Reputation: A single word that differentiates between an unsuccessful and successful company. Before getting into the modern way of reputation management and how it works.
Here’s a question for you. What would you choose if offered a choice to work for an employer (Google, Microsoft, Tesla or similar) with an outstanding reputation or continue working in your current job?
When the same was asked to the public, over 90% of people considered leaving their current job to work for an employer with an outstanding review. And who wouldn’t? A person looks for better opportunities and facilities with his job and will love to work for a company that provides several benefits to the employees.
Many clients and people also look for the brand reputation in the market before they actually engage in any business activity. Therefore, it is extremely important for businesses to pay attention to their brand image and create a plan or hire a company providing reputation management services in India to improve the overall credibility of their business.
In this article, you will learn about reputation management and why it is important to manage your reputation. Along with that, tips for creating a reputation management plan and how to choose the right company to manage your reputation.
What is reputation management?
Reputation management deals with monitoring and shaping your company’s online reputation. Several tactics are utilized to repair a bad reputation or maintain a positive image, including search engine optimization, content production and management, social media monitoring and management, review acquisition and management, third-party website monitoring and competition monitoring.
Why is reputation management important for your business?
- Free marketing
The main advantage of having a high online reputation is that the firm or individual may receive free press coverage and reviews for their services or products. It may include news on key companies or personal events and the introduction of new products. And it’s expected to boost the company’s performance even more. - Increase profits
Businesses with a positive online reputation build trust with their services and make more money. People are more inclined to choose your brand over less desirable alternatives if they like and trust it. In addition, people will regard your items as having more value if you have a strong reputation, which will allow you to charge more for them. As a result, you will not only be able to sell more volume, but you will also most likely be able to sell at a better price point. - Attract better employees
People want to work for organizations that share their beliefs. Those beliefs make a part of a company’s culture and are well-represented in the company’s reputation. Having a good reputation attracts talented applicants who are more likely to stay longer and contribute more in the long run. Companies with a bad image, on the other hand, may have a hard time filling open positions. - Impact on Buying Decisions
Your customer base can be at risk if you don’t manage your online reputation properly. 81% of purchasers conduct internet research before making a purchase. How you seem online is a make-or-break aspect in their final decision. And your internet reputation is a quality check for your organization, with 88 percent of customers reviewing reviews to see if your company is trustworthy.
How to manage your online brand reputation?
- Brand monitoring
You must do a complete online reputation audit before implementing any ORM approach. The goal of an online reputation management audit is to figure out how people see you online and what obstacles you’re up against in contesting that perception.
For a complete audit, you’ll need to conduct some brand monitoring, read reviews, figure out which Google My Business features appear on the first page, and so many more.
- Establish a strategy
It can be difficult to get started with online reputation management as managing reputation involves various tasks and monitoring. Start by forming a strategy. - Determine your requirements and objectives
Before you begin implementing your strategy to improve your online reputation management, be sure you have a firm grasp of your specific objectives. Then, spell out your goals before executing your plans. - Prioritize your ORM by impact
Be realistic about the importance of the project, even if it feels like you have to deal with everything at once. The most important consideration for your decision is to devote your resources to the channels with the largest stakes for your company. - Define policies and guidelines
When dealing with online reputation, it’s critical to develop company-wide norms and a consistent tone of voice. Of course, the extent of these policy documents will vary from company to company, but the overall concept will remain the same. - Have a crisis management strategy
You can’t predict when a catastrophe will strike, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared. As things escalate online at an unprecedented rate, a good crisis management strategy in place can reduce the impact a catastrophe can have on your business.
How to choose the right reputation management service provider?
- Determine your requirements and objectives.
Before you commence your search for a reputation management service company, be sure you have a good grasp of your objectives. Businesses’ objectives differ from the services that internet reputation management organizations specialize in, so be sure to spell out your goals before approaching companies. - Customer service
Note how the service provider treats you when you first contact them. When you decide to work with a supplier, you should expect them to be open and honest about your campaigns. You want a service provider that gives you honest feedback, keeps you updated on the status of your campaign, and shows you that you are a valued customer. - Do your research
Look up the company on Google to see what other people are saying about it. Also, request a list of the firm’s clientele and contact them to learn directly about their experience working with them.
Conclusion
A reputed brand image is built over time. Hence, whether you are hiring a company providing reputation management service in India or doing the hard work yourself, ensure you stay consistent in the process and be realistic about the results.
Finally, hiring a company to improve your online reputation is not enough. You should understand that a brand is built from every activity your business does, such as selling good quality products, organizing online events/games, conducting giveaways, good customer service, and many more.
These all activities contribute to improving your brand reputation over time.
