5 Ways to Build a Positive Online Reputation

You’ve started you business. You’re gaining sales and customers around town and online, but how else can you build your brand? As you already know, people are talking about you. The internet is a breeding ground for positive and negative reviews coming from customers everywhere. As review and recommendation sites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google My Business become more popular, your company is bound to gain a digital reputation. As your Business generates more reviews, you need to find a way to not only manage your reputation, but amplify it. Here are five ways that you can build your own positive reputation online.

#1 Maximize Your Website

Your website is often the first impression a customer finds when looking to find more information about the goods and services you offer. Take the time to make sure all of your website content is up to date. You don’t want a visitor researching you on different platforms like social media and recommendations sites to get confused by reading outdated promotions and practices. Having a user friendly and fully SEO-optimized website not only is essential for converting potential customers into new customers, but it when implemented properly it helps search engines to find and show your business to users. Build your online reputation with a transparent and trustworthy site full of meaningful information for users to enjoy.

#2 Update Your Blog

Having a website full of valuable content, sometimes isn’t enough. Establish yourself as an expert in your field by creating engaging or informative original content on your blog. Align content with an appropriate target audience and use your posts to start a dialogue with customers. As with everything, be aware of business and industry related trends. Whatever you are publishing can be successful if others are willing to eagerly listening to content on the subject. When you try to build exposure, try to avoid self-promotion. Don’t try to overwhelm your content and conversation with marketing and business jargon. Make sure that your content is interesting and useful so others will share it across the web, promoting growth of your brand.

#3 Be Social

Have you staked your company’s claim on social media or on review sites? If not, you’re missing out on a chance to really connect with your customer and also leaving the door open to anyone who wants to drag your name through the mud. Being active on popular sites puts your business in the driver’s seat – allowing you to steer the conversation in a positive direction while keeping an eye out for threats. An important aspect of building your online reputation online is spending time acknowledging those who engage with your brand online. Respond to questions and comments on your social media and blog posts while monitoring how people are talking about you online. The same applies to third-party local listing sites! Make sure to respond to reviews and encourage other to engage with you.

Another important aspect to consider when being social with customers online is to reciprocate the love you’re getting online. When someone engages with you online, don’t ignore them! Share their posts, if relevant, thank them, or drop a like on their post. Remember that you have to give up some control in order for your reputation to grow online. Let people talk about you and your content and don’t worry too much about negative comments.  You can be prepared with for problematic buzz by developing a strategy to cope with and respond to problematic reviews before they turn into disasters that are difficult to recover from.

#4 Do Some Bragging

If you’re doing something good, why not share it? If you are sponsoring an event or won an award, tweet about it! Blog about it! Post about it! Shout it from the rooftops! Sharing positive achievements creates positive brand associations that lead to more business. Studies show that contributing to your Google My Business listing with business posts and updates can rank you 25% higher in the Google Local Pack. New content helps more users to find and engage with your brand. The more you share the more chances you have for others to share your content with the right customer who is in market and ready to buy!

#5 Seek Professional Online Reputation Management

In order to understand your online reputation’s current status, you may want to run a brand audit across the web. It’s so important to stay one step ahead, and as the web continues to evolve and more users generate content, it becomes harder for you to accomplish your reputation goals without asking for some help. With our help, you have the resources, strategy, and expertise needed to take on any of the challenges that come with the online community.

Want to make sure that your brand is on the right track for positive online reputation growth? We’re here to help. Fill out our information form below, and we will get back to you as soon as possible to start developing your reputation strategy!