Have you ever asked yourself about how big companies handle their reputation management? You can employ some of the same techniques, no matter the size of your business. Find out what you need to know below.
Have a good online personality. Posting status updates and tweets doesn’t work without active communication between you and your followers. When someone takes the time to leave a message one one of your social media pages, it is important that your are quick to respond. If you are unsure, inform them that you are going to find the appropriate response, and then do so.
Watch social networks all the time. Arnold Worldwide says that more than 50 percent of customers expect responses to the concerns they post on social media sites. Try to reply the same day to any inquiries you receive. Many businesses allow this part of their communication strategy to slide, so you can gain the upper hand.
Optimize your web pages all with your business’ essential search phrases in order to make your online reputation better. This is generally the name of your company. Search engines like authoritativeness. When they view you like an authority, they are more likely to boost your site up the list of search results.
Make sure you know what is going on in your field of business. This helps to maintain your good standing as someone who provides updated and useful information. Just read the news or check out Google to learn what’s going on.
Look at your presence on the Internet. You don’t know when a negative comment is made so you have to check often. If you keep an eye on search results, you can ensure that negative feedback won’t be high up in the results. Do this once or twice a month at a minimum.
If you’re searching for your company on the Internet and find false information, you should ask the site’s owner to take things like that down. If you have proof that it’s not true, you can work it out.
Make sure that you stay current on news that relates to your industry. This will give you an expert voice with consumers. Search daily for information about your company.
If you don’t have the time or resources, find a company to manage your reputation. You are probably very busy with other aspects of your business, so it is understandable if you need an outside company to do this for you. This is why it’s great to have someone that can help you with these things as well.
You will receive more responses as your customer base grows. Sometimes their comments will be negative. And after all of this, you still need to be sure you’re addressing things in the right way so people don’t get turned off when it comes to your business.
When you’re reading things that are negative pertaining to your company, you may want to get angry at the person posting, especially if they’re lying a bit. The best thing to do in this situation would be to calmly and professionally disprove what they said. When people read the argument on both sides, they can figure out who they think is right.
Monitor your online presence. You don’t know when a negative comment is made so you have to check often. Checking online search results helps you knock it down from the top of the page. Work this a few times each and every month.
If there is a mistake, don’t cover it up. Your clients will typically know what is going on. Instead, own up to the fact that your company made an error, and apologize humbly for that. Most times, customers will forgive mistakes, particularly if they get something in return.
After customers make a purchase, follow up several times to ensure satisfaction. Sometimes, problems do not occur immediately because a customer may not use a product at first. Checking in several times will help you address any issues that may come up.
They are many sites that offer fake positive reviews, and sometimes it seems most of your competitors use them to improve their online reputation. Resist the urge to do the same. It’s bad business and many states have laws against that kind of illegal activity.
If you own your own business, be sure you’re treating employees with some respect. Take this very seriously, as it can hurt or benefit your reputation. Some people will not give you business because of it.
Don’t rush when answering any criticism about your product, website or yourself. Try to fully understand the situation before you respond. Research the situation so that you know what you are talking about. When you respond to criticism, address the issue and offer a true solution to the problem.
Negative feedback can be upsetting. However, don’t respond before thinking. Think about what you should do before you proceed. That will stop a negative reputation from occurring.
You will harm your reputation if you become angry or argumentative. Never treat a customer with harsh or cruel statements. If problems escalate and the client is inappropriate, just ignore them rather than engaging in an argument on the Internet.
Private sales and promotions need to stay exactly that: private. This is especially important if you receive a complaint and offer a deep discount to help rectify the situation. You do not want others to lodge similar complaints so that they may take advantage of getting a similar deal.
Trade Organization
If your industry has a trade organization, become a member of it. People who look for companies in a particular industry often go to the trade organization to find leads. Such membership can help your business seem credible. You will probably have to pay a fee to join, but it is completely worthwhile.
Take the time to really know your customers. Personal attention can build your credibility. If you provide a service, consider their needs and let them know you can be of future service to them. The fact that you provide great service will give you a much better reputation.
Make your presence known in the places that your customers frequent. If they go to a certain grocery store, be there. By following your customers’ habits, you know them more closely and can provide better service. The social setting will help them feel more comfortable opening up to you.
If you wish to have a good reputation in business, you should be available to the customers you have. Keep an actual person monitoring your phone line for customer service, and have someone answer people’s questions and comments on your website promptly. No one wants to deal with you if they cannot speak to an actual human being when they try to contact your business.
Do you believe you are more prepared to handle managing your reputation? Hopefully, you feel more capable of managing this aspect of your business. By doing so, you can ensure that your business is well-positioned for the future.