Why is so important to create a positive online reputation? Everybody looks for online reviews these days. Studies show that 90% of people first search for your brand name and read reviews on search engines like Google before they even reach out to you. And if you don’t look good or if you don’t have a reputation at all, you’re going to lose out on a lot of business.
Online reputation is no longer just a buzzword – it’s an integral part of business in the modern world. It is essentially the public’s opinion of you and your brand! So what other reasons online reputation is so important, and how can you create a positive online reputation for your brand?
Why Is an Online Reputation Important for Any Business
Purchase decisions are strongly determined by online reputation. 97% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase decision. People inherently trust other people, and having social proof helps consumers streamline their process and make faster decisions with greater confidence.
Having a great online reputation also helps boost your rankings on SERPs. This study by Moz shows what types of reviews Google pays attention to and how they can impact how you rank. It can really be what sets you apart from competitors!
Brands with a great online reputation also attract higher quality customers. They are perceived to provide more value, and this often allows them to charge a premium. Their customers are also more loyal and purchase a broader range of products and services.
We could go on and on about the importance of online reputation, but how do you create a positive online reputation that can benefit any kind of business?
1. Have a professional website
A clean, responsive, user-friendly site is the way to go nowadays. It should start with a catchy domain name and be mobile-friendly too of course. Include customer reviews and testimonials, better yet if they’re in video format! Content is king, so running a blog can also contribute to your online reputation. Our advice is to do so only if you have the time to keep it regularly updated, otherwise it could be more of a detriment than benefit.
2. Stay active on social media
We can’t talk about creating a positive online reputation without having strong social profiles with a strong network. Keeping your socials active and up-to-date is important, and the content that you put out should be useful and meaningful for your audience. One of the most engaging forms of content consumers enjoy is Instagram Reels – have you read our latest post on how you can use it for your business?
3. Create a Google Business Profile
As we mentioned earlier, your online reputation can affect your rankings on SERPs. Having a Google Business Profile will help increase your visibility, as one of the things Google looks out for are reviews left directly on your profile. Google reviews are simple, effective, and best of all, they’re completely free. Which brings us to our next point:
4. Encourage customers to leave reviews
95% of customers read reviews before making a purchase. Having a large number of reviews can be an effective tool for building online reputation and trust. To get customers to write you a review for your products or services, it is often enough to simply ask. You can do so at the point of purchase, or through a personalised email or satisfaction survey. You may also wish to consider incentivising customers to leave reviews (e.g. leave a review and get a discount on next purchase!)
5. Participate in discussions related to your business
Potential customers could also be researching for more information in forums such as Reddit and Quora. Showcasing your knowledge on your particular subject or industry helps to establish authority. This then goes on to build your online reputation!
6. Write guest posts for other blogs and website
Writing guest posts can be a useful way to boost online reputation. It puts you in control of how others see you, but most importantly, it increases your credibility. You’ll need to identify sites that are accepting guest posts. Then decide if they are worth writing for. Preferably, you’ll only write for those that allow you to create a custom profile, or have an author’s bio page linked back to you!
