Social media today is pervasive, used by just about everyone, providing instant information and opinion. Because it is so influential, businesses need to deal with social media as well. It is essential for managing their reputation online. Without a well developed online presence and wide social media exposure, companies may fall victim to online criticism and attacks, whether justified or not.
Here are a few tips from marketing experts on how businesses can manage their online reputation.
1. Establish yourself on pertinent websites
Online marketing experts recommend having a presence on all the major social media sites – Twitter, Facebook, Google+. If you are in a competitive market, you should be on other sites as well, especially ones that are connected to your industry.
It is also helpful to have company leadership and employees establish profiles on LinkedIn. If a company’s product or service lends itself to a more visual orientation, it may be a good idea to post on Pinterest, Instagram, and Flickr.
2. Tend to your social media sites
Just having a presence on social media is not enough. You need to develop these sites as well with ongoing content and interaction. This is how to create an audience for them.
3. Develop sites for people connected to the company
Establish an active social media presence for company leaders – founders, owners, top management. There are many businesses where the company’s leader or leaders are closely associated with the business. If this is the case, it is especially important to develop an online strategy for managing people’s reputation.
4. Blog
This is a good way to maintain a strong online presence. Blogging regularly puts new content on your sites, which should help generate more traffic, as well as increasing the exposure of the company and enhancing its reputation.
5. Pay attention to online feedback
If you are getting criticism or complaints from customers, you need to pay attention to them. You may have a problem that needs to be examined, especially if you are getting negative feedback about a specific thing on a routine basis.
6. Be willing to make a sincere apology
If your company makes a mistake or somehow botches something, take responsibility for it and apologize to those involved. An apology can be an effective way to ease a tense situation and repair a strained relationship. It is also a good public relations strategy for the company.
If your company is looking for people who will make an impact, Opti Staffing can help. We take the time to learn about your company, your culture, and your needs, and then we work to make the best match between the worker and the company. Give us a call today.
