How to Defend Your Online Reputation

No matter how small a business you are, people will talk about you online. Before the digital explosion consumers were mainly a passive audience. Their opinions about a product or service were shared through word of mouth or a letter written to the company. Although important, these opinions hardly had the impact as online ones do today.
The internet has made the voice of the customer more powerful. They are now able to share their concerns with whoever will listen online. From tweets about a beloved new product to a Facebook rant about a return gone wrong, opinions are shared freely and with greater impact than ever before.

Because of the power of the internet, every business must protect their good name online. Here are some strategies for defending your reputation:

  1. Interact with Others Often – One of the best ways to maintain a positive reputation is through continually one-on-one interactions with your audience. Monitor social media sites for opportunities to engage. It is also important to reach out to others in a meaningful way to learn what you are doing right and what your company could improve on.
  2. Be Transparent – You’d think airing your company’s dirty laundry online would be damaging but the exact opposite seems to be true. When a brand admits their mistake publicly and vows to make it right, they are often embraced even more by the online community. Don’t hide criticism you receive. Always ask for feedback and allow your employees the freedom to discuss their own personal thoughts.
  3. Establish Good SEO Practices – Nearly every business will have at least one bad online review. Whether deserved or not, these reviews can hurt your SEO when they appear at the top of the searches. Establish good SEO practices to help lessen its effects. Keep current on social media sites and use quality content to keep the good stuff at the top.
  4. Hire an Online Reputation Management Service Company – There are many online reputation management service companies available to manage and maintain your business’ good name online. They can also help restore the bad reputation of those who have already fallen behind.

Long gone are the days when you could let the chips fall where they may when it comes to your brand’s online reputation. Today’s business owners need to take a proactive, strategic approach to protecting their good name. Building trust and remaining transparent are two critical aspects of any good plan. For further help in maintaining a good reputation online, contact the team at GMS. We help our clients maintain and grow the brands online. From SEO services to social media management, GMS has proven strategies to help any company succeed in the digital world.

Contact us for more information or to schedule a consultation.

by Katie Zurawski

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