Navigated to 152: The Ten Golden Rules of Reputation Management and Crisis Communication with Evan Nierman and Jay Berkowitz

152: The Ten Golden Rules of Reputation Management and Crisis Communication with Evan Nierman and Jay Berkowitz

July 15
49 mins

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Episode Description

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


Apps & Tools


About our Guest:

Evan Nierman is the Founder and CEO of Red Banyan, a global public relations and crisis management firm specializing in high-stakes PR, cancel culture response, litigation communications, and complex reputation challenges. With over 20 years of experience, he advises CEOs, public figures, law firms, and global brands through their most critical moments.

He is the author of The Cancel Culture Curse and Crisis Averted, and a frequent media commentator featured on Fox News, CNN, BBC, and in outlets like Forbes and The Washington Post. Evan’s mission: help clients communicate truthfully and strategically—especially when the pressure is on.

Learn more at www.redbanyan.com 

About Jay Berkowitz:

Jay Berkowitz is a best-selling author and popular keynote speaker. Mr. Berkowitz managed marketing departments at: Coca-Cola, Sprint and McDonald's Restaurants, and he is the Founder and CEO of Ten Golden Rules,  a digital marketing agency specialized in working with attorneys.

Mr. Berkowitz is the author of Advanced Internet Marketing for Law Firms, The Ten Golden Rules of Online Marketing and 10 Free Internet Marketing Strategies that went to #1 on Amazon.  He is the host of the Ten Golden Rules of Internet Marketing Webinar and Podcast. He has been profiled by the Wall Street Journal, The Business Journals and FOX Business TV.

Mr. Berkowitz was selected for membership as a TITAN for Elite Digital Marketing Agencies, he is the recipient of a SOFIE Award for Most Effective use of Emerging Media, and a Special BERNAY’s Award.

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