Monday, February 2nd, 2009 by Andy Beal

49

How Michael Phelps Screwed-up His Google Reputation in Just 24 Hours

In case you missed the news, Olympic superstar Michael Phelps was caught on camera smoking cannabis from a bong.

Say it with me: IDIOT!

While Phelps has admitted the photo is legitimate–and apologized to his fans–there can be no doubt that for an athlete of Phelps’ caliber, any scandal that involves drugs is going to have a hugely negative effect on his reputation.

To prove just how quickly a squeaky clean Google reputation can come crashing down, here’s a look at Michael Phelps’ Google reputation after just 24 hours!

If the swimmer’s sponsors decide that they no longer wish to be associated with a drug-taking athlete, Phelps could lose as much as $100 million in endorsements.

Some observations:

  1. It didn’t take very long for the negative news to hit Google’s search results.
  2. Despite many, many positive web pages about Phelps, this proves that a scandal can easily infiltrate the first ten links.
  3. Google is already suggesting “michael phelps smoking weed” as an alternative search suggestion. What’s interesting is that this is not showing up in Google Suggest for the search box, which indicates that the “searches related to” algorithm at the footer of search results may be based on very recent search queries–with Google Suggest using a larger timescale for its suggestions.

If anyone has the address for Phelps’ agent, please let me know so I can send them a copy of Radically Transparent. ;-)


Social Media Monitoring in Just 60-Seconds. Guaranteed!

Similar Stories in: Reputation | Forward: Email This Post

Share this post

Share on TwitterStumble This!Bookmark on DeliciousShare on FriendFeedDigg This!Share on Facebook

 

 

Similar posts you may like...

49 comments on “How Michael Phelps Screwed-up His Google Reputation in Just 24 Hours”

  1. Nick Stamoulis Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 9:30 am

    I’m amazed that people of that caliber let things like that even make it to the internet. He will probably loose some sponsorships because of it.

  2. Lamees Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 9:53 am

    Hi Andy!
    I like how you used a happening and hot story to promote Radically Transparent… very smart! ;)

    Lamees’s last blog post..Top 12 SEO Resources

  3. clos Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 10:01 am

    I’m amazed its still a big issue. He should know better than to do that infront of a camera, but seriously, he won 14 gold metals – I don’t think you or I can really say anything. Kinda puts a dent in the whole “weed is terrible” theory.

    clos’s last blog post..What the business is!?

  4. Andy Beal Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 10:07 am

    @Lamees – thanks!

    @clos – I’m not about to cast any judgment on whether he should use cannabis or not, but he is a public role model and in his line of work, taking drugs is asking for a reputation meltdown.

  5. Gilligan Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 10:34 am

    Folks this is all about the American dream. Phelps is the most decorated Olympian in history……therefore he is not a mortal human. How can we expect these American marketers to market a regular kid, who is going to buy into that dream?

    The vast majority of athletes party like this….have done it myself! Phelps just got caught by someone with a camera or digital camera handy.

  6. Dan London Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 10:50 am

    He did have a DUI back in 2004 (when he was just 19) and got probation.

    Dan London’s last blog post..Good Customer Service from Booq

  7. Frank Reed Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 11:21 am

    BUT HE DIDN’T INHALE!

    Frank Reed’s last blog post..The GOP and Twitter, What’s Next Time Travel?

  8. Mark Anderson Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 11:40 am

    Google’s algo is designed to feed recent news stories to the top of the pile, so while the drugs story will dominate any Phelps related searches for a day or two, eventually they’ll fade as newer stories replace it. I don’t think his Google reputation is going to suffer permanently, in fact I doubt it’ll suffer for very long. The world is transient, so are the SERPS.

    As a side note – Phelps smokes weed. Shocker. Americans still think of it as the demon weed despite the _huge_ levels of usage in the States. At least he was partaking in something natural and benign. It could easily have been steroids – 14 golds sounds like steroids to me.

    As a side side note – Weed is your friend. Smoke a joint. Make love. Life is good.

  9. fas Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 12:04 pm

    I would like to ask only one question. Is google reputation all that important?

    fas’s last blog post..How To Get Top Ranking In Google

  10. Michael Martinez Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    Andy, should you be openly soliciting his business (if only in a joking fashion) while using a value-passing link to point to one of the negative articles?

