Being arrested can impact your business reputation in a big way. Even if you are not found guilty, having an arrest incident on Google means anyone who searches for your name or related incidents will find you. This isn’t good for your corporate reputation, so you should deal with the matter to restore your good name. Understanding the important steps you should take to restore your business reputation after the arrest is crucial. Hopefully, the tips in this article will guide you in the right direction to take to restore your reputation.
Managing Reputation After an Arrest
Your business reputation is vital to how customers and investors view you. Without a good one, it will be hard to get customers, prove credibility or convince people that you are genuine. A bad reputation can negatively impact your sales and Google ranking. Therefore, you must manage it even after you have not been found guilty. Here is what you should do.
Google the Name of Your Company
Before clearing your name, begin knowing where your reputation stands on search engines. You will need to assess the damage, Google your name and the incident, and see how far the bad news has spread across the internet. Knowing how much the news about the arrest has spread and how it has affected your ranking will assist you in knowing where to start.
Hire an Attorney to Help Clear Your Name
Don’t take too long to clean things up. You want to solve your case in a way that will bring a positive impression online. Therefore, work with a lawyer to help you clean up. You will need to consider different factors in resolving the case. Your decisions will focus on what you want to gain and how the arrest has affected your long-term reputation. You may have the case dismissed or resolved based on the amount of trust you wish to restore.
Expunge the Record if Possible
Depending on your state, you may be allowed to seal the record or expunge it. Both choices help conceal the information from the public. However, these two differ. In record sealing, your arrest information will not be available to the public. However, specific people can access it through a court order. When it comes to erasing, it is a bit of a process, but the result is complete removal of your arrest record. You will have to check if you are eligible for expungement in your state. This is why it is important to coordinate with the best criminal defense law firm. The lawyer the firm provides will help determine whether your case will be expunged or sealed. They will offer advice on the best option for your case.
Ask for Updates on News Outlets
It may be possible to have the information removed from the internet. However, it may not be that easy. If websites have shared this information, protect your business reputation by asking the website owners to pull down the posts. They might be willing to remove the details, especially if you were innocent of the crime for which you were arrested. If news outlets are unwilling to remove their posts, ask them to publish an addition to show you were not guilty and cast more light on the issue in your favor.
Hire a Reputation Management Expert
Hiring a reputation management company to evaluate your online position is also a good idea. A reputation management expert handles reviews, works on removing negative content, and implements strategies to rebuild your name. they will generate content that will help restore your reputation both online and offline. If this option appeals to you, evaluate the companies to get the most suitable one.
Create Positive Things About Your Company
Whether able or unable to remove the negative details online, begin a new journey by creating positive content about your company. Ensure the positive things about you surpass the negative ones on social media. You can look for different things to do to create positive stories. The main goal is to know what you should do to create positive things about your business. For instance, you can start a charity or volunteer in community service.
Take the Step to Restore Your Reputation
These vital things will help restore your corporate reputation after an arrest. Speak with a criminal defense attorney to see what you should do to fix things. The digital shift has made it vital for businesses to build their reputation. Therefore, understand what steps you need to take and coordinate with experts like lawyers and reputation managers to ensure your arrest does not interfere with the growth of your business, now and in the future.
