8 Rules of Effective Online Reputation Management

8 Pro Tips for Effective Online Reputation Management

93% of people say online reviews impact their buying decisions! 60% of consumers say that negative reviews made them not want to use a business.

Introduction

What the internet is saying about your company is what your customers believe to be true. Negative reviews can impact your online rank, customer engagement, sales, investment opportunities and a lot more. Proactively managing the online reputation of your business can be a big boon for business. in addition, having an expert online reputation management (ORM) company in your corner can help you position yourself better in front of prospective customers as well as take care of any negative instance as soon as it crops up.

Here are 8 online reputation management tips to protect your brand image.

1. Monitor your online reputation regularly

Use a private browser and search your brand. Make a note of the sites that appear first and the initial impression created by them. In case there are customer reviews that show up, read them in detail to understand where the audience is leaning.

2. Optimise your website

SEO services are not just great to boost sales, but also manage your business reputation. By dominating Google ranks, you can influence the kind of information that customers first receive. A high-ranking website and social media pages can allow you to control information to a large extent. In addition, be proactive in asking people who have had a positive experience with your brand to leave a review on these sites.

3. Engage with positive reviews

Positive reviews make 73% of consumers trust a local business more. 91% of consumers say they trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

Positive reviews can act like a guiding hand for customers approaching your brand. Sites with positive reviews can get you ranked higher on Google as well as influence prospective customers when making a sale. Partnering with an ORM company can get you a better edge by encouraging reviews that focus on key highlights of your brand’s products or services. Be sure to thank your customers for their review for a better connection.

4. Don’t ignore negative reviews

Companies risk losing 22% of business when potential customers find 1 negative article on the first page.

Negative reviews can damage your business reputation and affect sales. But ignoring them can be far worse. No one wants to buy from a brand that doesn’t care. Instead, first make a note of the site or experience that has led to a negative review. If it is on a major platform – it needs to be addressed promptly in the correct manner. Have a clear policy for such situations – whether you need to apologise or not – always be polite, clear and quick in your responses.

5. Have an ORM strategy in place

Know the sites that need a response fast to maintain a positive reputation and tackle them. Remember, you can’t deal with every blog or article, but being prompt with the big players can be a major boon for your brand. Next, know what your brand is trying to communicate – are you apologetic or polite yet firm? Identifying a genuine case from a hater is crucial to effectively manage your brand reputation with the right customers.

6. Be social

86% of B2B organizations prefer LinkedIn for social media marketing.

Being active on social media may be tie consuming but it goes a long way in maintaining your online reputation.  An ORM agency can help advise you on the right activity to support your brand image. In case you can’t participate on all social media platforms – be sure to pick the correct one for your business. If you are a B2B company, LinkedIn should be priority whereas if you are a young hip brand looking to talk through images, you need Instagram.

7. Create valuable content

Content plays a huge role in brand positioning and reputation. Relevant content that is updated regularly can help you create the reputation you want for your brand. By consistently projecting your brand a certain way, you can influence customer perception and gain some leverage in case of a negative incident.

8. Choose the right influencer

Influencer marketing has become a huge component of every digital strategy. To protect your brand image and reputation, be sure to choose influencers that are in line with your brand’s image. Additionally, partnering with the right influencer can also help you change customer perception in the direction you want.

Conclusion

ORM helps you monitor and manage your brand’s reputation and ensure your customers feel positive towards you. This task, while crucial, can be daunting for many. For an effective strategy, be sure to connect with one of the leading ORM Agencies.