    Michael Martinez’s last blog post..How example.com spams search indexes

  11. Fionn Downhill Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 12:46 pm

    I am not so sure the Google results will go away. The news will but not the blogs and forums. In fact it may get worse. His online marketing team needs to read Andy’s book fast then call me :) I am still amazed that so many big names and brands do not have their Google PR as a major part of their PR and marketing campaigns. They can all learn a lesson from Obama. He smoked weed but you have to work very hard to find the information on Google. Not that I care he can smoke it out of his ears for all care as long as he is a good President.

  12. Jaan Kanellis Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 1:20 pm

    LOL, this post in its self is contributing to his poor online reputation.

    Jaan Kanellis’s last blog post..37 YEARS of Superbowl Ads From 1969 to 2009 and My Yearly Predicted Winner!

  13. Milo Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 1:26 pm

    It really is mad how 1 silly act can totally destroy your reputation, and even career

  14. Andy Beal Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 1:49 pm

    @Mark – the news items at the top will likely go away but as Fionn suggests there’ll be fall out in the main results.

    @Michael – what would you suggest, that I nofollow the link? Why? He got himself into this mess, I’m not going to change my linking practices for his sake.

    @Jaan – I doubt this post will ever “rank” in Google for “michael phelps” :-)

  15. Jaan Kanellis Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 1:52 pm

    I know Andy, just giving you a hard time. I agree though linking to one of “weed” articles does promote it somewhat.

    Jaan Kanellis’s last blog post..37 YEARS of Superbowl Ads From 1969 to 2009 and My Yearly Predicted Winner!

  16. Michael Martinez Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 4:02 pm

    Andy, our industry is criticized for a lot of practices. I don’t think linking to an unfavorable article and then implying you can solve the problem is really going to give people a good impression.

    There is too much backbiting in our industry already. Why give some hot-to-trot wannabe RepMan guru something to blog about?

    Michael Martinez’s last blog post..How example.com spams search indexes

  17. I Is Celebrities Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 4:19 pm

    That’s just great, our golden boy just made us “real puffers” feel much better (less guilty).

  18. Andy Beal Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 5:06 pm

    @Michael – I appreciate your view, but I disagree. First, I don’t want Michael Phelps as a client. Second, the page I’ve linked to was already ranking before I wrote my post.

    That said, your comments alone are enough to give someone the idea that perhaps they could make a big deal out of this, so I’ll go ahead and nofollow the link. ;-)

  19. How Michael Phelps Screwed-up His Google Reputation in Just 24 Hours | Biography of Michael Phelps Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 5:06 pm

    [...] Go here to read the rest:  How Michael Phelps Screwed-up His Google Reputation in Just 24 Hours [...]

  20. Michael Martinez Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 6:08 pm

    That’s very open-minded of you, Andy. I’m sorry you felt a bit cornered there. I suppose it comes of trying to quickly drop a friendly comment in-between daily tasks.

    Michael Martinez’s last blog post..How example.com spams search indexes

  21. theguru Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 7:41 pm

    Given the Americanpblics appetite for bringing down the high and mighty, the boy is in for a rough ride. Ahhh, our shining heroes….

  22. Spinning Michael Phelps - The Lede Blog - NYTimes.com Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 8:11 pm

    [...] is that a marketing blogger named Andy Beal is really mad at him. In a blog post headlined “How Michael Phelps Screwed-up His Google Reputation in Just 24 Hours,” Mr. Beal describes Mr. Phelps as an “IDIOT!” and writes that a search for [...]

  23. Richard Weeden Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 10:24 pm

    Mikey may as well get a job as a porn actor now. His life is over. What a moron. Maybe he can be Ron Jeremy’s “little boy” in the porn industry. I can see it now “Fish Boy Phelps” stars in “Schindler’s LUST” or “Shaving Ryan’s Privates”.

  24. S.Hamel Says:

    February 2nd, 2009 at 11:47 pm

    Funny your headline says “How Michael Phelps Screwed-up His Google Reputation in Just 24 Hours”… Sounds to me he did not only loose his Google Reputation… he pretty much lost his Real Reputation in 24 hours… ;)

  25. Samantha - Michael Phelps Fan Site Says:

    February 3rd, 2009 at 12:32 am

    I am so upset about this terrible news. The Sports Illustrated article about Michael showed us his caring and generous side. I want to believe the best for him. He said he would never get caught with a DUI again and he hasn’t. I expect him to make good on this promise as well. It appears that sponsors are not dropping him initially… only time will tell.

