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Small businesses and professionals face unique online challenges
to their reputations. In addition to facing all of the concerns shared by
private individuals, most small businesses and professionals make
their living on their reputation. One study found that reputation
damage is a bigger risk to most companies than natural disaster or
even terrorism.
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After all, a careful backup plan can avert most harms
caused by an earthquake or fire, but damage to a reputation is long-
lasting and often permanent. A different survey found that corporate
executives thought it would take an average of 3.5 years to fully re-
cover from a damaged business reputation. ...