Online reputation refers to the way people perceive you and your company online. Reputation plays a crucial role in the profitability of a business. This is why you should invest in managing your online presence. There are a variety of ways to do this.
A simple way to build a positive online reputation is to respond quickly and with empathy to customer questions and feedback. You can also work to improve your products and services to better meet your customers’ needs. However, when you find that you are having a PR crisis, it is important to seek professional help. Taking action in response to negative information on the internet can be difficult. If you don’t have the time to handle the response yourself, consider hiring an online reputation management firm.
The internet has a much larger audience than traditional media. It is easier for a person to spread news about you through social media, which means your business can get caught up in a viral fire quicker. Even worse, a single misstep can damage your brand and cause revenue to be lost.
Search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo are an important part of your online reputation. Each day, consumers use search engines to make decisions about businesses and brands. Your online reputation is usually the first impression they have of you. Therefore, you should be sure to control what shows up on page one of the results.
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a critical element of online reputation management. Having a solid SEO strategy will increase the quantity and quality of traffic to your website. Positive reviews on your website, blog and other online content will sway potential buyers to purchase your product. Getting rid of unflattering or inaccurate reviews can make a big impact on your business.
Online reputation management can also include curating and managing your social media content. For instance, you might have to monitor conversations about your company, or respond to negative customer feedback. While it may seem a hassle, establishing a consistent communication plan for social media will keep your online presence fresh and positive.
Despite your efforts, a bad experience can wreck your business’s reputation. Take for example, the United Express Flight 3411 incident. In a matter of hours, the video was shared almost 87,000 times. Not only did it go viral, it destroyed the reputation of the airline. Moreover, the airline’s market value dropped over one billion dollars.
In addition to the above, a poor online presence can affect a job candidate’s decision to apply for a position. Potential employees will often conduct research on your company’s salary range, stock price and employee reviews. Negative reviews can negatively affect the quality of your workforce. Additionally, if your online reputation is too bad, it can even affect housing opportunities.
Investing in online reputation management will not only minimize the amount of negative feedback your company receives, but it can also help you track digital threats. This can include removing content that infringes on your intellectual property.