5 Tips for Improving Your Business Online Reputation

By Sarah Giometti | Local Marketing

Mar 18
5 Tips for Improving Your Business Online Reputation

How important are online reviews to consumers? Extremely!

Reports show that 90% of consumers read online reviews before visiting a business and 88% trust online reviews just as much as they do personal recommendations.

Of course, you won’t be able to please every customer that goes through your door (virtual or otherwise), and getting the occasional negative review isn’t the end of the world. In fact, it can be an opportunity to showcase your excellent customer services and how quick you are to help those who weren’t very pleased with your products or services.

But, if you aren’t taking a proactive step in managing your online reputation, then this oversight might affect your business.

So, here are a few tips for improving your business online reputation.

Monitor Your Brand Online

The first step in managing and improving your business online reputation is knowing how your brand is perceived by your audience. Do people talk about you on social media groups or forums? If so, what are they saying? Are they looking for your products on Google or Amazon? What keywords are they using to learn more about your business?

You can use a tool such as Mention to analyze how your brand is perceived online.

Don’t Ignore Negative Reviews or Comments

You’ve worked really hard to create a product or service that can help your target audience solve a problem. So, it’s understandable if you feel that every negative comment is like a personal attack. But, before you reply in anger, it’s important to realize that it’s impossible to please everyone, no matter how good you are.

Instead, reply to the unhappy customers and tell them that you are sorry that they weren’t satisfied with your product. Make sure to let them know that you really care about your customers and you are listening to their complaints. You can also offer a refund or a discount to win the customer back. Your other customers will see that you care, and that will also improve your reputation to them. Here is a helpful video on how to respond to negative reviews.

List Your Business in Online Directories

In addition to the fact that appearing in business directories like Google My Business or Yelp will boost your reputation, it can also increase your visibility, boost your traffic as well as your ranking. Make sure the information you are adding matches your Google My Business listing exactly. Any little discrepancy can negatively affect your listing.

Develop a Strong Social Media Presence for Key Employees

Depending on the industry you are in, people may be asking “Who are you going to?” rather than “What business are you shopping from?” For example, if you own a hair salon, your audience may be more interested in one of your hairstylists than your brand.

If that’s the case, then you could build a strong social media presence for your key employees and leverage them to boost your business online reputation.

Post Fresh Content on Your Blog

A blog is an excellent way to provide valuable content to your audience and establish yourself as an expert in your niche. And, when people see you as an expert, they tend to trust you more and choose your services over your competition.

Can We Help?

Building and managing your online reputation requires time and hard work. But, at Provaro Marketing, we can help you with that. Contact us online now or give us a call at 707-595-7002 to learn more about our services.

Related Articles:
Understanding Why Reputation Management Is Crucial To Your Marketing Strategy
Never Report a Yelp Review Without Doing This First
How to Respond to a Negative Review of Your Local Business
5 Tips To Help Your Local Business Rank Higher On Google Maps

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