The Internet is a huge collection of information. Everything you do and say online leaves a footprint and affects people's perception of you as a person and a professional. In fact, 48% of Human Resources professionals and recruiters prefer to browse through personal websites when making a decision about whether or not to hire a person. Consumers basically do the same thing when shopping online.
Search engines catalog everything you do online, from your social media participation to press releases and blog posts. Unfortunately, the internet has far greater reach than gossip in a small town. So, even if you don't care what people think about in your real life, your online activities must be managed well in order to protect your business.