Wondering which industries received the largest number of Better Business Bureau complaints in 2009?

In 2009, the Better Business Bureau received almost one million complaints, which is an increase of about 10 percent over 2008.

The largest number of Better Business Bureau complaints, according to the Wall Street Journal excerpt from Real Time Economics, was against wireless carriers; there were an astonishing 34,477 complaints against these companies in 2009 alone. This industry was also ranked first in the number of complaints in 2008.

The industry that received the second most complaints was the cable and satellite television industry; banks were number three, with the bureau receiving 42 percent more complaints about the financial industry when compared to 2008.

Here’s how to lodge your own Better Business Bureau complaints – and otherwise state complaints – to get results.

What about the reverse side? What if your business has received unfair criticism online? What reputation management techniques should you use?

It can be frustrating to see criticism about your company on Internet forums and other places online – especially since the negative comments could be posted by competitors or disgruntled former employees.

Here are several free resources from The Search Guru that can help with your online reputation management efforts:

• Online reputation management: why should your company monitor this daily?
• Internet brand management: set up Google alerts to monitor negative comments.
• Internet brand management page 2: learn ways to fight vicious comments online.
• Internet brand management glossary: set up Google alerts and much more.

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