We are probably all vulnerable to mistaken online identity, unless we have a really unusual name. And it is a serious online reputation management issue, probably a larger problem than most people know.
In January, 2011, it would have been terrible to be named Jared Loughner and be looking for a job right now. Jared Lee Loughner’s name and image dominating the media spread across the media as the shooter of (now former) Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. And the name Loughner is going to be in Google associated with this horrible event forever.
A good portion of personal branding is personal marketing, and that’s good. However, if your name is Jared Loughner, but you are not THAT Jared Loughner, how do you handle this situation?
This is an online reputation management crisis for everyone named Loughner, even if you aren’t related to him.
Don’t Relax – You’re Not “Safe” Either
The media does a good job, usually, of making sure that they use the complete name of the accused in most situations. Stories about the Arizona shooter immediately referred to him as “Jared Lee Laughner” just like you always see President Kennedy’s assassin’s name as “Lee Harvery Oswald” – not just “Lee Oswald.” Bet he was known as “Lee Oswald” and very few people knew his middle name.
Media usage of middle names provides us all with a lesson these days. Have you Googled yourself recently?
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