10 ways to protect your business reputation online

Summary

In this video, Chia from Brand24 shares 10 essential strategies to protect your business’s online reputation, even if you're not involved in eCommerce. Key tips include monitoring review sites like Yelp and Google, staying active on social media, tracking mentions across blogs and forums, and staying alert to sudden spikes in online chatter. Chia also emphasizes the importance of managing your brand's hashtag, SEO, and competitor comparisons. By keeping an eye on these factors, businesses can address potential issues early and maintain a positive online presence.

Takeaways

• 😀 Regularly monitor your reputation on popular review sites like Yelp, Google Reviews, TripAdvisor, and Booking to address negative feedback quickly.
• 😀 Maintain an active presence on social media by engaging with followers and responding to interactions to boost your reputation.
• 😀 Track mentions of your business on other social media accounts to stay aware of public perceptions and address any concerns.
• 😀 Monitor blogs, forums, and other online spaces where customers may share detailed experiences beyond review sites and social media.
• 😀 Set up alerts for sudden increases in mentions or online buzz about your business to identify potential issues or positive trends early.
• 😀 Monitor the reputation of your business partners, as their issues (like late deliveries or damaged products) can reflect poorly on your company.
• 😀 Keep an eye on your branded hashtag to ensure it isn’t being hijacked by competitors or used negatively by dissatisfied customers.
• 😀 Regularly search for your brand on search engines, especially Google, to assess your online reputation and address any negative search results.
• 😀 Monitor the reputation of key figures associated with your brand, such as your CEO, PR director, or any influencers you collaborate with.
• 😀 Stay aware of your competitors' reputations and performance to learn from their strengths and weaknesses and improve your own marketing.

Q & A

Why is it important to protect your business online, even if you're not involved in ecommerce?

It's important because even if your business focuses on foot traffic, customers still talk about your store online through reviews, recommendations, and social media. This can impact your reputation both positively and negatively.

What is online reputation management, and why is it crucial for businesses?

Online reputation management involves monitoring and influencing how your business is perceived online. It is crucial because customer opinions on the internet can significantly affect your brand's reputation, and managing this can help maintain a positive public image.

How can monitoring review sites help protect your business?

Monitoring review sites like Yelp, Google Reviews, and TripAdvisor helps you catch negative reviews early, giving you the chance to address them quickly. This can prevent damage to your business's reputation and allow you to take corrective actions.

What should businesses do if they encounter a negative review on a platform?

While you may not always be able to remove a negative review, you can respond to it by apologizing or defending your business, depending on the situation. This shows you care about customer feedback and can help mitigate damage.

How does maintaining an active social media presence benefit your business?

Maintaining an active social media presence is important because it keeps you engaged with your followers and boosts your visibility on social media platforms. It also signals to algorithms that your business is active and relevant.

What is the benefit of monitoring mentions of your company on other social media accounts?

Monitoring mentions of your company on other social media accounts allows you to track how others perceive your business, even if they aren't directly engaging with your official profiles. It helps you identify potential issues or positive buzz that you might otherwise miss.

How can an app like Brand24 help businesses monitor their online reputation?

Brand24 can track mentions of your business across various platforms, including blogs, forums, and social media. This allows you to stay on top of what's being said about your company and address any issues before they escalate.

Why should businesses monitor a sudden increase in online mentions about their brand?

A sudden increase in mentions could be a sign of either positive or negative buzz. Monitoring this can help you identify the cause early, whether it's due to a viral campaign, an influencer mention, or a potential crisis.

What is the importance of monitoring your business partners' reputations?

Your business partners' reputations can directly affect your own. For example, if a delivery service you're working with has a bad reputation for late deliveries, it could reflect poorly on your business. It's crucial to ensure they are also maintaining a positive image.

How can monitoring your competition's online presence benefit your business?

By monitoring your competition, you can learn how your business compares and identify areas where they may be lacking. This information can help you highlight your strengths in marketing and potentially outperform your competitors.