Company image has always been something that’s so central and valuable to a business, requiring the prioritization of protecting that image. A similar concept for the digital space has been created with online reputation management, wherein the internet’s perception of a company should be more or less realistic and optimistic.
Managing a business’s online reputation can sound rather simple and straightforward. It has its own principles, just like with marketing and content creating. However, there are too many assumptions about online reputation management that can be misleading for a company and endanger a company’s reputation. Should this occur, speak to an ORM service provider.
Here are some wrongful assumptions you should squash and disregard when handling your company’s online reputation:
A Company’s Online Reputation Will Do Fine By Itself
There is a possibility that a business’s online reputation won’t budge if it isn’t tampered with, but having a stagnant reputation doesn’t equate to a good position. If anything, a lack of action will make your business’s presence and visibility almost non-existent.
It’s better to take matters into your own hands and manage your online reputation. Find out which strategies work for your business and execute them to boost your online reputation while monitoring the effectiveness of those actions.
Online Reputation Must Be Improved No Matter What It Takes
Some people believe that they should improve their company’s online reputation at whatever cost and whoever’s expense. However, online reputation management has its own ethics, and it’s important to uphold those during the course of your plan.
Resist putting up fake positive reviews or posing in bogus profiles. Not only will it lower your reputation when they’re found to be disingenuous, but it also takes away attention from real reviews from satisfied customers.
Inconsistent Branding and Content Has No Effect
Change isn’t always bad on some profiles, but cohesion is at the heart of online reputation management. Once something has shifted in one, everything has to follow suit. Inconsistency can have some unintended consequences on your audience’s perception.
For example, if there’s a different tone in the content of a brand on one social media platform compared to its other profiles, this can stir some confusion as to how those words should be received. A brand and its projected image online are less defined in a consumer’s mind.
Response to Negative Feedback Doesn’t Matter
Many business owners assume that their initial posts are what matters to online reputation management and that instances of how they interact with feedback can have no repercussions. That can be sorely mistaken, though, as those responses are public and eventually scrutinized.
If a business is seen lashing out at a customer who provides constructive criticism or plainly pessimistic comments, this can also shape one’s reputation. It’s important to be composed when creating a reply rather than refuting their statements immediately.
Conclusion
Deducing what’s accepted and what isn’t when it comes to online reputation isn’t the best way to approach things, as it can jeopardize the current state of your company’s image online. Look at implementing an online reputation management plan instead and assess the strategies that will work best for your business.
Looking for an online reputation management company to help your brand? Internet Zone I is a California-based company that provides services regarding SEO, ORM, and more. Get in touch with us today!