Your online reputation consists of not only the things that you've posted online about your business, but also what others have said about it. In a world where social media site use is widespread, consumers often use these to share feedback and information, both positive and negative, about businesses that they've dealt with.
Also, sites where people can rate and leave comments or complaints about companies that they've done business with are gaining in popularity. Many online business directories also have a feature where users can leave a rating and comment about a business whose services they've used.
When someone searches for your company online, they will see not only your website, but also get search results that tell them what others thought about it. If they see a lot of complaints and negative information, they will be reluctant to deal with you and are more likely to keep on browsing to find the services of a competitor. The first step towards building a good reputation is to be present online. Create a website for your company.
Create social media pages about it and also add it to online business directories, even if these aren't an important part of your online marketing strategy. If a customer has a problem or complaint, they will be able to find your contact information quickly and are more likely to try to contact you directly before publicly posting about any issues they've had with you.
If you see negative information related to your business, you should immediately act upon it. Many websites allow you to respond to ratings that were left about your business, thus giving you the chance to give your version of the story if someone posts about a problem that they've had. If people complain about you on social media, leave a response with your contact details that shows you're willing to work with them to resolve any problems they might have experienced.
You can also hire a business reputation management services company that will try to promote positive information about your company and try to get it to outrank negative posts on search results. But remember, it's much better to avoid getting a bad reputation in the first place.
This can be done by having clear and honest policies posted on your site to avoid any miscommunications.
Respond to any consumer inquiries or problems that are brought to your attention rapidly. This will reduce the chance that a person will want to vent online about the experience they've had dealing with your business.
