3 Proven Ways to Get Started on SEO Online Reputation Management

The marketing scene has changed. If you are a boomer reading this, you will probably recall how easy it was to buy or sell in the past. A business sold a product or ran a service you liked, you’d go in, shake hands and be on your way. These days, as the world gets more closely knit, things are a little more complicated and this is why you need to focus on your online reputation management.  

The younger folks won’t just buy from you because you have what they want, they care about what you stand for. They want to know about your reputation. They are online, reading reviews or writing reviews of your products and services. So you must not only produce a good product but also manage your reputation to succeed in today’s world. 

As you may know, about 90% of customers read online reviews for local businesses before making a purchase. You cannot directly control what people write about your business, but you can ensure that more people who enjoy your service are talking about you online. In this post, we will be sharing how you can optimise your online presence and show off your good side using SEO online reputation management.

How to Leverage SEO for Online Reputation Management

When people run a search on your business, you want to ensure that they find something that will positively affect their sales journey. Here are 3 tips on how to effectively use the magic behind SEO in online reputation management. 

Ask for Online Reviews

Often, the best way to get (more) online reviews is to ask your customers. You can do this via email, SMS or in-person. It is best to use a mix of all. For example, after fulfilling orders, Jumia prompts customers to write reviews about the product and their shopping experience. If you run an online store, you can set up this system either manually or with a marketing platform like Mailchimp. 

It will be easier for you to ask for reviews if you deliver excellent customer experiences consistently. If you do, the 5-star reviews and testimonials may come even without you asking and outnumber the bad ones.  

Monitor/Respond to Online Reviews

Monitoring online reviews is one of the best ways to accurately understand what your customers want and how they feel about your brand, product or service. If you are not taking note of what your customers are saying about you online, you miss out on a great opportunity. Use your customers’ feedback to get the cues you need to improve your reputation, engage with potential customers, and boost your online visibility. 

When you do get bad reviews, turn them into opportunities. Reach out to the reviewer and offer to remedy the situation. Your proactiveness signals to readers that you care about their views and are willing to make things right. This is the type of reputation you want to build for your business. Show kindness and thoughtfulness even when you think the reviews are malicious. 

But don’t just watch for bad reviews, respond to all reviews from your website, social media pages and sites like Google My Business. If you don’t, your customers, including potential ones, will assume that you are unresponsive and that is not a good look for your business. 

Be Active on Social Media Platforms.

Google and Facebook are the top two sites for online reviews. If you are active on your social media accounts, reviews from these platforms will likely show up on the first page of search engine results. Set up and build profiles on major social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, and Pinterest. Don’t stop there; take it a step further. Link your social media profiles everywhere, including your website, other social networks, email signatures, email marketing campaigns, etc. Here’s an example of how Slvr Wlf Digitale Ltd does it. It’s also good to share your reviews on your social media pages. 

Start Building your Online Reputation Now

There you have it. 3 proven ways to get started on online reputation management using SEO. It starts and ends with your digital footprint through online reviews, monitoring and responding to customer feedback and actively showing off your good side on your social media pages. 

Indeed, building a solid reputation online is an essential part of gaining the public’s trust and maintaining an edge over the competition. However, it requires patience and consistency. If you need help along the way, Slvr Wlf is here to help.