The Source

by Samlend Financial

Small Business

How to Manage (and Improve) Your Reputation Online

Warren Buffett once said, "It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it." When you take the speed and global range of the internet into account, his assertion rings truer than ever.

Your small business may be judged and criticized — fairly or unfairly — in a variety of places. Google, Yelp, and industry-specific forums like TripAdvisor are always looming over your shoulder. But there’s plenty you can do to make sure your story is told your way.

Monitor what they’re saying about your brand.

Explore these ways of tracking reviews and comments about your business:

  • Google Alerts is one of the most powerful free tools for online reputation management. Input your business-related keywords and you’ll be pinged by email or text whenever Google indexes items that mention your business.

  • Glean online insights. A service such as Sprout Social or Brandwatch lets you monitor your reputation in real time. Many of these sites let you gauge the reviewers’ attitudes, compare your online popularity against the competition, and set up automatic responses to common queries, among other features.

  • Appoint a community manager. Failing to respond to customer reviews and comments can put a dent in your reputation. To guard against this, a community manager (which may be you) can be constantly checking for new comments and reviews on social media and review sites.

Take action to improve your reviews.

Great reviews help you attract new leads and enhance your credibility. Positive reviews can also provide a boost in organic search results. Take these steps to encourage positive vibes about your brand:

Trustpilot
to ease reviewing. But be careful: You can break some sites’ Terms of Service (and risk page suspension) for soliciting positive reviews. Here's a hint: Don’t offer rewards for positive reviews.

  • Use customer reviews as testimonials. When you receive a glowing review, ask the customer if you can use the comment for a compelling testimonial ad or social post.

  • Call in the experts. There may come a time when it feels like your reputation is under siege. If your budget allows, online reputation management tools such as Reputation Defender or Thrive Agency can work with you to bolster your tarnished online reputation by creating positive buzz around your business in the marketplace.

  • Never (never) ignore problematic feedback.

    Responding to negative feedback is a fantastic relationship-building opportunity that can also boost your search-engine prominence. Here’s how to approach it:

    Your reputation is your most valuable asset. To keep it shining, stay vigilant; be proactive; and respond to both positive and negative feedback promptly, thoughtfully, and professionally. Cover those bases, and you’ll protect your reputation while building a strong, trustworthy brand.

    Since 2008, Samlend Financial has distributed $4 billion to 55,000 businesses. Click here or call (725) 247-3823 for more information on how Samlend Financial's working capital solutions can help your business thrive.

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