Your company’s reputation is its most important asset. Without a good reputation, you can’t do much else. Online reputation management (ORM) should therefore be at the top of your to-do list when it comes to brand management. Online reputation is equally important when it comes to converting leads into actual customers and plays a pivotal role in your digital marketing strategy.
Word-of-mouth is no longer limited to verbal discussions, but now applies to various media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, review forums and blogs. The great thing is that brands have the power to influence those discussions positively and do damage control when necessary too.
Research shows consumers trust online reviews just as much as personal recommendations and that 80% of people read online reviews to get a sense of a business. It makes sense then to develop an ORM strategy. The platform for discussion is vast and may seem intimidating to manage however, Unibit Solutions has a few tips on how to develop an online reputation management strategy:
- Consider hiring an online reputation management specialist. These people are the PR kings of online reputations. What they do is hide any unsavoury comments, pictures or stories online that you don’t want people to see. They can also promote content you DO want customers to see.
- If a specialist is not within your budget, it’s probably a good idea to have a dedicated employee to manage your online reputation; if problems do arise they can nip them in the bud before they escalate into a serious threat. The real-time nature of social media means they’ll need to constantly monitor any mention of your brand online and when there are problems respond to them immediately.
- Ensure that what is out in the big wide world of online content and social media is an accurate reflection of your brand. Photos, blog posts and tweets should all contribute towards a positive brand image. Blogging is an excellent and effective way to build a positive online reputation.
With all the tools available, it’s certainly possible to stay a step ahead and maintain a positive online reputation. For more information on how to do this, contact Unibit Solutions today.