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 Topics

02:20 — Evan Nierman is introduced as the "crisis whisperer" who shows up when reputations are on fire

03:19 — Evan explains how he founded Red Banyan after years in high-stakes Washington, DC communications

06:15 — Touring Europe with MC Hammer and what he ordered instead of beer

07:42 — Golden Rule 1: Protect Yourself in Advance

09:11 — The 2 simple filters: Share with care, post with purpose

10:15 — Why every company needs a content strategy—even oil and gas firms

11:19 — Golden Rule 2: Take Action When the SH*T Hits the Fan

12:37 — "No comment" is a comment—and it's often worse than saying something

13:51 — Lawyers must consider both court and public opinion

14:55 — Golden Rule 3: Press the Truth—telling the truth isn’t enough, you need to fight for it

16:38 — Golden Rule 4: Start with Low-hanging Fruit

17:15 — Case study: How a CEO’s reputation was saved from a Girls Gone Wild controversy

18:21 — Techniques: Buying domains, creating websites, and naming photos for SEO

20:15 — Why staying invisible online actually leaves you more vulnerable

21:15 — Golden Rule 5: Own the Important Real Estate—lock down all versions of your name and brand

23:15 — How often should you redesign your website?

23:56 — Golden Rule 6: Monitor and Measure—set up Google Alerts and sentiment tools

25:13 — Why data matters in reputation strategy

27:10 — Golden Rule 7: Manage Google and Social Media Reviews—don’t fear the bar, respond with class

28:50 — How to reply to bad reviews without breaking confidentiality

30:55 — Golden Rule 8: Advanced Strategies

33:05 — Watch out for mugshot extortion sites

35:15 — Yes, you can manipulate Google Search Suggest

36:15 — Don’t qualify for Wikipedia? Use Everipedia to get visibility

37:15 — Golden Rule 9: Proactive Strategies—stay ahead with consistent media and content

38:30 — The benefits of podcasting for SEO and reputation

40:00 — Use S.O.S. by Peter Shankman to get quoted in media

41:00 — Golden Rule 10: Get Back to Brand Building—launch something new or support your community

42:45 — Awards help Google (and clients) trust you more—just apply

44:05 — Recap of all 10 Golden Rules

46:56 — Evan’s recommended tech, books and how to reach him.

Resources Mentioned

Books

• Crisis 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 & Tools

• Oak Journal: https://oakjournal.com/
• Google Alerts - https://www.google.com/alerts
• Everipedia -