The Ins and Outs of Reputation Management
Unless you’re Joan Jett, you probably care about your reputation. Particularly your business reputation, for you depend on it to make a living. So many things can damage your business image, and therefore it’s something you should be on top of. This is very important when it comes to your online presence. The internet is how people find out about you. And what do you want to come up first when someone Googles your name: your little bakery you’ve dedicated the last ten years to, or that video of you in college with beer bottles taped to your hands?
Reputation Management Basics
Online reputation management is not easy. Nothing really disappears off the face of the internet. But most things can be controlled, and that’s what you should aim at. There are many ways to try to do that, but they do require a lot of time and effort in order for them to be truly effective. Here are a few of the most common (legal, of course) tactics used for online reputation management.
Search Engine Optimization
Let’s say that when someone googles your name you want the first person to come up to be you and not that person who electrocuted all those horses (even if that was you). The easiest way to do so? Bury what you don’t want to be found in positive content optimized for search engines. You can apply SEO to testimonials, blog posts, articles, and personal websites. This way, the first thing people see is more likely to be positive.
Press Releases
Submitting press releases to reputable, authoritative sites is a great way for good content about you to rank high on search engines. These sites, given their high traffic and status, tend to rank higher in online searches and can provide positive exposure to you and your business. Published news will become reliable sources of good information about you and detract from less desirable content.
Third-Party Mentions
Pursuing mentions from high-profile third-party websites is an effective way to gain exposure. Reaching out to popular blogs, public relations firms, forums, and newsletters can result in a top-ranking appearance in search results. Not to mention these can attract new traffic to your own website and therefore increase your visibility.
Things to Watch Out For
When implementing online reputation management you have to be careful not to indulge in practices that could result in lawsuits or sanctions. Sites like Amazon have sued hundreds of users who were paid to leave fake product reviews. Other sites such as Facebook or Yelp could ban or reprimand your business for fake review posting.
SEO Service Inc.
At SEO Service Inc. we are aware that companies often face attacks on their reputation and therefore require online reputation management. The different ways to address these issues are just too mundane for you to take care off in the midst of running a business. That’s why reputation management is part of our SEO packages. That way we can ensure your clients’ image remains positive while we work on their online marketing. You can also call us at (888) 400-1803 and let us know any questions or concerns you may have.
