Reputation management is defined as the process by which one’s reputation, be it an individual or entity’s, is maintained or enhanced. This process has been in existence since the days of traditional media, and with the advent of digital media, it should come as no surprise that it evolved in many ways. Today, one’s reputation can be managed by using tools and services such as social media and search engine optimization; this is where the guidance of an experienced B2C or B2B digital marketing company can prove useful. However, when this process takes place, it’s essential that its progress is under a watchful eye. This brings us to today’s topic of online reputation monitoring.
What are people saying about you or your brand? Which stories tend to be the most prevalent when your name is searched? Are the stories in question good for your reputation or may they prove damaging in the long term? Questions such as these can be answered with the proper reputation management strategy. With this in mind, here are 5 online reputation monitoring tips that can help you, as well as your business, maintain a positive reputation.
5 Useful Online Reputation Monitoring Tips
1. Use different tools for online reputation monitoring.
While these tools have different core uses, they go a long way in ensuring that you are viewed in a positive light online. For example, Google Alerts allows users to search company names to receive alerts related to them. Over time, users will receive email notifications, allowing them to receive information in real time. This is just one example, of course, but with the right tools in place, the ability to properly monitor your company’s reputation will be that much easier to develop.
2. Survey online review sites.
Outside of the tools discussed earlier, you can take online reputation monitoring into your own hands in different ways. One such method is surveying online review sites, especially if you or your business is listed. Examples of sites along these lines include Google My Business, TripAdvisor, and Yelp. Not only are businesses listed on these platforms, but users can leave reviews, both positive and negative, allowing others to determine the quality of said businesses. Focus on using these sites to manage your online reputation, responding to reviews and queries as needed.
3. Check social media.
Next, focus on using social media for online reputation monitoring purposes. Are you curious to know what the general public is saying about you or the brand you’re associated with? Logging into social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram will provide you with information in the quickest fashion. Even a gesture as simple as searching for your name as a hashtag can go a long way in providing you with the insight you’re looking for. When it comes to learning what the public perception of you and your brand entails, social media is invaluable.
4. Consider your public relations efforts.
When done properly, public relations will help your online reputation over time. However, it’s important to monitor your PR efforts to ensure maximum effectiveness. Case and point, if you or a third-party agency working on your behalf recently published a press release, confirm that the details are the ones agreed upon. Determine the events that you’d like to attend, whether they’re designed for branding purposes, charity, or any other cause. If you must issue a public statement, go over the details of said statement as closely as possible. Following steps such as these will help you monitor your online reputation.
5. Work with a professional marketing agency.
Reputation management can be done well or poorly based on the strategies in place. What this means is that if you’re inexperienced in the digital marketing sphere, your efforts may not produce the intended results. With this in mind, it may behoove you, in addition to your brand, to work with a professional marketing agency. If you are based in the New York area, consider partnering with a Long Island advertising agency. From SEO to social media to branding, they will recommend and provide services based on your needs. Additionally, they’ll craft a strategy that, over time, enhances your online reputation, providing you with increased business and peace of mind alike.
About fishbat: fishbat is a full-service NY social media marketing agency that takes a holistic business approach to their clients’ digital marketing programs. The fishbat team understands the importance of business principles just as well as the nuances of the latest digital technologies. fishbat offers every digital marketing service available from digital marketing research and planning to brand development to website and asset creation through social media management and search engine optimization programs – all custom calibrated for both B2B and B2C businesses.
