More and more, people are turning to the internet to make purchases and research businesses and individuals. In doing so, they look to customer reviews and online sentiment to judge you or your business, and to influence their purchasing decisions. Even consumers buying in-store are now reading reviews first on their smart phones. A staggering 95% of customers read online reviews before making a purchase. This means it’s highly likely you’re losing out on sales if you don’t have positive reviews — and a lot of them.

You must have some type of reputation management plan in place. Simply “hoping everything works out on its own” or letting the product or service “speak for itself” is no longer sufficient. It just takes a tiny bit of negativity to make a business look bad online during a quick search.

With good online branding, and reputation management, you can generate online reviews, which can help your ranking. Earning more customers organically means less money spent on costly marketing campaigns. Are you doing everything you can to ensure your business is earning positive online reviews? Let’s connect and review your initiatives and discuss if this is sufficient to achieve your marketing goals.

Your online reputation is more than just ratings. You must monitor what people are saying about your business on the internet. If there are any negative sentiments, it’s vital to get ahead of them before they become a problem for your company’s image and revenue stream.

You can track your online reputation in the following ways:

• Positive online ratings. Every positive word said online contributes in some way. 
• The size of social media communities engaging with and supporting your business. Social media allows people to share opinions and gather information faster than ever before. Building trust in these personal communities is a big deal.
• The tone and sentiment of comments about your company on online message boards, review sites, and social media. Examining how a company is brought up gives you a good idea of the general consensus floating around.
• The number of positive press mentions. Too many companies are under the impression that traditional press no longer matters. They are still a very authoritative voice in any industry.
• Google ranking. Consumers see top-ranking sites in a positive light and as more credible. Getting at or near the top of results for major keywords makes a big difference.
• The number of customer service issues resolved positively, both offline and online. Customers pay attention to the interactions others have with a business.