They say in the business world that your reputation is everything, and having a bad one will only make things worse. Because of this, you need to manage it well and frequently. Keep reading and you’ll get the advice you need to build a reputation that is going to be solid overall.
When a negative comment comes your way, it’s important to have a good offense. The more positive chatter there is, the less noticeable the negative will be. Post new positive content continually to help overcome any negative feedback.
Stay personable. It’s great to post tweets and update your social media status, but this is ineffective unless you are really trying to communicate with those that follow you. Answer questions posted to you. If you do not know the answer to a question, let them know that you’re in the process of getting an answer.
To bolster your reputation, follow up to make sure customers are satisfied. This is particularly true if your business is larger. They want to feel as though they mean something to you. See if you can use automated contact systems. Always try to solicit feedback on their most recent buys.
Maintain a good image by working to alleviate customer dissatisfaction. Transforming a negative impression into a happy one will demonstrate your concern for your customers. It would be even better if you can carry this out online. Other prospects and customers can see that you actively address issues, so they’ll be more apt to buy products from your company later.
Search Engines
Search phrases that relate to your business should be used on your web pages. More often than not, this is your company’s name. A majority of search engines will favor authoritativeness. When your business is seen as an authority, then search engines like Google will bump you to a higher standing in the results.
Do what you can to make an unhappy customer happy. Try to create the most positive experience possible for them. It would be even better if you can carry this out online. Other customers and prospects will see that you are proactive in addressing customers’ problems and will be more inclined to do business with you in the future.
Monitor your online reputation carefully. You can’t tell when you’re going to get a search engine result that’s negative because someone has something bad to say about your business, even if it’s for no reason. Monitoring bad search engine results can prevent negative things from getting to the top. Try this at least twice a month.
If you own your own business, be sure your employees are treated with respect. Many people do not take this as seriously as they should, and there can be serious consequences. If word gets around about how you treat employees, customers may not do business with you.
Keep any private sales or promotions private. This is key, particularly if you use large discounts as a tool to resolve customer complaints. You never want to post exactly how you are handling a complaint only to see more complaints from those trying to get something for free.
Optimize your web pages all with your business’ essential search phrases in order to make your online reputation better. More often than not, this is your company’s name. Search engines these days reward companies that have authority in a space. If you can build up your authority, it can really increase your rankings.
Make sure that you are always around your customers. If your customers frequent a specific restaurant or other location, visit there often. If you are present and visible, you will seem more approachable. Many individuals are more relaxed in social situations and may open up more to you.
Now, you have a full understanding of just how important your reputation is. A mistake can make a reputation fall, so avoid that! These tips you read in the above article should be followed and practiced until it becomes second nature. You’ll soon witness how much better business is when your reputation is a good one.