When customers conduct online research before spending their money, they want to see excellent reviews, high ratings and competitive prices. According to a Bright Local survey, nearly 92 percent of customers search for online reviews, and an average customer reads two to six reviews before trusting a business. Additionally, 88 percent of customers trust online reviews more than personal recommendations.
Customer reviews play a significant role in determining the online reputation of your small business. However, for small businesses, not paying attention to customer reviews could result in a loss of reputation, revenue and customers. With so many people looking at your brands online reputation, it’s important to make sure your customer reviews are as positive as possible.
Here are some tips for managing the online reputation of a small business:
1. Build an online presence
You need to create your business website to be able to appear in search results and for providing accurate and relevant information to your visitors. In addition to your business website, you should create an active blog for your small business.
2. Take charge of social media
To support and promote your business activities, you must have an active presence on popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram and Google+. In addition to providing access to billions of potential customers across the world, these social platforms will help your business to rank higher in search results. You must regularly post engaging and interactive content and respond to customers questions through your social media profiles. Your active presence on social media will increase your credibility among your customers.
3. Monitor your brand image
Knowing what is being said about your small business is crucial for managing its online reputation. You can set up online monitoring tools such as Google Alerts, which will send you regular updates whenever your brand is mentioned online. Such tools enable you to respond to customer comments instantly and appropriately, even when youre not glued to social media all day.
4. Own your search results
The ultimate goal of every brand is to appear on the first page of search results. To achieve this, youll have to make a place for your brand in the top ten listings that appear when someone searches for your business-specific keywords. You can achieve this by building your business website, staying active on social media and publishing high-quality, industry-specific content. By appearing on the first page of search results, youll be able to immunize your business from negative reviews to a large extent.
5. Respond to negative feedback
Negative reviews and feedback can have a considerable impact on your brands online reputation. The only way to deal with negative customer reviews is by responding quickly, promptly and appropriately. A professional response may minimize the damage caused by negative reviews. A quick response will signify that you care about your consumers and their experiences. While its courteous to be soft and professional while responding to negative comments, an overly gentle response may not yield the desired results.
6. Get listed in local online directories
Getting your business listed in online local directories can help strengthen the online reputation of your small business. Therefore, you must get your business listed in as many local directories as possible.
7. Publish relevant content
Sharing informative and engaging content on social media profiles can help you improve your brands search ranking. Good-quality content can help reduce the impact of any negative comment that your small business may receive, thus reducing the damage. Publishing guest blog posts are also an effective way for boosting the online reputation of a small business. However, consistency is the key while managing the online reputation of your small business.
People will be more willing to do business with you if they find you trustworthy. For this, youll have to demonstrate high levels of customer satisfaction and a focus on customer experience. Attracting and promoting positive online reviews about your business may boost the online reputation of your small business.