In today’s digital world, your online reputation management is just as important as your offline reputation. With social media and other online platforms, it’s easier than ever for people to share their opinions and experiences with the world. This means that businesses need to be proactive about managing their online reputation to protect their brand and maintain credibility.

If safeguarding your brand’s online reputation is important to you, then you’ve come to the right place. Below we’ll explore the importance of reputation management and offer valuable advice on how to protect your brand in the digital age.

So what is ORM?

Online reputation management (ORM) refers to the process of monitoring and improving how a business or individual is perceived online. This involves tracking mentions of your brand on social media, review sites, blogs, forums, and other online platforms. By actively managing your online presence, you can ensure that positive information about your brand is easily accessible while mitigating any negative feedback.

Why ORM matters

Your online reputation can have a significant impact on your business’s success. Consider these statistics:

• 90% of consumers read online reviews before visiting a business.
• 84% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
• A single negative review can cost a business up to 22% of its customers.
• Companies with strong reputations outperform their competitors by up to 20%.

These numbers demonstrate just how critical it is for businesses to actively manage their online reputation. Failing to do so could result in lost customers, decreased revenue, and even damage to your brand’s image.

Tips for managing your online reputation

Now that we’ve established why ORM matters let’s take a look at some practical tips for managing your online reputation effectively.

Monitor Your Brand Mentions

The first step in ORM is monitoring what people are saying about your brand online. Set up alerts on Google Alerts or use social media listening tools like Hootsuite or Sprout Social to track mentions of your company name, products/services or industry keywords across various channels. Be sure also to monitor review sites such as Yelp or TripAdvisor.

Respond Promptly & Professionally

When you receive negative feedback or complaints via social media or review sites respond promptly and professionally. Address any issues raised in a calm manner without being defensive; apologize if necessary and provide solutions where possible.

Encourage Positive Reviews

Encourage satisfied customers, through surveys or follow-up emails after transactions, to leave positive reviews on review sites such as Google My Business page or Facebook page etc. This will help build up positive sentiment around your brand which will counterbalance any negative comments left by unhappy patrons.

Create High-Quality Content

Creating high-quality content such as blog posts, videos or infographics can help establish your company as an authority within your niche. This content should be optimized for search engines using targeted keywords/phrases and relevant tags to improve visibility and increase traffic from search engines.

Build Relationships with Influencers

Building relationships with influencers within your industry can help increase visibility for your company. These influencers may include bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, and social media personalities. Reach out via email or social media offering them value in exchange for exposure such as guest posting opportunities, content collaborations, shoutouts, etc.

Make ORM a habit

Proactively managing your online reputation is essential in today’s digital age where anyone can share their opinions with the world instantly. By actively monitoring what people are saying about you and responding promptly and professionally when necessary, along with encouraging positive reviews, you can build a strong positive sentiment around your brand. This will ensure that potential customers see you in the best possible light which ultimately will lead to increased revenue, growth, and success!