Elements of an ideal reputation management system
Ethics, moral, character – these are not just words. These are the parameters based on which we judge others. Today, we judge not just individuals, but companies also. And, that’s what defines/controls their reputation. People like to go to the good’ol Google to check out company’s reputation before committing to it.
As companies are coming to the grips of this fact, they are becoming more and more proactive about doing damage control online. After all, one small controversy or untrue information could set-off a chain reaction leading to major negative implications.
This is where a reputation management system comes to the rescue. This post talks about the elements of a good ORM system. Make sure to include them in your ORM strategy so your reputation remains unblemished both offline and online. –
- Negative Listings – Unfortunately, it is human nature to focus on negative information more than positive one. Therefore, any type of negativity you observe online be sure to tackle it in calm, composed and sophisticated manner without sounding irrational or judgmental. If an apology is in order, then that’s how you would need to handle the situation. Be on the lookout for any negative reviews, comments, blog posts, controversial news, etc.
- Stay Social Media active – Any golden reputation management system would know just how important this aspect is. People are constantly scrolling through social media feeds; if not through Facebook, then on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram or some other social media channel. Not only should you be available on all the relevant channels, but make sure to stay active as well. Post helpful content, posts, and videos regularly with interesting images to keep people posted of your latest activities. This is the best way to stay connected with your present and potential customers online.
- Generate and publish New content regularly – Google automatically gives higher rankings to companies that remain active online. One way to stay active online is by publishing helpful content on a regular basis. Start a blog or a forum. The idea is to keep search engines aware of your engagement. We can’t control what others say about us online, but we sure can do damage control by producing content. Write informative blogs, how-to articles, product information, and launch press releases. Or, you can simply write about your employees or company’s involvement in community work.
- Keep updating your profiles – The number of online directories may seem huge, but do take time to update your business listings across all the relevant websites. Be as thorough as you can in terms of providing business information. This is another important aspect of a good reputation management system. The more information you put out there on the internet, the better the search engine will be able to recognize.
- Keep an eye on the bigger picture – It’s very much possible to become so much engrossed in one tiny detail or aspect while forgetting to see the overall bigger picture. A good reputation management system is the one that can unify all of its efforts and make them work to each other’s advantage. The overall strategy should flow in a balance and stay focused on the end goal; not just one aspect.
Be sure to preserve all the elements mentioned above for a successful online reputation management campaign.
