How to Manage Your Online Reputation  

Do you have a clear picture of what your business’s online reputation is like? With aggregated review sites like Yelp and the reviews that come up on your Google My Business profile, you can find out what people think of your business on average, as well as specific things you’re doing well or need to improve.

Internet users have come to see the value in online reviews, with the majority of potential customers doing their research on your company before leaving the house to make sure they aren’t wasting their time. Most people realize that individual online reviews aren’t 100% trustworthy every time, but if there is a pattern of good or bad reviews mentioning the same points then people will likely do that.

Having a highly rated business with a large number of reviews is a great way to turn internet users who are considering your business into customers walking through your doors. Having a string of bad reviews can easily turn off a prospective customer. Use these tips to harness the power of positive opinion and increase your business’s popularity.

Ask people for feedback

Most customers don’t leave a store and go straight home to write a review. But as long as you’re confident in the customer service you provide, you should be encouraging customers to get the word out about their experience. There is even software now that allows you to send an automated text or email to recent customers asking about their experience. If the experience was positive, it will suggest that they leave a review. If it was negative, it will allow them to contact your business directly to see if there is some way to resolve the issue. This helps you build positive reviews while giving you a chance to fix the problems that cause negative ones before those bad reviews are posted.

Acknowledge every review you get

Showing your personality and humanity as a business goes a long way with customers. If they post a review, good or bad, and you ignore it, they’ll feel like they’re talking to a brick wall. If you were to share a quick appreciation for their good review, they may remember that next time they think of your business. If you get a bad review, you can express your sincere apologies and even offer up a deal or refund to make up for the issue. Of course, always keep your responses completely professional, or else you’ll defeat the purpose of responding in the first place.

Figure out how your business’s Yelp page works

Yelp can be confusing to decipher, as its filtering process for reviews tends to show different reviews at different times if you have enough of them. You might notice that some of your best reviews are hidden more often if the reviewer doesn’t have a Yelp profile. But, if you keep the positive reviews coming in, you’ll increase the odds of good reviews showing up at any given time. One thing you should never do is buy fake Yelp reviews. The team at Yelp has figured out how to recognize these and will take them down, eventually even penalizing your profile with a flag.

Keep those reviews coming in

The next worst thing besides a lot of bad reviews is a lack of recent reviews. Even if your last 10 reviews are each 5 stars, if there hasn’t been a review in multiple months or more people may wonder what’s going on and assume the worst. The power of suggestion helps with getting more frequent reviews. After you’ve finished serving a customer, simply ask that they please leave a review. If that doesn’t seem to be enough motivation, you can offer an incentive. A sign like, “bring in proof of a review from a previous visit and get (X dollars or percent) off your next purchase” can go a long way. People love to save money, and they’ll certainly spare a minute to leave you a review for a good deal.

RCC Web Media | Online Reputation Management & Digital Marketing Experts

Every business wants to be embraced by its community, but not every business owner has the time to comb through online reviews and respond to each person who leaves one or analyze the overall patterns within them. That’s where the professionals come in. Our team at RCC Web Media knows how to put your business’s best foot forward online. We can appreciate or apologize to your customers following their reviews, pick out what customers see as your business’s strengths and weaknesses, and keep reviews coming in so your company stays in the conversation. Not only can we keep your online reputation as positive as possible, but we also have a wealth of expertise in every other digital marketing area. Here are some of the services we offer:

• Google PPC Ads (Search & Display)
• Google AdWords Campaign Management
• Web Design and Web Development
• SEO Services
• Affiliate Online Marketing and Advertising
• Email Marketing
• Video Ads and Creating Videos for Business
• Lead Generation
• & More!

If you have any questions about how we can propel your business forward, or you would like a quote on any or all of our services, please get in touch! You can call us at (888) 565-7102 or fill out an online contact form and we’ll respond as soon as possible.