Any business or individual who relies on the Internet for marketing and customer relationships needs to be concerned about their online reputation. A bad review on Yelp, a negative blog post, or an unflattering tweet can damage your brand and cost you business.
What is Online Reputation Management?
Online reputation management (ORM) is the process of monitoring, identifying, and influencing the online conversation about a person, brand, or business. It’s about taking control of your online presence and ensuring that the content that appears when someone searches for you is positive, accurate, and reflective of your brand.
Why is Online Reputation Management Important?
In the past, companies could rely on traditional marketing and advertising to build and maintain a positive reputation. But with the rise of social media and the 24-7 news cycle, that’s no longer the case.
Today, anyone with an Internet connection can speak their mind about you or your business—whether it’s true or not. And if you’re not paying attention, that negative content can damage your reputation.
That’s why online reputation management is so important. It allows you to take control of the conversation and ensure that the content appearing when someone searches for you is positive and reflects your brand.
Whether you’re a small business owner, a public figure, or just somebody who wants to protect your online presence, you can take steps to improve and protect your reputation.
1. Google yourself regularly
One of the best ways to keep track of your online reputation is to Google yourself regularly. This will help you catch any negative comments or reviews before they start to do serious damage.
2. Set up Google Alerts
Google Alerts is a free service that allows you to receive email notifications whenever new content is published about a certain topic.
3. Monitor social media
In addition to monitoring the traditional news, it’s also important to keep an eye on what’s being said about you on social media.
4. Use reputation monitoring tools
Some online reputation monitoring tools can help you track what’s being said about you online.
5. Hire a reputation management company
If you don’t have the time or resources to monitor your online reputation yourself, you can hire a reputable company to do it for you. DigitalOx Ltd can help you track online mentions, identify negative content, and take steps to improve your reputation.
Creating Positive Content to Drown Out the Negative
One of the best ways to combat negative content is to proactively create and promote positive content about yourself or your business.
Some ideas for creating positive content include:
- Writing blog posts: A well-written blog post can help improve your reputation by featuring positive keywords about you or your business.
- Creating infographics: Infographics are a great way to communicate complex information in a visually appealing format.
- Shooting videos: Videos are a powerful tool for promoting your brand and building trust with potential customers.
ORM is important. Google yourself today to see what people are saying about you!
It’s important to engage with your customers to build a relationship of trust. But it’s also important to engage with your critics to improve your reputation.