A company's reputation is often the make-or-break factor that determines whether the firm will stay in business. In today's online environment, the size of the community a business serves has grown to include almost the entire world. Building and maintaining your firm's online reputation will help your clients to feel good about their decision to work with you. Their good choice is reaffirmed when they see increasing numbers of new clients who find you to be just as effective.
You can build your firm's online reputation by:
- Acknowledging people online: Contrary to what most people think, social media is not all about you. Social media is a relationship-building channel, i.e., you need to show your audiences that you care about them. Demonstrating your care may come by responding to questions, blog comments, tweets, etc.
- Actively listen to online conversations: Take the time to listen to online conversations relating to your service disciplines. Gain insight from the exchange. While maintaining a presence through content generation is essential, listening to what is being said is equally important.
- Encouraging people to share and talk about you: It may be unnerving to encourage people to talk about your firm online. Get over it. Once you change your perspective and allow people to share your message, you allow your reputation will grow.
- Seeking and responding to feedback: It's always good to get positive feedback; good reviews are essential to building the cumulative power of your reputation. Although it may seem contradictory, getting occasional negative feedback is also beneficial. It allows your firm to show how you react to negative reviews and what steps you take to make things right. Reputations are strengthened, and respect is built when you openly admit mistakes and take the necessary steps to correct them promptly and professionally.
- Offering easy ways to provide feedback: Make it possible for your clients to contact you with compliments and concerns. You could solicit reviews on some more popular review sites, such as Google or Yelp. You could also send client surveys asking for feedback shortly after a purchase is made or a deal is concluded. Create a specialized email account for receiving input and highlight this contact information on your website, in service or product literature, receipts and emails, and other communications.
- Recognizing and rewarding employees who provide superior service: If you receive compliments or positive comments about specific employees, ensure they know about it and are appropriately rewarded for going above and beyond. Exceptional interactions with clients are the building blocks of a good company reputation. Rewarding employees increases the chance that that level of service will be provided again.
- Staying Active: While quality content is much more critical than quantity content when developing an authentic online reputation, it is essential to be active on several relevant social media channels.
Do you have any other helpful tips for building your online reputation? Please share them with us in the comments section below.
Contact Colosi Marketing today for more information on techniques for and the value of building your firm's reputation and increasing your presence online.
Photo from https://www.dollarphotoclub.com/
