Online reputation management, also known as SMO, is a critical aspect of marketing and reputation management for small businesses. It involves monitoring what people are saying about your business, both positively and negatively. One of the most influential platforms for negative comments is social media, and your interactions with these platforms can influence your reputation. The widespread adoption of social media has transformed marketing and reputation management, and sharing, commenting, and reviews have become the norm. Local businesses, in particular, face unique challenges as their customers tend to live near them.
Social media is a crucial tool in reputation management
When it comes to reputation management, social media plays a vital role. Many consumers develop brand loyalty before experiencing a product or service. They use social media to express their opinions and find solutions to their problems. While negative reviews on social media are typically ignored by large brands, small businesses can suffer the same consequences. A small business’s response to negative comments can make or break its reputation. In order to prevent this from happening, small businesses should implement social media policies.
While reputation management is traditionally thought of as a problem for big businesses, it’s important for small businesses, too, to stay on top of customer feedback. A solid social media presence boosts brand recognition, and it allows businesses to gather valuable customer feedback to improve their products or services. When a customer performs a search for a company on Google, they’ll find reviews posted by previous customers. While a good review can attract new business, a bad one can turn off customers. A recent BrightLocal study showed that a 2% reduction in negative word-of-mouth results in 1% higher sales.
One of the most important aspects of reputation management on social media is responding quickly to feedback and complaints. Small businesses can tailor their social media presence to their customer demographic, whereas enterprise companies have to cast a wide net. For this reason, small businesses should focus on platforms that they know their customers are likely to be using. Small businesses can also delegate the responsibility of managing their reputation to marketing teams. It is important to know the types of feedback your consumers are leaving online, and monitor the content to ensure positive or negative.
Creating a social media reputation management plan is essential to your success. A good social media reputation management plan should have specific goals tied to your business goals. A successful social media campaign will boost your brand image and increase sales. If you use social media to your advantage, it will also help your company build a credible reputation with customers. It’s crucial to take your reputation seriously, because it could help you achieve your objectives and earn the trust of customers.
Monitoring your online reputation is a long-term strategy
The Small Business Administration defines small businesses as those with limited revenue and fewer than five employees. This report highlights online reputation monitoring strategies for small businesses, resources available and unique challenges faced. Nearly half of small businesses use social media for this purpose, and nearly half use multiple platforms to monitor their reputation. However, social media alone does not define an online reputation. Rather, it’s one of many long-term strategies for small businesses.
The importance of monitoring your online reputation can’t be overstated. Having lots of positive reviews from previous customers helps to boost the confidence of potential buyers. However, no business is immune to negative reviews. In fact, customers are more likely to post a bad review than a positive one. Therefore, keeping an eye on your online reputation can help you address any negative reviews. However, you need to be prepared to answer every single one.
In fact, 88% of small businesses monitor their online reputation at least quarterly. Moreover, 90% of retail shoppers check reviews online before purchasing from a business. Furthermore, 70% of these customers say that reviews online influence their purchasing decisions. Ultimately, monitoring your online reputation is crucial for small businesses and can mean the difference between success and failure. There are several ways to monitor your online reputation and make it a powerful asset for your business.
The first step in managing your online reputation is to determine what you have right now. Go online and Google yourself to find out where you have potential weaknesses. Ensure that you have no negative content, and create content that reflects your image positively. It’s worth it! You’ll be amazed at how effective these strategies are. If you do it, you’ll be well on your way to a successful long-term strategy for your small business.
Creating a strategy
Developing a reputation management strategy for small businesses should start with monitoring brand mentions and reviews online. In addition to monitoring brand mentions and reviews, businesses should develop a positive brand narrative. A positive brand narrative can set a business apart from its competitors, attract new customers, and build loyal followers. Negative brand narratives can hurt a business’ sales and brand image, and result in decreased search engine rankings and adverse keyword associations.
The most successful reputation management strategies start with proactive online presence. Create a business Facebook page and a Twitter account specifically for customer service. Post videos and solicit reviews. Aim for at least 10 customer reviews online within the last six months. This will build trust with your customers and help your brand build an online presence. It’s also crucial to respond to customer complaints and feedback. While reputation management is not a magic potion, it can help you delight customers and increase revenue.
While most users don’t look past the first page of Google, the top three search results get 75% of clicks. By checking your Google results on page two, you can gain insight into how well your reputation management strategy is doing. Results further down the page will not have much of an effect on your online presence. Therefore, creating a reputation management strategy for small businesses should include an ongoing focus on the top pages of search results.
Creating a reputation management strategy for small business requires an ongoing monitoring of reviews and other content that might reflect negatively on a business. A poorly managed employee reputation or an unflattering photo can damage a business’s image. Developing a reputation management strategy for small businesses also requires using digital tools such as Nextdoor and review sites. Creating a reputation management strategy for small businesses should also include social media marketing, which allows businesses to engage with their customers and build trust.
An active presence on social media sites is an essential element of reputation management. Social media accounts such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter can help you connect with potential customers and control top search results. Regularly updating your social media feeds with interesting and relevant content can attract organic followers and enhance your brand’s visibility. The best social media feeds are ones that are engaging. A good video on YouTube can boost engagement.
Tools
There are several tools for small businesses to monitor their reputation online, and one of the most important is reputation management software. Reputation management software is designed to keep tabs on reviews and mentions of a brand. Most consumers rely on reviews to make purchasing decisions, so the better the reviews are, the easier it is to acquire new customers. According to research, 71% of social media users will recommend a product after experiencing it first-hand. This can lead to a substantial increase in sales. Reputation management software also provides accurate information on consumers, enabling companies to provide a better customer experience.
In 2018, social media and online reviews played an important role in shaping a small business’s online reputation. Those businesses that did not monitor their online reputation risk losing control of their brand narrative. Digital tools will continue to supplement the human resources of small businesses. According to a Clutch survey of 529 small businesses in the United States, 415 of them monitored their reputation on a quarterly basis. This year, more small businesses are expected to adopt proactive reputation management strategies.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) defines a small business as one with no more than 500 employees and low revenue. The report provides a wealth of information for small businesses, including online reputation monitoring tools, resources, and unique challenges. In the case of social media, nearly two-thirds of small businesses have made use of this medium to monitor their online reputation. However, social media and review sites are not the only platforms for monitoring a brand’s reputation.
The WebiMax reputation management software uses a combination of outreach and software to acquire positive reviews. It encourages happy customers to leave reviews, and monitors review sites for any new criticism. WebiMax also promotes content that promotes a positive image of a business, making it more visible for prospective customers. So, what are the best tools for small businesses to use for managing their reputation? Find out more about reputation management solutions by contacting MyReputationRepair.com.au
Author:
David CannellIn 2003 David started Sydney Search Results, an online Internet Marketing company that provides client based SEO services. In 2009, seeing the growing need for services that allowed individuals and companies to refute negative online media he founded Online Reputation Management Sydney, the first online reputation management company in Australia.
Since then, the company has become a market leader, innovator and sought-after commentator for reputation management issues and has appeared on national television and radio and in the national print media discussing ways for companies and individuals to manage their reputations successfully.
Part of Sydney Search Results Pty Ltd, ASIC Listed ABN No 50 136 524 680
Owner David Cannell
Author of content on this website: David Cannell
