Once your online reputation is compromised, you can’t afford to wait and see. You have to take action ASAP.
Like your health, the earlier you spot a problem, the quicker you can fix your reputation. Letting poor reviews fester can cause serious revenue loss for small businesses that simply can’t afford it.
This quick and easy reputation management strategy is ideal for small businesses new to OM. Keep reading to start implementing now.
Don’t Panic
The first rule of reputation management is to not panic. Don’t let poor reviews, articles, or ratings get the better of your business. Fight back with a bullet-proof reputation management strategy.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Company website
- Google business account
- Real testimonials and reviews
Let’s explore these methods in-depth.
Your Website
Your company website is a content marketing machine. This is a cornerstone of online reputation management.
An online reputation attack is felt hardest in search. That’s why you need to use your website to its fullest potential.
If you don’t have a blog, start one now. Individual blog posts are indexed by search engines. This will help you rank for keywords that may be otherwise dominated by negative content.
The goal is to create enough positive content to push the negative content off the first page of Google (and keep it there.)
Here are more ways to use your website to generate content:
- Create an about page
- Write detailed product descriptions
- Add an event page
- Include a press page
- Promote real testimonials
This last point is so important. Real, authentic testimonials from happy customers is a powerful weapon against poor reviews.
Set up Your Google Accounts
Google dominates the search engine market with a massive 92.5% market share worldwide.
It’s safe to say it sets the rules for search, so leveraging any and all Google products for online visibility is a must.
First, start a Google My Business account for your company. This will create a highly visible business listing in Google. You can also add your business hours, address, history, and other company information.
Make your business searchable on Google maps. You may also want to consider a 360 Google video for your business as well.
Of course, you’re familiar with Google reviews. Luckily, you can push that 1-star review down with positive reviews from real customers.
Here’s the secret sauce to getting positive reviews:
How to Get Authentic Positive Reviews
Within minutes, your company can feel the wrath of social media from one bad experience alone. How company representatives treat customers in-person should be consistent with the company’s approach to social media and off-hours behavior.
Customers don’t just take to the internet when they’re mad. They’re also quick to share experiences that exceed their expectations. The latter is exactly what you want to inspire with your reputation management strategy.
First and foremost, you need a bullet-proof customer service strategy. This needs to translate in-person, online, and offline.
Stellar customer service may lead to stellar reviews. But even that’s not enough to get every happy customer to leave a review.
Include a clear call-to-action on your website to encourage customers. A “Find Us on Yelp” button also works as a gentle reminder for leaving a review.
You may want to consider setting up a rewards program too. This is a great incentive, plus it can go a long way in a positive review.
Put Your Reputation Management Strategy to Work
Don’t let all your hard work go to waste because of a few poor reviews. Face the world with confidence and fight back with this simple reputation management strategy.
Use this strategy to maintain a strong reputation so you can stay in control of your brand. Check back often for the latest insider tips or talk to a specialist right now to supercharge your online visibility right away.