Danger of company blogs

Given the ease with which anyone can cybersquat a company name on free blogging platforms* and can start posting damaging material and get it listed in search engine results, companies should be taking action.

The least they should do is claim 'their' space by being the first to create a blog using the company name. It is not necessary to use the blog. Just point any causal visitors to your company's principal site. (See my example: http://www.telecareaware.blogspot.com/) The point is that the names are then no longer available for other people to use.

Think it can't be done? Check: http://www.gehealthcare.blogspot.com/

In fact, you may want to create several such blogs with variations.

One further tip. If you do not want people to find your blog while it is in preparation, turn off the ability for search engines to find it until you are ready.

Finally, if you are thinking of actually running a company blog and need some help to work through the issues or just to set it up, talk to your webmaster. Or me.

* e.g. Blogger.com, WordPress.com, TypePad.com