We are living in an era where people trust online content and information about a business more than anything. When they do something negative (even if it is fake), they are more likely to avoid that business. Therefore, a business must maintain its online reputation and fix anything that is fake or inappropriate about it. Since social media and other online platforms let false information travel faster than anything. This is one of the reasons why you will need to search for ways to protect your online reputation. For this, professionally curated online reputation management services are the best options. For more details regarding how to protect your online reputation, continue reading this detailed guide. So, let us get started!
What Is the Best Practice to Protect Online Reputation?
As mentioned earlier, online reputation management is the best way to protect your brand’s reputation online from fake and negative news, reviews, and stories. When it comes to what does mean by online reputation, it is the views or opinions of a person or company as it is created online. This will depend on the content posted by a firm and reactions given by the users in the form of reviews, feedback, etc.
What Is the Relation Between Social Media Comments and Online Reputation?
You should know that social media comments have a prominent role to play when it comes to affecting the online reputation of a business. Speaking about the negative comments on the social media channels, a negative comment can have the following damage:
- Turning away potential customers
- Damaging online community
- Adversely affecting the reputation of your support and services
How to Protect Your Brand’s Online Reputation?
When noise on social media and other platforms gets excessively loud, you will need to explore ways to protect your online reputation. Below, we have explained some useful tips to help you in it:
Keep the Necessary Rules in Mind While Answering to Customers
As a business, you will need to follow certain rules while answering customer reviews, feedback, and comments. Here are the rules that you should follow:
- Quick responses: While answering the customer comments and responses – the quicker is always better – no matter whether they are positive or negative.
- Turn the conversation private: Do not stretch the conversation in the public’s eye. Instead, ask the user to share their contact details or request them to contact your representatives for better support and solutions.
- React positively: You should know that some people intentionally wait for your adverse reactions so that they can make it a big issue. Thus, you must respond professionally, reasonably, and positively.
Do Not Go for Knee-Jerk Answers/responses
When you need to know about the ways on how to protect your online reputation, you must avoid thoughtless or knee-jerk responses and reactions. If you do so, your answers will be considered and measured mindful and solution-oriented. You can also plan well in advance for how you will be going to answer different comments and reviews. Read the following to get an idea about it:
- You should address complaints posted by your customers with great professionalism and politeness.
- Review bombs i.e. hate comments, negative reviews, adverse coverage on different platforms, etc. will need more strategic and detailed responses.
- Always maintain a respectful and optimistic tone while answering negative feedback, comments, and so on.
- You can also offer customer services and support on social media channels via live chat for better outcomes.
Keyword Monitoring Is Important
Although several tools are available for hassle-free keyword monitoring, you can trust a professional company such as Value4Brand to keep a close check on how your keywords are doing. Below are some points that you should remember:
- Keyword monitoring and its process will depend from one business and product type to another.
- Some keywords that you are using may have your brand’s name, products’ name, website, or even the name of the key individuals.
- For instance, you can have phrases such as “business name” is terrible, “product name” is a rip-off, etc. for keyword monitoring.
- After knowing these keywords, you can set up alerts for the mentions.
- By knowing the mentions, you can answer the reviews, comments, and others quickly and correctly.
Ensure Clear Guidelines for Our Company and Employees
As an employer, you must mention clear rules for the official use of social media for every employee. You must include the platforms that you are using for your business and its branding. While setting up guidelines, make sure you have the following in it:
- You must mention what an employee can and cannot say about the business on social media channels.
- Keep in mind that you should not affect their personal uses.
- Regular reminders should be given to your staff so that they can know any changes in the guidelines.
- You must promote whistleblowing among your teams.
- This will encourage your employees to flag anything inappropriate or negative they see online.
Learn from Previous Mistakes
Whether you are an online business or running a store, you can make mistakes. Yes, some of those mistakes can be irreversible, but you can definitely learn more about them. While doing so, you can have the following ways to protect your online reputation:
- Do not stay silent or try to avoid criticism.
- Respond to all customer complaints quickly.
- If someone is writing a review online (no matter if it is negative), you should also address the same promptly.
- Never ignore complaints or negative reviews as they will make things even more difficult.
- Always keep strong crisis management strategies to handle complex conditions.
- Employ a designated person to talk to the customers about their concerns and issues.
Takeaways,
In addition, you should also keep a separate page to post feedback, and reviews, and initiate interactions. Above all, you should connect with a professional online reputation management company such as Value4Brand for better solutions. With a dedicated team, they can help you with ways to protect your online reputation. For more details, speak to their expert team members.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why Is Answering Negative Comments Necessary in Orm?
By answering negative reviews and comments, you can establish yourself as a responsible leader. You will demonstrate your professionalism and that you care for your users’ time and concerns.
How Can I Create a Positive Reputation Online for My Brand?
For this, you should stay active on social media to track all mentions, respond to positive and negative comments, share awards and achievements, or simply connect with Value4Brand for better assistance and guidance.