How to Create and Maintain an Online Business Reputation

It takes years to build a good reputation and just a few minutes to ruin it. That is one of the most famous sayings ever coined throughout history. Sadly, it especially holds true in the online world. While digital communication makes it so that we can stay in touch with the world around us more easily, it also makes it so that news travels more quickly about our business. As a business owner, you already know how important it is to create and maintain a good reputation, but sometimes it is easier said than done. The following are a few ways you can go about doing this.

1. Know Your Customers

One of the best ways to maintain a good online business reputation is to first know your customers. Learn what their values are and what they respect when it comes to different businesses. That will help you understand what you need to do to maintain a good reputation with them.

2. Set Up Your Profile First

When you first begin your business and before you get any negative reviews, set up your online profile. Tell people who you are, and attempt to make a good first impression so that your first impression doesn't garner a negative review. Part of reputation management consists of staying ahead of the competitors and those who would seek to tear your business down. A positive company profile that lets people know your unique story can go a long way towards generating a positive reputation for your business from the start.

3. Be Transparent

While nobody likes to expose his or her weaknesses, it's sometimes necessary to do so when speaking about a business. Customers appreciate honesty, so if there is something flawed in your system, it's best to be upfront and honest about it from the get-go rather than have customers find out about it after the fact and feel like you were dishonest with them. No one likes being deceived, and customers will respect your reputation much more if you admit where you have flaws and simply state that you are working on fixing them.

4. Monitor Your Reputation

Of course, you can't maintain your reputation unless you monitor it to find out what's being said about you. Follow review sites and find out what's being said about your reputation. Read any feedback and understand what you can and can't control. If there are negative reviews or statements being bandied about concerning your business, change what you can. If something is untrue, address the negative feedback and provide evidence that the statement is false to clear your good name.

5. Create Quality Content

One of the most effective reputation management techniques employed online is to provide customers with quality content. When people visit your website, they want to feel like you've provided them with something that they can't get elsewhere. Why else would they keep coming back and patronizing you? If you employ dishonest ethics like having duplicate content on your site, then you aren't doing your best to provide customers with something valuable. One of the best ways to garner a good reputation online is to become known for delivering quality content. After a while, you'll become known as an expert in your industry who customers know and can trust to turn to when they need answers about your field of expertise.

6. Connect with Your Public

Another one of the best ways to get a good online reputation is to connect with your public. Socialize with them via social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and others. Customers like businesses that they feel will listen to them and value their opinions. If you're willing to take time out of your busy business schedule and speak to customers about their concerns and listen to their suggestions, that will make you stand out in their eyes, and they'll be more likely to support you in the future. You'll become known as a business that genuinely cares about its customers since it interacts with them.

7. Be Proactive

While it's good to be reactive and combat negative reviews when they come in, you must also be proactive and seek good reviews that build your online reputation. Seek positive publicity by hosting giveaways and posting about your business's latest contributions to the community. Promote yourself and establish yourself as an expert in the industry by interacting with other companies like yours.

8. Advertise

Advertising is essential for a business, and it can help you obtain a positive online business reputation. The more advertising customers see for a company, the more they'll remember the business and the more official and professional it looks. Think about it. All the big companies utilize advertising, so if you want to look like you've really got what it takes to stick around for the long haul, then consider advertising. Advertising not only helps shape the public's opinion about your business, but it also helps boost you up higher in the search engines and online directories since your brand name will come to be more known than your competitors who don't advertise.

Reputation management is an essential part of a business, and there are many ways that you can manage your reputation online. From advertising to interacting with the public and responding to negative feedback, staying active is perhaps the most effective way to keep your business looking positive. Most importantly, never stop maintaining your online business reputation. It is an ongoing process.

About the Author

Craig Corbel is the Vice President of Marketing at Solution Web Designs, a leading SEO, online marketing agency, and Long Island Website Designers serving small and mid-sized companies nationwide.