If you are going to trust any person or company with any part of your business operations, it is important that you know exactly who what person/company is. This means digging deeper than the standard profile and reference check. It means taking some time to really check out a contractor or company’s online reputation.
Here is a working blueprint...
Switch out “problems” for other words like “complaints” “service” “reputation” “review” “praise” etc. This way you can narrow down your searches to reviews and other types of content.
If all you find are promotional messages, this means that the company isn’t very good at marketing themselves (which is a terrible sign if you’re trying to hire someone to do your marketing for you). What you want to see is a mixture of promotional messages, replies to other people, promoting other people and simple conversation/opinion posts.
For example, check out the social media profile for Matomy. When you look at its Twitter page, you can tell that this company is selective about who it will follow (a good sign). You can also tell Matomy spends way more time conversing and promoting others than it does simply promoting itself (another good sign, especially since it is a marketing company).
Do not limit your social media search to Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Check out their profiles on LinkedIn, Pinterest and even sites like Reddit.
For example, if you’re hiring a content creator or manager, spend some time looking for them through contractor-employer matching sites like Elance, Freelancer, ODesk, etc. If you’re looking for a company to partner with, run searches for that company on sites like Angie’s List and Yelp.
Sites like this are great for insider information. For example, you would want to know if a company puts pressure on employees to embellish or even lie to clients, right? Sites like Glass Door are great for finding out that information.
Do a records search to find out if anybody has ever brought suit against that person or company for worrisome behaviors. Doing this type of background check on potential employees, contractors and business partners is just as important as the online searches you’re running.
It might feel a little paranoid to search so deeply into a person or company’s background on your own. The reality is, though, that it is much better to be safe than to be sorry. You’re trusting your own company’s reputation to this stranger or strange company…and if you think they aren't doing the same search on you, you would be mistaken.
It’s much better to know who you’re dealing with before you trust them with even the tiniest bit of proprietary information.
Faizan Ahmad
About the Author:
This article is posted by Faizan who is the Author and Founder of TechSenser. He is a Professional Blogger from India and a passionate writer about Technology, Gadgets, How-to-Guides, etc. You can connect him on Google+.
Here is a working blueprint...
Start With Google
This should pretty much go without saying, but Google is the best place to start checking out your potential contractor or partner company. Plug the name in and see what comes up. It is important that you not limit this search to just the first page of results. Anybody with more than five minutes of web experience will know how to manipulate their SEO to ensure that the best stuff comes up first. Go at least three pages deep.Creative searching with Google
It won’t take you very long to look over the first few pages of results that come up with you plug in your potential contractor or partner’s name. Once you've covered those, it’s time to dig deeper into the web. Run a few searches like “best [insert type of work your contractor does]”+[your contractor/partner’s name] or “[your contractor/partner’s name]+problems”.Switch out “problems” for other words like “complaints” “service” “reputation” “review” “praise” etc. This way you can narrow down your searches to reviews and other types of content.
 |
| Image credits: |
Social Media
After Google, spend some time looking over your potential contractor/partner company’s social media presence. Pay very close attention not just to what they post but how they interact with commenters and followers.If all you find are promotional messages, this means that the company isn’t very good at marketing themselves (which is a terrible sign if you’re trying to hire someone to do your marketing for you). What you want to see is a mixture of promotional messages, replies to other people, promoting other people and simple conversation/opinion posts.
For example, check out the social media profile for Matomy. When you look at its Twitter page, you can tell that this company is selective about who it will follow (a good sign). You can also tell Matomy spends way more time conversing and promoting others than it does simply promoting itself (another good sign, especially since it is a marketing company).
Do not limit your social media search to Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Check out their profiles on LinkedIn, Pinterest and even sites like Reddit.
Digging Deeper
As someone who likely already knows about at least basic SEO, you’re probably well versed in how easy it is to make Google and social media paint you in the best light. This is why it is important that you go deeper. Look up your contractor on sites that he or she might be using to find work.For example, if you’re hiring a content creator or manager, spend some time looking for them through contractor-employer matching sites like Elance, Freelancer, ODesk, etc. If you’re looking for a company to partner with, run searches for that company on sites like Angie’s List and Yelp.
What Do Their Employees Think of Them?
It is important, especially if you’re looking to partner with a company, that you know what kind of reputation it has as an employer. Sites like Glass Door give people a space in which they can anonymously evaluate the companies they've worked for.Sites like this are great for insider information. For example, you would want to know if a company puts pressure on employees to embellish or even lie to clients, right? Sites like Glass Door are great for finding out that information.
Use the Web to Check Out Their “Real” Reputations
Make sure that any company you’re considering for partnership is actually listed with your Secretary of State’s office. Run a check on the company through “watch dogs” like The Better Business Bureau, your local Chamber of Commerce, etc.Do a records search to find out if anybody has ever brought suit against that person or company for worrisome behaviors. Doing this type of background check on potential employees, contractors and business partners is just as important as the online searches you’re running.
It might feel a little paranoid to search so deeply into a person or company’s background on your own. The reality is, though, that it is much better to be safe than to be sorry. You’re trusting your own company’s reputation to this stranger or strange company…and if you think they aren't doing the same search on you, you would be mistaken.
It’s much better to know who you’re dealing with before you trust them with even the tiniest bit of proprietary information.
Faizan Ahmad About the Author:
This article is posted by Faizan who is the Author and Founder of TechSenser. He is a Professional Blogger from India and a passionate writer about Technology, Gadgets, How-to-Guides, etc. You can connect him on Google+.
