Now that more and more people make their buying decisions based upon online reviews and search engine results, it’s essential to establish a positive online reputation. A negative portrayal, even if it’s untrue or inaccurate, can be detrimental.
If a company isn’t in charge of its reputation, then its brand image might not be what management and employees want it to be. Here are five ways that a business can improve its online reputation.
1. Hire a manager
It’s becoming more common for companies to hire an individual whose sole responsibility is to manage their brand online to ensure that consumers view them in a positive light. Typical duties include monitoring social media accounts, performing social media audits, using analytics to make well informed decisions, and striving to build an online community around a brand.
Having a professional on board to focus on this area can prevent small problems from turning into a serious reputation-damaging crisis. It can also help form a tight-knit relationship with a company’s target audience.
2. Implement genuine corporate social responsibility activities
Being known as an ethical business and adhering to a high level of integrity are two ways to gain credibility within an industry. Consequently, a company may want to implement some form of ethics training for employees to reduce the chances of questionable practices developing in house.
It’s also helpful to consider how a company’s actions will affect consumers, and in some cases, the environment. Learning relevant laws and regulations and abiding by those standards can improve your credibility.
3. Support worthy causes
Almost every company has a cause it can get behind and show its support for. In October, many businesses get involved with breast cancer awareness to help those that have been affected.
Regardless of how large or small a community is, there are usually several places where employees can volunteer, or programs they can get involved in. Some examples include reaching out to at-risk kids, spending time with the elderly, and helping out at an animal rescue centre.
These are great ways to raise brand exposure and prove that your company is concerned about more than just making money. Employees will often feel better about themselves as citizens, which will boost workplace morale.
4. Donate to charity programs
Giving back to the community and helping a worthy charity is one of the best ways to show consumers that your business truly cares. While generating profits is important, giving donations to a program that your firm believes in can quickly boost its reputation.
Not only does this create goodwill and earn trust with customers and citizens in general, it can result in networking opportunities that may benefit the company over the long term.
In addition, you can often take advantage of tax deductions that will come in handy at the end of the year. Ideally, the charity will relate to your business in some way and be based in the same general geographical location for maximum impact.
5. Listen to feedback and own up to mistakes
Open communication and taking the opinions of consumers seriously are also critical to a company’s success. It pays to listen to what people are saying and actively engage with your audience.
This might include promptly responding to comments on social media profiles and initiating conversations at the end of blog posts. Since there will inevitably be negative feedback for even the most well-run businesses, it’s necessary to admit when something was handled incorrectly and take the right steps to resolve the issue.
Doing so can turn a resentful customer into a loyal one and help build rapport.
