When it comes to building a brand, your online reputation matters. In fact, nearly 9 out of 10 searches are for local businesses and over 50% of these will result in a sale. So, it is essential to build a strong online presence for your company to attract more customers. Moreover, it is estimated that 79% of smartphone users will check reviews of a store on their smartphones before they make a purchase. For this reason, online reputation management is a vital tool for any business.
Online reputation management is a strategic process that focuses on both earned and shared media. Earned media is when people mention your brand in the media, such as publications and websites. This reinforces your credibility to your audience and to Google. Positive off-page signals will also contribute to your credibility. Shared media, on the other hand, is content marketing that has been shared between brands. Social media accounts are good examples of shared media. Anyone can comment or reply to a post and influence a brand’s reputation.
Your online reputation is the image your business project onto the web. It is influenced by what customers say about your business, and it can be built or destroyed through misplaced messages, forums, and social networks. Your reputation can make or break your business, so it is imperative to manage your online reputation to keep it strong. But how do you manage it? Here’s a quick primer:
