152: The Ten Golden Rules of Reputation Management and Crisis Communication with Evan Nierman and Jay Berkowitz

You might think a good reputation speaks for itself until one bad news headline or “X” tweet takes over the first page of Google for your name.I sat down with Evan Nierman, founder of Red Banyan and a true crisis whisperer, and together we developed the 10 Golden Rules of Reputation Management and Crisis Communications. You’ll learn exactly what to do before, during, and after a reputation crisis—from owning your name online to using advanced tactics like Google suggest and Everipedia. Evan and I dropped some real gems, and behind-the-scenes examples to help you manage your reputation proactively.Key Topics02:20 — Evan Nierman is introduced as the "crisis whisperer" who shows up when reputations are on fire03:19 — Evan explains how he founded Red Banyan after years in high-stakes Washington, DC communications06:15 — Touring Europe with MC Hammer and what he ordered instead of beer07:42 — Golden Rule 1: Protect Yourself in Advance09:11 — The 2 simple filters: Share with care, post with purpose10:15 — Why every company needs a content strategy—even oil and gas firms11:19 — Golden Rule 2: Take Action When the SH*T Hits the Fan12:37 — "No comment" is a comment—and it's often worse than saying something13:51 — Lawyers must consider both court and public opinion14:55 — Golden Rule 3: Press the Truth—telling the truth isn’t enough, you need to fight for it16:38 — Golden Rule 4: Start with Low-hanging Fruit17:15 — Case study: How a CEO’s reputation was saved from a Girls Gone Wild controversy18:21 — Techniques: Buying domains, creating websites, and naming photos for SEO20:15 — Why staying invisible online actually leaves you more vulnerable21:15 — Golden Rule 5: Own the Important Real Estate—lock down all versions of your name and brand23:15 — How often should you redesign your website?23:56 — Golden Rule 6: Monitor and Measure—set up Google Alerts and sentiment tools25:13 — Why data matters in reputation strategy27:10 — Golden Rule 7: Manage Google and Social Media Reviews—don’t fear the bar, respond with class28:50 — How to reply to bad reviews without breaking confidentiality30:55 — Golden Rule 8: Advanced Strategies33:05 — Watch out for mugshot extortion sites35:15 — Yes, you can manipulate Google Search Suggest36:15 — Don’t qualify for Wikipedia? Use Everipedia to get visibility37:15 — Golden Rule 9: Proactive Strategies—stay ahead with consistent media and content38:30 — The benefits of podcasting for SEO and reputation40:00 — Use S.O.S. by Peter Shankman to get quoted in media41:00 — Golden Rule 10: Get Back to Brand Building—launch something new or support your community42:45 — Awards help Google (and clients) trust you more—just apply44:05 — Recap of all 10 Golden Rules46:56 — Evan’s recommended tech, books and how to reach him.Resources MentionedBooksCrisis Averted by Evan Nierman - https://a.co/d/eVZbHom The Cancel Culture Curse by Evan Nierman - https://a.co/d/7gwDb0a The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks -https://a.co/d/7gwDb0a Any books by Jim Collins Apps & ToolsOak Journal: https://oakjournal.com/ Google Alerts - https://www.google.com/alerts Everipedia - https://everipedia.orgBirdEye for review management - https://birdeye.com/ Sources of Sources by Peter Shankman - https://sourceofsources.com/ About our Guest:Evan Nierman is the Founder and CEO of Red Banyan, a global public relations and crisis management firm specializing in high-stakes PR, cancel culture response, litigation communications, and complex reputation challenges. With over 20 years of experience, he advises CEOs, public figures, law firms, and global brands through their most critical moments.He is the author of The Cancel Culture Curse and Crisis Averted, and a frequent media commentator featured on Fox News, CNN, BBC, and in outlets like Forbes and The Washington Post. Evan’s mission: help clients communicate truthfully and strategically—especially when the pressure is on.Learn more at www.redbanyan.com About Jay Berkowitz:Jay Berkowitz is a best-selling author and popular keynote speaker. Mr. Berkowitz managed marketing departments at: Coca-Cola, Sprint and McDonald's Restaurants, and he is the Founder and CEO of Ten Golden Rules,  a digital marketing agency specialized in working with attorneys.Mr. Berkowitz is the author of Advanced Internet Marketing for Law Firms, The Ten Golden Rules of Online Marketing and 10 Free Internet Marketing Strategies that went to #1 on Amazon.  He is the host of the Ten Golden Rules of Internet Marketing Webinar and Podcast. He has been profiled by the Wall Street Journal, The Business Journals and FOX Business TV.Mr. Berkowitz was selected for membership as a TITAN for Elite Digital Marketing Agencies, he is the recipient of a SOFIE Award for Most Effective use of Emerging Media, and a Special BERNAY’s Award.Connect with Ten Golden RulesSubscribe to Ten Golden Rules on YouTubeCheck out our webinars on TenGoldenRules.comConnect with Ten Golden Rules on LinkedInFollow Ten Golden Rules on FacebookConnect with Jay Berkowitz on LinkedInThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. 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