How to Manage Your Online Reputation
The last time you had a call-in from an upset customer, how did you manage it? On the Internet – you are not often given a second chance to prove your business is worthy of negative comments or referrals left by others!
Since the web is quickly becoming a social advocate network, you must pay close attention to your online reputation, or suffer the consequence of ignoring it!
How To Monitor Your Online Reputation
The easiest way to monitor all online activity that refers to your company has gotten much easier in the past few years. As long as you take advantage of free tools provided by the search engine company, Google, you can sign up to receive “Google Alerts“, and get notified anytime your company, website, or just about anything you can think of is mentioned on the web.
- Go to Google Alerts
- Complete the 4-Step Alert box
- Sit back and await notifications!
It really is that simple to monitor what others are saying about your business! In the case of my own business, I used the search terms “MeckWebs”, “Meck Webs”, and “meckwebs.com”.
How to Deal with Negative Comments
Knowing your business received a negative comment or review is something you should not take lightly at all! Pro or Con, it is now part of your permanent online reputation, and you should address it as seriously as you would if the person walked into your main office and filed a complaint!
Remember the old adage: “The Happy Customer Tells 10 People – The Unhappy Customer Tells Everyone!”
In the case of Internet comments and reviews, the unhappy customers will tell everyone in your city or state as well, and can ruin a good reputation quickly!
How to Make Sure you Stay Ahead
The easiest way you can overcome any negative comments about your business, is to make sure you have a flood of positive comments to drown it out!
Depending on who you listen to, some say that communicating with your customers should be the #1 Priority of your business! Any type of communication, whether it is thank you cards, special offers, follow-up calls AFTER the sale or service, any contact is far better than none!
- Do you Ask Every Customer about their Recent Experience with Your Business?
- Are you Asking How your Staff Performed?
- Are you Thanking Them for Choosing You?
- Do you Point All Customers to Your Website?
- Are You Getting Email Addresses?
- Are You Asking for Referrals?
Since you are doing everything else to succeed, why not add one more question… “If I send you a link, would you mind writing a review of your experience with our business?”
9 out of 10 times… your customers will happily respond!
Do You Need Help with Your Online Reputation?
I am more than happy to help your company build a positive online reputation as part of your overall Social Marketing Strategy to Succeed Online. Contact me and get started today!
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