The Reputation-Reality Gap

Reputation is a matter of perception. The Reputation-Reality Gap is where our reputation doesn’t match reality.

Your personal online image

If what is found online when people Google you, is way better than in reality, people will be very disappointed when they meet you in real life.

The other way around… if your online image doesn’t do you justice, you’re losing out on opportunities. Research (Edelman) shows that people with a strong online presence have up to 48% more business opportunities.

When the reputation is more positive than its underlying reality, this gap poses a substantial risk. Eventually, the failure to live up to its billing will be revealed, and its reputation will decline until it more closely matches the reality.

The reputation of a company

A strong positive reputation among stakeholders (partners, investors, customers, suppliers, employees) will result in a strong positive reputation for the company overall.

Here’s an example: Diversity hiring continues to be an issue that everyone gets behind on paper, but few actually follow through with. This is highlighted in Deloitte’s 2017 Human Capital Trends report, where 69% of executives rate diversity and inclusion as an “important” issue, while only 12% of organizations have a mature level of inclusivity.

In other words, there’s a reality gap.

WHAT PROBLEM DO I SOLVE

I help companies, organizations, and their executives, raise their online profile and assist them to be more successful.

Potential clients, partners, and investors?google you, before they do business with you.

The absence of relevant and up-to-date content can be the reason for people, not to interact with you.

Since 2002 I created ‘meaningful content’ for over 800 organizations and executives. Helping them build and maintain a strong online presence.

CORPORATE STORYTELLING FOR?COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS

In?2002, I started a project “Around the World in 80 Brands”.

The goal was to help organizations tell their story, instead of giving information.

Away from top-down communication towards a horizontal tone of voice.

????“In this time of information overload,?people do not want more information.

????????????????They want a story they can relate to.”

Creating?meaningful stories with a wow factor for maximal impact and engagement.

Stories are – easy to understand –?easy to remember – and – easy to transmit.

I interviewed over 800 brand owners and published 15 books with a selection of the best stories.

INTERACTION WITH THE TARGET AUDIENCE?(Storytelling Expeditions)

I execute?special projects to?help companies/organizations?interact with their audience by creating branded content.

This gives the organization?the opportunity to engage with its audience without talking about its product.