I read a good post on the subject of online reputation at http://activerain.com/blogsview/1713388/have-you-googled-you- today along withthe comments that followed, which lead my to write this post. 
The primary distinction (at least in my mind) when it comes to online reputation is business needs vs. the needs of the individual. When it comes to reputation for an individual the subject of “privacy” comes completely intertwined with the subject. An individual has rights to more perceived privacy than a company as an individual is not attempting to be a public figure (hypothetically) to the degree a business is.
Even with Linked-In, Facebook, Twitter and of course millions of people with an opinion on thousands of subjects they would like to have a voice on, the fact of the matter is that the only real way to approach handling the online reputation of an individual is through both mild promotion and yet pulling back by invoking or at least attempting to leverage one’s right to privacy.
This can of course be harmful for a business or one who depends on their name as the headline for their business ventures. When it comes to a business the only real answer is to not feed the 3rd party review sites while engaging in MASSIVE and I do mean MASSIVE online distribution in order to give your happy customers a real voice. This is the only way to give Google enough information to chew on for you to be certain that the mix of happy vs. unhappy has an accurate balance on Google as it does in your real life.
Typically for every slot in Google within the first three pages that you would like to own under a search for your business, you need about 1,000 pieces of relevant, unique content properly distributed on the web in the form of blogs, videos, PR notices, social bookmarks, high PR link backs, articles and directory listings.
When it comes to your business you can’t very well swim in the pond of retraction using privacy as a shield so you have to know how to syndicate without duplication of content and when it comes to your private life you need to be cautious about over promotion. In the real estate game for example key is to decide whether your name is more valuable under a privacy blanket or as a platform for your own success.
First make this distinction then picking your line of attack becomes clear. Feel free to look over our faq for more information at http://www.reputationaccelerator.com/faq.php
Happy Online Reputation