Top tips on online reputation management

When running a business or brand it is vital to remember that what people think about you matters. When someone is looking to do business with you the first thing they will do is Google you. They will probably browse through the first couple of search results, see what is being said about you, and base their opinion on this.

To some extent you can try and control what is being said about you through social platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. However in instances such as forums and personal blogs you have no control over the conversation and things can soon spiral out of control if let unmonitored.

Here are a few tips on how you can manage your online reputation and some steps you can take to make sure that anything that is being said about you online is as positive as possible.

Know what is being said about you the moment it’s said. Set up Google alerts and you can nip any issues in the bud by contacting the person direct. Hopefully they will remove the comment, if negative, and you can resolve the issue personally

If a website inaccurately states something about you or your company you have the right to contact the domain owner and request the material to be removed. Once this is done contact Google and ask them to remove the post from search results, they will legally have to if the website has removed the content

Many businesses are using social media to develop an online reputation, and use it to manage and respond to customer queries. Establish your online presence by setting up on social media channels and have an active presence so people know you are there. Social media can also help you create a stronger online presence and will help you appear higher and more frequently in search engine results.

Customers will go out of their way to complain about you if they have had a bad experience, and people are more likely to tell others of a bad experience than a good one. Listen to them and if you keep getting the same type of complaints, learn something from them and correct the situation

Get software that protects your online reputation and monitors what people are saying about you. The software tracks and manages online conversations and alerts you to what is being said.

Remember, it’s easier to manage your reputation and show people how you excel in what you do then it is to try and undo damage already done

Finally, do an internet search for yourself or your company and have a look at the results

If you want help in managing your company’s reputation both online and offline, feel free to get in touch on 01323 416999 and arrange a coffee.