Consumers now have a greater ability to influence the reputation of a brand than ever before. Yuck right?! This power is often referred to as “consumer governance” and refers to how customers can use their collective opinion and voice to drive the success or failure of a business.
The main source of this consumer governance is online reputation. Customers can write reviews and post comments on social media or to a company’s website, which are then seen by potential customers who may decide whether to purchase the product based on what they see. But wait, there’s more! This power of consumer opinion has become so influential that companies must now pay attention to their online reputations to remain competitive in the digital world. Add that to your daily to do list!
What is online reputation management and how does it work?
Have you ever wondered what people are saying about your business behind your back? Well, if you have an online presence, then chances are there are plenty of people talking about your services or products online, and take it from us, what they’re saying could be good or bad. That’s why it’s important to manage your online reputation. For times when you can’t be a fly on the wall, turn to reputation management!
So, what is online reputation management? Put simply, it’s the process of controlling what people see when they Google your company name. Seems pretty powerful, huh!? It’s about making sure that the search results for your company reflect what you want people to know about your business.
There are a few different ways to do this. One way is to create lots of content – blog posts, articles, and social media updates with keywords that you want to be associated with. This will help push down any negative content that might be appearing in the search results. We like to call this the great cover up!
Another way to manage your online reputation is to monitor what’s being said about you online and respond accordingly. Just to be clear, that doesn’t mean jumping to Twitter to justify your side of things. If there’s negative content out there, (SINCERELY) reach out to the person who wrote it and try to resolve the issue. If there are positive things being said about you, make sure to thank the person who left the positive feedback.
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Why do brands need to worry about their online reputation?
In today’s digital world, your online reputation is more important than ever. More and more people are using the internet to research brands before making a purchase, and if your online reputation is damaged, it can have a major impact on your bottom line. There are several reasons why online reputation management is important for brands. First, negative reviews and articles can deter potential customers from doing business with you. Yikes! Second, they can lead to a loss of trust among current and future customers. Third, they can damage your relationships with other businesses.
In short, online reputation management is essential for any brand that wants to stay competitive in today’s market. By monitoring your online presence and taking steps to address negative content, you can protect your brand’s reputation and ensure that you continue to attract new customers.
The different ways that consumers can interact with brands online
In today’s digital world, there are a myriad of ways for consumers to interact with brands online. Through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, consumers can follow their favorite brands, receive updates on new products and share their opinions with others. Additionally, many brands now offer online chat features, which allow consumers to ask questions and receive help in real time. We love a good chat bot! And of course, there are also plenty of opportunities for consumer feedback through online reviews and survey sites. Ultimately, the wealth of online resources available to consumers makes it easier than ever before to connect with brands and voice their opinion.
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How to manage your brand’s online reputation
Your brand’s online reputation is so important, we felt the need to say it again. It’s how people perceive you when they see you in their social media feeds, when they Google you, and when they read reviews about you. Here are a few things you can do to protect your reputation online:
- Be proactive: Don’t wait for something bad to happen to your brand before you start managing your reputation. Think of it like a new obsession. Be proactive and monitor what people are saying about you online. Set up Google Alerts for your brand name, and check review sites regularly.
- Be responsive: If something negative does come up about your brand, don’t ignore it. Respond quickly and professionally. Yes, even if the customer is wrong! Address the issue head-on and try to resolve it to the best of your ability.
- Be transparent: People appreciate honesty, so if there is something negative going on with your brand, be upfront about it. Don’t try to hide it or spin it in a positive light – that will only make things worse. Think hiding clutter under the bed – never a good idea. Instead, own up to it and tell people what you’re doing to fix the problem.
Managing your brand’s online reputation takes effort, but it’s worth it. By following these tips, you can help ensure that your brand is perceived in a positive light by the people who matter most – your customers.
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Partnering with a reputation management company
If you’re looking to take your online reputation to the next level, then partnering with a reputation management company is your best move. Not to toot our own horn, but at Curiosity, our reputation management team can help you build and maintain a positive image online, which is essential for attracting new customers and keeping existing ones happy. Plus, with the help of our reputation management gurus, you can proactively manage your online reputation so that negative reviews don’t have a chance to do damage in the first place.