In the digital age, especially in regard to business, one’s reputation matters. When a company works with an online marketing firm, they will do so with the intent of building their brand image. This is true for not only cosmetics, such as colors, logos, and the like, but trustworthiness. Few, if anyone, will want to work with a brand they’re either unfamiliar with or skeptical of. In other words, when an individual sees a brand or entity, they will be confident knowing that their stance is reliable. This is where online reputation management, a practice that’s used to build trust, comes into play.
A negative online reputation can be disastrous for numerous reasons. First, it can decrease the likelihood of one’s business gaining traction, as poor word of mouth will spread. Second, this will make it difficult for an entity to form partnerships with others, resulting in fewer opportunities in the long term. Third, it can cause considerable stress, especially in situations where said negative online reputation is unjustified. These are just a few reasons why online reputation management matters. For a better understanding of how to tackle this marketing effort, here are 5 foolproof ways to build trust via digital means.
Stake a Presence on Every Social Media Channel – One of the first places that a user will go to, in order to find information about a business, is social media. Perhaps a business is active on Twitter or maybe they place more emphasis on Facebook, just to name a few examples. Regardless, social media can provide information to long-time customers and new faces alike. It will also show that an entity is reputable due to how prevalent they are across several networking platforms. If you see that your company name has been claimed by someone else on a platform, you have options. Consider speaking to a social media marketing agency to learn more about how to maintain handles across all platforms.
Treat Personal Accounts Professionally – Once company social media accounts are established, attention must be turned to personal accounts. It’s important for employees of companies, from executives to account managers and beyond, to present themselves as professional on social media via their public accounts. Ideally, employees should take the time to share and distribute content that speaks to the industries they’re involved in. Such content can include, but isn’t necessarily limited to, blog posts, articles, and informational videos. As any online reputation management specialist will attest, employees are a collective reflection of the companies they work for.
Official Websites Will Require Content – What about platforms outside of social media? Arguably the most integral would be a company or entity’s official website, which provides specific information in a centralized location. However, for online reputation management purposes, content is essential. Consider adding a blog section to your website if you haven’t already. From there, publish unique content on a regular basis, whether it’s once a week, a few times per week, or any other obtainable interval. Content plays a vital role in marketing, from online reputation management to even SEO, so it would be wise to prioritize this.
Address Negative Customer Reviews – One of the benefits of the internet is that it provides everyone with a voice. With that said, this opens companies up to criticism, warranted or otherwise, which often comes in the form of online reviews. If negative reviews begin to pop up, simply attempting to cancel out the noise would be an oversight. Instead, address these reviews by responding to the customers on different platforms. Provide further insight, apologize for their poor customer experience, and maintain a professional tone throughout. By following these steps, online reviews will be handled effectively, resulting in a significant online reputation management boost by proxy.
Learn from Criticism Moving Forward – As stated earlier, a company may receive criticism that isn’t entirely warranted. However, in instances where the company is at fault, these can serve as learning experiences. Whether it’s a matter of better customer service or higher-quality products, just to name a few examples, no business is infallible. Criticism shouldn’t be taken as a personal attack, no matter how a customer writes or provides it. Instead, it should be used to help improve. When a business takes the time to address criticism, using it in a way that betters their day-to-day operations, online reputation management efforts will strengthen over time.
About fishbat: fishbat is a full-service Long Island advertising agency. Utilizing the latest technologies and forward-thinking strategies, fishbat is able to create marketing plans that are tailor-made for specific needs and goals. The services that fishbat provides include, but aren’t limited to, social media management, search engine optimization, content marketing, email marketing, and branding. With these, businesses will be able to market directly to their audiences, increasing traffic, engagement, and ultimately, revenue.
