Did you know that 71% of customers find a business with a Google search? And if they see poor reviews and a low rating, that business is going off their radar fast.
While the internet is a place for good word-of-mouth to flourish, the same is true for negative feedback and gossip. That’s why it’s crucial for you to manage your business’s online reputation.
To know how to do that, you’ll need to know exactly what online reputation actually is. If you want to understand the online reputation for your business and how to keep it positive, read on.
What Is Online Reputation?
Online reputation is the public’s perception of a business based on its online presence. Many online factors such as reviews, social media, and Google rankings can influence business reputation.
Brand building is crucial for any business, and you certainly want to build your brand reputation by strengthening your online reputation. Thankfully, there are a number of tools available to help boost reputation.
Ways to Boost Reputation
You can boost company reputation in a variety of ways. These include monitoring reviews and review sites, having an effective SEO strategy, and increasing audience interest with images.
Monitoring Reviews and Review Sites
Reviews are the digital form of getting a recommendation from a friend. Obviously, you want to have good recommendations. However, you can’t please everyone, and a few negative reviews are bound to come in.
When those negative reviews come in, the best thing you can do is be as solution-oriented as you can. Before you respond, really evaluate the customer’s complaint and try to provide a solution. If anything, you’ve shown your customers that you care about their frustrations, which will mean something to them.
Having an Effective SEO Strategy
It’s been established already that businesses are often found through Google searches. So naturally, you want to be found in a Google search. And the lower you rank in searches, the less interesting or credible you are perceived to be.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the strategy by which you rank higher in Google searches. Your content needs to be rich with keywords that are relevant to potential consumers. You can make this easier by doing keyword research to see what people are searching for.
Also, use credible backlinks for the information provided on your site. Neither Google nor your consumers will be impressed by spammy or amateur sites. Make sure you establish your credibility with quality backlinks to boost your SEO strategy.
Increasing Audience Interest With Image Use
Customers love visuals. In fact, a search result with a visual is more likely to be clicked than one without. Relevant images give an idea of what your company is like and, based on the image’s projected mood, can create an emotional pull toward your brand.
Images can also be an effective SEO strategy. Incorporating keywords into an image’s alt text is a strong method to boost your ranking.
Keep in mind, you need to be careful. Images with offensive or controversial content can come back to haunt your business and damage your reputation. There are methods to remove images from Google search, but you should still avoid images that send the wrong message or indicate a negative association.
Boost Your Online Reputation
We’ve touched on a few ways to boost your online reputation, but there are many more factors. Social media, blogging, and lead generation software are also crucial to boosting your reputation. And there are even more factors to consider.
To learn more benefits and methods surrounding online reputation boosting, explore our blog.
