A web presence is a must for all businesses today. There are a lot of ways to make and leave a significant mark in the online world. Proper management of your online reputation can go a long way in making sure that the mark you make is a positive one.
Here are a few tips to help you with your online reputation management.
Perform a Regular Checking of Your Online Reputation
The simplest way to check whether you have a negative or positive online reputation is to search for your practice name on Google. Scan through the first and second search results pages. What do you see? Are the reviews mostly positive? Are there negative ones? If your business has a bad review or article on the fifth page, there is no need for you to worry a lot because it is actually the first to three pages that get the highest number of traffic. When it comes to online reputation management, you should make it your goal to have only positive reviews, comments, and articles about your business on the first couple of pages of search results in Google.
Claim Your Business on the Local Listing Websites
Gone are the days when people open a phone book just to find a business. Most consumers search in different places online to get some business information. See to it that your business has been listed. You also have to claim it on top business listing sites such as Yelp, Angie’s List, Yellow Pages, and others. Claiming your business sets you as the owner and you will be the only one who can edit the listing’s information.
Conduct Weekly Monitoring of Online Reviews
It is recommended to check your online reviews at least once a week. Most businesses listings also let users leave reviews about a business. Frequent monitoring of your reviews allows you to see negative reviews right aware. Never wait until you are faced with a serious PR crisis.
Don’t Ignore and Respond to Negative Reviews Promptly
Responding to negative reviews is a good way of showing other people such as your potential clients reading the reviews that you prioritize client satisfaction. It is a way of showing that you listen to feedback and comments are deemed important for you. While every response must be personalized according to the situation, the general rule of thumb for better online reputation is to empathize with clients, maintain a neutral and calm tone, and be proactive in addressing the problem, if applicable. The best practice here is to acknowledge what your customers are feeling and try moving the conversation offline instead.
Reply to Positive Reviews Right Away
Once you receive a positive review online, thank your client for the review by responding to it right away. This response not only shows that you care because this positive review may also convince potential clients to choose your business. Responding to client who leave reviews on social media such as your Facebook page also encourages others to leave their own reviews.