    Samantha – Michael Phelps Fan Site’s last blog post..Michael Phelps Smoking Weed

  26. Bloodymirova Says:

    February 3rd, 2009 at 5:41 am

    Oh, come on – let the kid have fun, he certainly earned it. It’s not like something really horrible happened. He didn’t kill anyone.

    I don’t think his reputation is ruined and I believe this will blow over soon. His sponsors are certainly not worried about it. It’s just journalistic vultures trying to feed off of this while they can – at Michael’s expense. I’m sure the Dutch are having a laugh about this ;)

  27. Jacques Seoman Says:

    February 3rd, 2009 at 6:14 am

    That sure wasn’t the wisest of moves on his behalf! Serious Online Reputation management is going to be needed to fix this one! Any suggestions, apart for hitting serious headlines by doing good things?

  28. curtis dawson Says:

    February 3rd, 2009 at 10:01 am

    Yes, this is very sad but I gotta say it was pretty funny.

    curtis dawson’s last blog post..WoW – Which Character is Best?

  29. Patrick Says:

    February 3rd, 2009 at 10:06 am

    It was pretty stupid on Phelp’s part to go to a party where he could possible get photographed using a bong. It doesn’t make sense. He is still young and will do some stupid things and I agree with others that the whole think is taken too serious. He is already regretting his decision after he will probably lose tons of money, no need for the media to jump on him too.

    Patrick’s last blog post..February Pays to Live Green Giveaway

  30. Sherry Net Says:

    February 3rd, 2009 at 11:09 am

    Is anyone REALLY Surprised by this NEW Revelation?

  31. Michael Phelps is Human After All, But Maybe Not A Smart One | NYU Local Says:

    February 3rd, 2009 at 1:13 pm

    [...] swimming career. This whole scandal has nothing to do with his health – it’s about his image. One blogger believes the damage is already done – a quick search on Google now associates ‘Michael [...]

  32. Dean Says:

    February 3rd, 2009 at 3:19 pm

    This has got to be the biggest non-story of the year.

    Michael Phelps smoked pot????? Say it ain’t so???? Next you’ll tell me that Obama “did a little blow” when he was young….errrr….ummmm…oh wait he did….nevermind.

    If there is a story it is this…
    In today’s world you are one misjudgment and and a camera-phone away from being embarrassed or exposed. So don’t do anything stupid whether you are a mega-athlete or having too much fun and cousin Eddie’s wedding. The only variable is how much that embarrassment will cost you. Reputation management is a “proactive” activity not one you adopt after bong hit.

  33. PS3 Says:

    February 3rd, 2009 at 3:30 pm

    Are you saying he is an idiot for smoking weed, or just for getting caught?

    We’ve just had a professional rugby player over here get caught out for a cocaine habit. Only 26 and career in tatters.

  34. More on Phelps screwing up his reputation « BrandDunk Says:

    February 3rd, 2009 at 6:42 pm

    [...] Phelps marijuana photo is going to overshadow his positive accomplishments on the web.  Read it here. Sports Business Daily also has a ton of opinions on what Phelps dope smoking will mean to his [...]

  35. Mark Wilson Says:

    February 4th, 2009 at 5:57 am

    That really sucks for Phelps, but really? why is this such a huge deal. Most people smoke weed at least once in their life. Give the guy a break.

  36. coffee Says:

    February 4th, 2009 at 2:05 pm

    there are a lot more productive issues the media could be covering than Michael Phelps smoking pot a year ago

    coffee’s last blog post..Coming Soon: Starbucks Extra Value Meals

  37. I'm a swimmer too Says:

    February 4th, 2009 at 3:25 pm

    I’m a 32 year old upper middle class white male with a family and I definately did not lose any respect for him.

    To accomplish what he accomplished took considerable work, dedication, and talent.

    For reference, I swam competitively in high school and still lap swim to stay in shape.

    I would be more disappointed in Phelps if it was revealed that he was a cigarette smoker. As it stands, Phelps is a fine roll model for my children.

    If my children ask me now if its OK to smoke pot, I’ll tell them:

    “It is not OK. It is illegal and you could go to jail for it.” I will also tell them it is not as unhealthy for you as cigarettes and alcohol.

    “Mike Phelps is human and like every single one of us can’t be expected to always make the best decisions. It is human to err. I can only hope you bust your ass in pursuit of your goals as hard as he did in pursuit of his world records.”

