{"id":1408,"date":"2017-03-17T09:18:07","date_gmt":"2017-03-17T09:18:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.verbat.com\/?p=1408"},"modified":"2024-05-21T06:36:16","modified_gmt":"2024-05-21T06:36:16","slug":"a-beginners-guide-to-online-reputation-management-verbat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.verbat.com\/blog\/a-beginners-guide-to-online-reputation-management-verbat\/","title":{"rendered":"A Beginner\u2019s Guide to Online Reputation Management"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you are running a business, you may have already dealt with negative feedbacks from a few embittered customers. It\u2019s just one reason that could cost you prospective clients. Moreover, it\u2019s not easy as getting rid of embarrassing party pics from Facebook.<\/p>\n

Businesses get access to powerful tools from the internet to boost their growth and expand their territories. However, there are downsides as well. For instance, the amount of control you get over how your business appears online is limited. Your business\u2019 reputation is vulnerable online, as even a single person with an ill intent to damage it, will find it easy to do just that\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026unless you are equipped with some online reputation management (ORM) strategy.<\/p>\n

A proper online reputation management obviously requires people with expertise in PR, technology, and online makeovers. They should be able to essentially bury the negative feedbacks, and promote those content that assure clients that your business delivers what it promises.<\/p>\n

So why does a business need help managing its reputation? They can do it themselves with their own team, right?<\/p>\n

Because it requires profound technical expertise. But of course, there are many things the business can do from their end. However, to repair the damage done to their reputation, they will need services that are tailored to serve that purpose, and personalized for the kind of business their client is running.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a bit sophisticated\u2026kind of.<\/p>\n

Basically, it does 3 things.<\/p>\n

Monitor. Prevent. Clean up.<\/p>\n

Monitoring<\/strong> – This is the most important of the three. You need to know what\u2019s going on with your business.<\/p>\n

What people think of it? What alternatives do people have other than your business? How your business appears to them? Will they recommend your services to others?<\/p>\n

These are but a few questions you need to consider. There are a number of tools that can provide you with answers to those questions. Google Alerts, Social Mention etc. are two great examples.<\/p>\n

Preventing<\/strong> – To prevent something from tarnishing your brand means there should be some amount of protection as well. This protection should extend to not just the company but also to its high profile employees and products\/services.<\/p>\n

Before we go into the details, here\u2019s another fact about ORM. It shares something common with SEO. You see, branding is one very important asset when it comes to search engine optimization<\/a><\/strong> (SEO). Coincidentally, it\u2019s also vital in ORM. For your ORM efforts to work, you need to establish your brand well.<\/p>\n

Social media can help you with that. You can start a blogging domain, and share your content in social networking websites. However, keep in mind that social media is a double-edged sword. If the content you publish lacks quality or are irrelevant and useless, your plan will backfire. Readers will respond with negative remarks, and that in turn affects your brand.<\/p>\n

The more established your brand, the higher your position in SERPs (Search Engine Results Page<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Clean up<\/strong> – You can be sure this is what you should do next once the damage has been done to your brand. If you think your online reputation is being tarnished, or when you are overwhelmed with targeted attacks from embittered customers, you will need a cleanup service.<\/p>\n

Cleanup is just one of the things an ORM service can do for your business. The main purpose is to unify all of your online accounts including social media accounts so as to establish a solid reputation for your business. Technically, SEO<\/a><\/strong> falls under ORM too.<\/p>\n

Signs that demand ORM<\/h3>\n

Businesses are willing to be \u2018transparent\u2019 in the internet i.e. they are willing to be open to criticisms and feedback. If done right, it can provide beneficial results. However, many SMBs (small – medium sized businesses) choose not to take that risk. It can do more harm than good in the long run though. Businesses online should be transparent, but only if they have an online reputation management service to back them up.<\/p>\n

Here are a few signs you should watch out for in your business.<\/p>\n