We all know that your reputation online is important. As a business, it is crucial that you do everything possible to maintain this. Luckily, there a few things you can do to achieve a successful online reputation.
At First Digital Media our blog this week looks into reputations online and why you should invest time into them.
Developing a Successful Brand
Wherever we go we’ll always notice a brand that we recognise. From a person walking past carrying a Starbucks coffee to the scent of a familiar perfume brand, clever brand awareness is everywhere. However, without a carefully cared for online reputation, all of this work can go to waste.
A 2018 study launched by IPSOS MORI and Forbes demonstrated the importance of reputation. Of those businesses asked, a staggering 97% said that online reputation management was an important aspect of their company. Alongside this, 92% said the same for social presence and a further 98% agreed that online reviews were crucial.
The Impact of Reviews
When trying to find a business the first place many people go is to reviews. Using Facebook recommendations or Google reviews allows an insight into previous customer’s experiences. According to Moz, 67% of customers will be influenced by the online reviews they read.
In fact, this survey also suggests that just one negative review can cost a company 22% of customers. For those that have 3 or more, around 60% of customers are put off using their services.
Researching Before You Buy
There is nothing more important than knowing that the product you are about to purchase is worth your money. This is why people take the time to research a company before they invest. Customers visit a variety of platforms online to help make an informed decision.
Find Out Your Reputation
As a business owner, reputation should be high up on your priority list. One of the best things to do is to read any reviews you can find about your company. This will give you an insight into how you are performing and whether you need to make any adjustments.
Once you have an idea of where you are review wise, you can put a plan of action into place. These will depend on whether you are wanting to build reviews from scratch or are wanting to improve how people view you.
Popular Review Platforms
There are plenty of places online where people can leave reviews. This can often make it difficult to know where to start, although there are a few standouts. The platforms that people use most include:
- Yell
- Bark
- TripAdvisor
- Amazon
However, it is not just here that people leave comments. With the rise of social media, there are more people sending messages, tweets and more to companies to complain and celebrate services.
This week it was announced that 54% of users on Instagram have bought a product after finding it on the platform. On top of this, 87% said that they took some form of action after viewing a company or product on Instagram.
As more companies take advantage of social media platforms, it becomes even more important to take care of your online reputation.
To find out more about building reviews, please feel free to contact us today.
