Online reputation management is among the most valuable strategies you can incorporate into your business practice. In a society where everyone is on the internet, you need to protect your brand’s reputation at all costs.

Online reputation management refers to the perception others have of your company and your products based on information on the internet.

In this post, we will tell you everything you need to know about online reputation management.

The Three Most Influential Factors of your Online Reputation

When you think about your online reputation, you may only think about your Yelp reviews, but there are many more contributing factors.

The internet is home to an abundance of information, and many consumers want to choose a brand for a good or service quickly. A glance at a bad review or two can be the difference between someone choosing your competitor over you.

So, what are the three main contributing factors to your online reputation? Keep reading below to find out what you should be monitoring.

1. Reviews

As you might have guessed, online reviews have the most significant impact on your reputation. Between Google, Yelp, and social media, customers are free to voice their opinions wherever they would like.

Customers are far more likely to purchase a good or service from your company if you have a higher average rating as well as an increased number of reviews. Keeping an eye on your business reviews will tell you what you should keep doing and what you need to improve on.

Put yourself in a consumer’s shoes and look up your company on various websites. Compile a list of each website and average review score to determine where you should focus your reputation management efforts.

2. Response to Reviews

While potential customers are scanning the reviews of your business, they are sure to notice the interaction (or lack of interaction) you have with your customers.

Responding to both positive and negative reviews is an essential part of your online reputation. Your company will be more appealing to a potential customer if it is apparent that you care about your customers, no matter what they have to say.

When responding to a positive review, let the customer know how much you appreciate their business and that you would love to have them back as a repeat customer in the future. Much too often, customers feel unseen by the companies they are supporting, but responding to positive reviews can change that.

When responding to a negative review, let the customer know that you appreciate their feedback and would love to speak with them further. Offer your email or phone number to establish a line of communication between yourself and the customer. By responding to a negative review online, potential customers may be more willing to accept the negative feedback.

3. Social Media Presence

With roughly 2.8 billion users on Facebook, 1 billion users on Instagram, and 1.3 billion users on Twitter, there is a good chance that someone has tried to find your business on a social media platform.

Having an active social media presence will allow you to communicate with your pre-existing and potential customers with ease. Since social media is a part of many people’s daily lives, they may feel more comfortable reaching out to you on a social media platform rather than calling or emailing you.

Rather than constantly updating your company website, you have the freedom to post whatever you want, whenever you want at your fingertips.

Now that you understand what your online reputation consists of, you need to know what strategies online reputation management includes.

How does Online Reputation Management Work?

Depending on the needs and goals of your business, online reputation management typically includes a combination of marketing and public relations strategies. Using an online reputation management service to plan, monitor, and execute strategies will save you plenty of time and potentially attract new customers.

Online reputation management services keep a constant eye on your online reviews, allowing any positive or negative thoughts to be addressed and responded to promptly. If you are interested, your online reputation management service may be able to edit or delete any negative reviews that are severely affecting your business.

Search engine optimization (SEO) strategies are among the most popular marketing tactics that will get your business to the top of the search results page. By publishing professional, relevant content related to your business, SEO strategies can direct more traffic to your business’ website.

Suppose you are not a social media expert or do not have enough time on your hands. In that case, online reputation management services can help you create an impressive presence on whichever platform your target audience is on.

Social media experts keep up-to-date with the latest news and trends, meaning your company page will have the most relevant and helpful information. You can choose to do many different things with your social media page, and working with an expert will help bring your ideas to life.

Who Needs Online Reputation Management?

The short answer to this question is everyone. As long as your business has an internet presence (which it should), your reputation can make or break your success.

No matter what industry you are in, what product you sell, or what service you provide, there is a solid chance that your potential customers are searching for your company online.

Consumers have the right to decide if something is worth spending money on, and a bad online reputation can steer them away quickly. In a society where everything and anything can be found online, it is up to internet users to determine the quality of their business through research.

Paton Marketing Online Reputation Management

Here at Paton Marketing, we are committed to improving your company’s online reputation to attract new customers and keep pre-existing customers returning.

In a saturated market like South Florida, we understand the importance of consumers choosing your company over a competitor’s.

If you need online reputation management, the Paton Marketing team would love to help you.