Some facts that worth knowing about Online reputation management
What is online reputation management?
No matter you are an individual, a business, organization, or a non-profitable institution; the reputation really matters to you. The online reputation can easily be harmed or destroyed by some negative reviews, unflattering news, edited (photoshop) pictures, criticizing blog posts or commenting on your personality, brand identity, or product or services. Here the need for ORM or Online Reputation Management arises.
It is the aggregated process of several functions to establish, improve or restore the good standing of your name or brand’s identity. This process actually counters the shortcomings on your side and find out the negative material that is adversely affecting your reputation.
And then the steps are taken to defeat this negativity and improving the public trust and credibility in your brand, product or services.
Who are online reputation managers?
The online reputation managers are the highly skilled and tech experts, PR gurus who are highly experienced in offering the online makeovers to the individuals, companies and sometimes governments also. The improving or restore the client’s negative image by blurring the negative results on SERPs and promoting the positive news and matter. They can be further called as the digital disaster fixers. Though there is no specific academic degree that is required for the post, these professional are specifically trained in advanced internet technology, social media behavior, public relation management and consumer psychology.
What is the main function of a reputation management specialist?
Since the internet has provided us many good things in the terms of getting, the reach to the new customers, markets and offering the new methods of marketing and promotion. Altogether, these things reflect on the increase in sales and profits. But there are many problems also has been rising due to this widespread network and enhanced communicability. Your identity and good name can easily end up with the strangers located at the place you cannot find. Maybe all of your critics or the opposites are not wrongful, yet their negative remarks or comments can damage the things and harm your reputation.
In this case, while your online reputation is facing any threat, hiring a reputation manager is an essential step to be taken so that the unfavorable situation can be prevented to get worse or the damage can be healed.
Can a company handle its own online reputation?
Actually, it is not easy to spend hours long time searching for the negative comments, criticizing news or the unfriendly reviews for an average business owner or a blogger. On the other hand, replying each negative comment or posting the correction blogs or articles is further complicated and time taking things. So getting help, a specialized PR professional can help you in many ways also, these professionals have acquired skills add years long experience to deal with the situations and using the applicable tactics.
Is it possible to track an individual who is responsible for the reputation meltdown?
The person who is or who are harming your online reputation can be anyone. It can be your unsatisfied customer, former employee, competitors, news reporters with a completely different approach or anyone else. As the global internet network is a complicated web and social media is the best place to spread rumors and negativity within the large online communities, it sometimes becomes very difficult to find the real source of the entire mess. The experts suggest that one should focus on accentuating the truth and present the real side of you to the people, employees, and the customers. Reputation management is an unstoppable process where you need to react to each minor wind blow against you.
Can we erase the negative remark?
Actually, it is not possible; on the social media accounts, you cannot erase any negative comment by yourself, for this you will have to ask the site administration and make then assure that the comment is completely wrong and will harm your reputation in the most adverse manner. Generally, this thing barely works. Even you cannot sue the person who is spreading the negativity against you. But we can answer him or her on the negative reaction or comment he has posted so that the other readers may also witness the conversation.
What is the process of online reputation management?
The process of online reputation management is a fine combination of various tasks and actions that depend on the type of case, client’s requirement, a size of company/market, stage of threat or damage and many other ongoing situations. But basically the entire process combines the following fundamental steps:
- Searching and finding out the problematic content
- Launching the gap analysis
- Developing the plan as per the situation and requirement
- Conducting social influencers and hashtag researches
- Regularly scaling and analyzing the progress of the strategy d its implementation.
What is the right thing: being reactive or being proactive?
Of course, it is always good to take precautions much earlier than the problem really arises and cause a big damage. And in cases, even there are tiny vibes are being sensed you need to take immediate steps as any ignorance in this relation can result in a heavy loss of your reputation and a high cost of repairing it. The large corporate giants and business organizations have their own reputation management setup to consistently work on finding the negative vibes, solving the audiences’ problems and complaint, posting the positive contents and many other online reputation building measures.
How can a small level businessman safeguard its online reputation by himself?
Again, precaution is the best measure. A small and medium businessman is required to set up a Google alert in his system. Your online presence and reputation really matter for your business, sales, and profits so spare some time for it also. On your social profiles, maximize the level of privacy. You don’t need to tweet twice a day or post something on Facebook daily, but once or twice a week, you must check your accounts. If there are any complaints, negative reviews, and misstatement about you, your company or product try to solve the matter by conversation or by personal contact.
Must Read:
Tools to manage an online reputation management process
Well, I ‘ve shared Some facts that worth knowing about Online reputation management, If you have more suggestion or ideas related to online reputation management then feel free to share with us.