We all know the importance of a good reputation. Whether we want to be perceived with high recognition by our employers, colleagues or that attractive redhead in your Brit Lit class, reputation all boils down to people’s perceptions, often times based on word of mouth.

While we would love to envision a world where those old embarrassing Facebook photos can be erased from history, we can’t close our eyes to the possibility of our past, creeping up into the present moment for a guest appearance. In other words…your cum laude qualifications may shine through on a first interview, but a quick Google search that reveals your Instagram caption of “#drinkanddrive #YOLO” can very well prove detrimental to your cause (#justsaying).

Seeing as reputation is everything, one bad review can crumble your image faster than the years it took to assemble. Your online presence is absolutely no exception. Just how important is your internet reputation? Well, 72 percent of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations and 52 percent of consumers agree that positive online reviews make them more likely to use a local business.

Interested in some additional stats? Check out our latest infographic, which highlights the importance of one’s online reputation to potential consumers in this reputation-based world known as our “reality”.

Online reviews