agent. Showcase the houses you recently sold and what you have on the market, the rise and fall of local home values, and the ways the housing market is recovering and how an experienced real estate agent makes a difference.  Highlight positive reviews and testimonials from former clients.  Also consider using your blog to offer general real estate advice.

3.  ActiveRain, LinkedIn and Facebook.  Start an account with all three social sites to maximize your networking potential and link to your primary website to push your profile to the top of a Google search.

4.  Hire an online reputation management company.  Let the experts help you promote your name and business online while you focus on selling homes.  A reputation management company can help you take create a positive online profile through social media, local directory listings and authoritative local news sites.