  38. Kenney and Kim Says:

    February 4th, 2009 at 3:43 pm

    Dang, that hurts. I was wondering why he was on the news the other day apologizing to the world and athletic association. I wonder how much they paid for that pickture. lol. That’s alright Michael. You ARE still the man in my book.

    Kenney and Kim’s last blog post..7 Small Business Marketing Tips That Will Grab Your Market’s Attention

  39. Gene Grabowski Says:

    February 4th, 2009 at 5:00 pm

    Fortunately for Michael Phelps, he’s already banked so much public trust and support that this mistake probably won’t tarnish his image beyond repair. However, as I said on ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike show, with tens of millions of dollars in endorsements at stake, he would be wise to publically distance himself from the handlers that attempted the cover-up, highlight what he will do to help keep kids off drugs, and remind his fans of the hard work, talent, and determination that made him a superstar in the first place. In short, he should be talking again about how much his mom and family means to him and allowing photographers to chronicle his grueling training regimen. For those interested, I encourage you to read my blog post about the communications challenges facing Phelps on BulletProofBlog.com and share your thoughts: http://www.bulletproofblog.com/2009/02/04/has-michael-phelps-reputatio n-gone-up-in-smoke/

  40. Matt McGuire Says:

    February 4th, 2009 at 7:25 pm

    It will blow over. Phelp’s will be remembered for his wins not the pot.

    Matt McGuire’s last blog post..Poor performance using public synonyms

  41. BobtheBuilder Says:

    February 4th, 2009 at 9:31 pm

    Check out this sketch about the Michael Phelps marijuana scandal it’s pretty hilarious

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpxB6urF-5c

  42. PS3 Says:

    February 5th, 2009 at 3:12 am

    @Andy sorry to go slightly off on a tangent but I guess it does illustrate a point on reputation management – someone seems to have been using your name to spam Twitter and I see you have nipped it in the bud.

  43. Jeff Says:

    February 6th, 2009 at 1:25 pm

    Honestly who cares that Micheal smokes pot, if people got off their high horses and looked at some of the things they do they would find out they are not prefect either. This is 2009 with everything going on in the USA and around the world there is more important things to concern ourselves with.

  44. Jayson Says:

    February 11th, 2009 at 1:23 am

    Whoever took the picture is a d*ck – who does that to someone’s career over a bong hit? It was dumb of Phelps to risk his career and sponsors but I’d say the person that took the picture has the problem that needs attention.

    Now he needs to do something else that gets some positive attention

    Jayson’s last blog post..Senate Passes Economic Stimulus Plan – $15,000 tax Credit for Homebuyers Still In

  45. Michael Phelps: How To Fix Your Google CV | Personal Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel Says:

    February 13th, 2009 at 7:15 am

    [...] that a Google CV is “the Google search results page returned for a name search”. In How Michael Phelps Screwed-up His Google Reputation in Just 24 Hours, Andy Beal reported how it was that quick for the damage to hit Michael’s Google [...]

  46. HRM Today - Blog Archive » Michael Phelps: How To Fix Your Google CV Says:

    February 16th, 2009 at 12:51 pm

    [...] explained that a Google CV is “the Google search results page returned for a name search”. In How Michael Phelps Screwed-up His Google Reputation in Just 24 Hours, Andy Beal reported how it was that quick for the damage to hit Michael’s Google [...]

  47. Student Tips for Job Search Says:

    February 18th, 2009 at 5:14 pm

    [...] at a job are lost. Think the powers of Google are being exaggerated? Check out what happened to Michael Phelps’ online reputation just 24 hours after photos of him smoking marijuana surfaced. [...]

  48. Student Tips for Future Job Search Says:

    February 19th, 2009 at 12:19 pm

    [...] at a job are lost. Think the powers of Google are being exaggerated? Check out what happened to Michael Phelps’ online reputation just 24 hours after photos of him smoking marijuana surfaced. Having a positive online image is [...]

  49. Terry McDonald Says:

    March 2nd, 2009 at 4:16 pm

    As stupid as it was–he has the resources and people he can pay to help restore his reputation. In another 6 months, I fee sure we’ll see more posts in the top ten featuring Michael Phelps as a modern “Mother Teresa” doing good works- penance for his sponsors.
    The folks I feel bad for are the wrongly accused. The Duke Lacross Team comes to mind. Those boys names will be trashed for 20 years unless they go on to cure cancer or something.