A property software company has launched a digital security protection service for agents.
Claimed to be a first in the industry, VTUK’s service is about protecting agents’ brands and reputations.
The service will allow agents to have their digital presence monitored for them, giving them full transparency of any negative publicity – including trolling and distribution of negative content.
VTUK says that when companies sign up to the service, it will conduct a “forensic security assessment”.
This will prepare companies and their bosses for any eventual attack on their business, allowing them to deal with it in the quickest way possible, while hopefully preventing an attack by continuous monitoring of their presence in the digital world.
Peter Grant, VTUK’s CEO, said: “Just 7% of companies in the UK are monitoring what’s being said about them online, while only 2% of companies have a specific in-house role to try and deal with negative content online.
“These are dramatic statistics, especially when you consider how much focus is being dedicated to facing the online agency challenge and that we constantly rely on digital channels to communicate and advertise agency services.
“Ensuring you have a plan in place to deal with an attack on yourself and your business is vital.”
EYE says: Don’t believe it won’t happen to you. We suggest you take the possibility of reputational harm via social media seriously. We are aware of one reputable agent targeted this summer by someone who appeared to be an angry former client. This person set up a Twitter account and a website with names very similar to that of the agent.
Comments (4)
The newspapers are going to look like a cheap option compared to digital
Its a good point you make.
The days when you had to worry about how many pages you had in the local rag and how snazzy they looked are over.
It was annoying paying £XXXXX pounds for press advertising but not you need to add portal charges (multiple) Pay Per Click, Website, Banners, SEO, added digital services such as video email, Positve review sites, and now also manage the negative reviews. Oh and still add the local paper!
Maybe the chap on the other thread moaning about agents fees needs to look at what we actually layout in a month.
What an excellent idea,tenants access to review sites is the next time bomb waiting to explode! I know because I have already been blackmailed over the return of a deposit !
Interesting next stage IT solution to a growing online problem. Looks worth looking into, especially for agents too busy OR non tech practical knowledge