The Public Relations Blog

In a world of fake content, the noise your communication team is fighting through has never been greater. Amazon and Dove show how empathetic marketing paired with proactive reputation management can make all the difference.

The internet allows for real-time fact-checking and questioning and can take pains to verify every statement you make.

The internet has become an integral part of our lives: helping us connect faster and with ease, keeping a plethora of information at our fingertips, and allowing us to work in real time from anywhere. These are just a few of the internet’s many benefits. It has also brought social media and various platforms to do business and hear individual voices from across the globe. This year, Statista reported over 4.5 billion people using social media. While this opens many avenues for PR, it can also create some problems. 

Seven important pillars of online reputation management (ORM) to effectively manage your company’s image.

A significant part of your audience is online. According to Forbes, brands receive immense growth if their online presence is extensively reputed. This is the main reason why your company needs efficient online reputation management techniques. 

A reputed brand on the internet is more likely to receive a massive amount of sales since online platforms connect your brand to a wider community. 

Handling that first negative online article 

As much as you believe your company won’t be affected by negative articles and reviews ranking in an online search, at some point, it will happen – and it can have a serious impact on your company. 

There are many places where consumers can leave negative reviews that can rank on page one when a prospective consumer uses Google to search for your company. That first negative review or even a new negative review can leave you and your company reeling and unsure of your next steps. It is important to understand how your company’s online reputation can change with a negative review. 

Revise your company’s “About us” summary each year

It’s a new year and time to update your company’s boilerplates to better communicate your brand’s mission and accomplishments. Look at your company’s end-of-year reports from each department, such as sales, HR, and operations. Take time to comb through the numbers and pull figures that show what’s behind your brand. 

Keep your company from making reputation-ruining mistakes.

Social media is the most accessible tool customers have to learn about your company and become familiar with your brand. It’s also incredibly impactful in helping – or hurting – your company’s reputation.

Bring more customers to your company with a better reputation

Warren Buffett said it best:

A company’s reputation is one of its most important tools online – every website has ratings and feedback sections. Obviously, too many “1-star” reviews on a giant online retailer like Amazon can doom a product. It’s important to remember that while there are many indicators of online reputation, one of the most important consumer indicators may be the Better Business Bureau (BBB). 

How online feedback impacts consumer behavior and why it’s critical for sales success

Most likely, you’ve purchased at least one item in your home or office because you saw it on social media. You may have bought gifts for others or shopped for items for yourself based upon Instagram photos or a friend’s glowing Facebook post. Within this purchasing process is an important behavioral evolution.

Many companies search for themselves online to ensure they’re ranking well on search engines. In reviewing your company’s positioning in search engine results, you may find that you have an online reputation problem. If there is negative content about your company ranking relatively highly, you’re almost certainly losing business because of it.

Know the difference and get to work improving your online image.

Maintaining a positive online image for your company is critical for success. How consumers perceive your brand on the internet determines whether they will be your customers. A positive online image also cultivates mutually beneficial relationships with other companies.

Many people use the terms online reputation and online reviews interchangeably. The two terms actually differ in many ways. Find out if it’s your company’s online reputation or online reviews that are stifling your business growth.