Your Business’ Online Reputation

Many local small business owners believe having nice website means their “Online Reputation” is intact.  However, there is so much more to online visibility than just a nice website.

There are many ways for local consumers and business owners to interact online to create the reputation of a business online.

In today’s online market place most of your online reputation is built outside of your website.  For example

• Social Media – Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn
• Review Sites
• Blogs

… just to name a few.

Are you beginning to understand the various ways your business’ online reputation can be influenced good or bad without involving your website.

Since I mentioned your website, let’s talk about a few practices that can build good reputation management.

These same practices go for any other web properties you may have as well such as Facebook Fanpage, Twitter page, or blog.

You can also utilize these practices with other web applications like Facebook Timeline, Twitter or your blog.

• Your business website is not your personal webpage – It should be managed professionally and kept business-related.
• Be polite in your public posts and responses. Never argue with a customer or reply with rude comments.
• ALWAYS comment on responses made by your customers and your potential customers – never ignore them. One of the best things you can do is to stay in communication with your audience and keep it as professional as possible.

Keep in mind to maintain your current customers and to win new ones is your goal.  You are online not to make friends or enemies.  Make sure you stay professional and keep your composure even when it can be very challenging.

Want to know how others view your business online…

Related articles

• REPUTATION MANAGEMENT ALERT: Online Review Sites Spell Big Trouble for Small Businesses (prweb.com)
• EnemyGraph: Making the Destruction of an Online Reputation Easier (soshable.com)

 

Tweets Are Reaching Far Beyond Twitter

I was watching Dancing With The Stars yesterday and I noticed the interaction of tweets from fans at home.  Viewers that may never use Twitter were reading tweets and enjoying comments that added to the experience of the program.

As a small business owner take note of the Edison Research in the chart above.  These are reasons for you to consider engaging with your customers and local consumers using Twitter. Twitter can not be overlooked when it comes to improving your business visibility in the local market.

Today consumers expect to see your business’ Twitter link when finding your business online.  So why not give it to them.  Twitter is a tool to assist your business in building and maintaining relationships.

Think about ways you can use Twitter for your business.  Below are a few suggestions listed in How To Use Twitter For Business published by Hubspot.

The most obvious business use of Twitter is to meet potential customers and leads the same way you would at networking event or trade show.

However, you can also use it to:

1) Develop and promote your brand

2) Interact with your customer base

3) Track what people are saying about your company and brand

4) Create buzz around upcoming events

5) Help individual employees act as liaisons to the public

6) Promote other content you’ve created, including webinars, blog posts or podcasts

7) Develop direct relationships with bloggers and journalists for potential PR placement

Using one or more of these suggestions will increase your local visibility which increases local business.

GET COMPLIMENTARY EVALUATION

LAB Small Business Services online complimentary evaluation will reveal how past, current and future consumers view your business online.