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Online Reputation Management

Introduction

Want to be the number one company on the Internet for your industry? How do you improve your image for your millions of potential customers around the world? Is there any gossip about your brand? Will this gossip affect your business organization? Are you really free of risks and jeopardy?

With the swift expansion of the World Wide Web, there has been a growing attention to the image that a company projects. More interest is given to how you are handling your online image and your capacity to please customers.



It can be noted that with the Internet, it has become more and more difficult for companies to outstand themselves. With the immeasurable amount of information available for diverse business, customers get to chose from a variety of similar information sources. Moreover, online searchers usually chose from the first comings and will never wait. One should also note that consumers are very choosy and in case of any dissatisfaction, they will be immediately vocal.

Today, opinions are easily shared through the proliferation of networking sites, forums, blog sites, chatrooms and other social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. These social media platforms are also being used by business organizations to connect with their clients and attract new potential clients. However, nothing prevents your company from being the target of a negative note. Social media can really affect the reputation of a company. The buzz may be good or bad, but a strategy to interact directly with customers on the Internet and to respond to their inquiries, is absolutely invaluable.

Social media is designed to be spread through social interaction and create publishing techniques that can be scalable and easy-to-use. The characteristic of social media is that it can excite others to repeat information. This can be done instantly through platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Bebo, YouTube, MSN, etc.

It is crucial to listen to what is being said online, even if it is negative. Listening creates the opportunity to take action and resolve internal problems or deal with malicious information, both of which can negatively influence a company’s brand image and reputation.

What is a Reputation?

In simple words: reputation is “the result of what you do, what you say, and what other people say about you”.

The reputation of a business is based on its image. A positive image brings trust and confidence to the customer. The image of a business is essential for its success and it is also the key that will determine its profitability and revenue.

A good reputation can capture good sale increases along with confidence from customers. However, a bad reputation can lead to a decrease in customers’ confidence, hence provoking a reduction in profits and sales. Today, with the use of the Internet, rumors, gossip, bad opinions and shocking news spread very quickly. It is of utmost importance to keep a high quality profile to please the public. Hence, today businesses are using an online reputation management (ORM) strategy.