Entrepreneurs, bloggers, and site owners have the task of competing for business in a world-wide-web where anyone can say anything they want. This is one of the greatest and worst things about the freedom that the Internet gives users. It’s become essential for anyone conducting business online to rigidly control their image and what’s being said about them. Your name is your brand and you want your brand to have the best association as possible. This is why finding ways to take control of your online reputation is so essential to online success.
Here are 3 tips for taking control of your online reputation.
1. Reaching Out
Unfortunately in the business world, bad press is bad press, no matter how you spin it. The most common way that a site can get negative feedback is through the dissatisfaction of your customers or clients. If you get a negative post or a bad review from someone, people will automatically give this more credence that the most glowing response. This is why that you need to immediately reach out to the individual that’s unsatisfied from your services. Sometimes this just means listening to what they have to say. After all, the reason why they made the post in the first place is to be heard. If they feel that this has been achieved, this can often solve the program. Usually, when a reviewer feels satisfied, they’re far more likely to change their opinion or take down the post entirely. You can’t please everyone and you should understand this, but don’t let their negative comments be the end of the conversation.
2. Content Control
There are times a more aggressive approach with our online reputation must be taken. This usually translates into creating and posting your own content through your own or third party services. When you flood the web with relevant content that links back to you, your search ranking is improved and the bad press you’ve received has been lowered in status. You’re not getting rid of the negative feedback, but smothering it. If you think this is cheating, then you should understand that this is a common practice by most every company on the web today. They’re constantly trying to raise their ranking while suppressing negative content association.
3. Appealing To Your Community
The best way to get a good reputation is to create one, not just through reputation management and SEO tactics, but through forming actual connections. You can do this by contacting other bloggers and businesses that are in the same field. Consider doing guest posts on other sites as a way to gain exposure to readers that normally wouldn’t hear about you. You can also get some good free press from other bloggers who have positive opinions of your site. You can also return the favor. The idea is to establish yourself amount your niche market and get credibility to your venture. It’s also a good way to keep people apprised of new products and services that you’ll be providing in the near future.
Takeaway
It’s not an easy task to build up a reputation over time. It takes a lot of effort and time to secure a even the smallest spot in your niche. However, keeping a reputation is even harder. Follow these 3 tips if you’re wanting to regain or keep control over your online rep and ensure that you don’t fall victim to misguided reviews or opinions.
