Reputation Management – Make Sure You Make A Good Impression

Reputation management is simply working hard to generate as many positive online reviews as possible. More and more people look to sites like Google+, Yelp and others before committing to buying.

Capture Good Online Reviews

The challenge for any company trying to capture good reviews is having a process in place to develop and track reviews and the discipline to use it. Seeking satisfied customers and asking for a good online review is one way to generate positive feedback on your own. Most customers welcome a chance to tell others when they are pleased with your products or service. Translating their comments into published review takes follow-up.

TALKIN SEO specializes in reputation management strategies including specially-developed software to consistently build positive reviews. Reputation management efforts are automated for efficiency and monitored for accountability. All relevant data is archived for use in high-impact email marketing.

Businesses and consumers interact differently today than they did just a few years ago. As the Internet evolves, so does the way we do business. Consumers make more decisions based upon the positive experiences of others. While price, quality and availability are immediate concerns, buyers give high marks to the value of customer service and follow-up after a sale.

Recent nation-wide buying preference surveys show the importance of making a good impression – in person and online. Consider:

  • 90% of Americans rank customer service high on their list of reasons to buy – or not buy from a company.
  • Consumers say they are willing to pay up to 17% more for products from a company with good customer service and a strong reputation.
  • 62% of customers say they want the ability to communicate with the company representatives via email – 48% like the phone, 42% prefer “live chat” and 36% use the “contact us” button.

Each of these relates directly to positive online reviews and recommendations.

Reputation Management – Different Things To Different People

Putting a strong reputation management strategy in place takes forethought. It also takes experience and commitment. Generating a file of good reviews isn’t easy. It takes effort and discipline. Is it worth it? Statistics say it is. Most accept the fact that bad reviews cost you real money. Effective reputation management promotes sales, making you money. It’s a wise investment.

Younger buyers especially look to the Internet for reviews before making a buying decision. The demand for good reviews is more critical now than ever. A rule of thumb in the industry is to gain maximum sales momentum a company needs to garner at least 6-10 online reviews.

Online reviews are posted on various sites like Google+ and Yelp, but also on local business directories and regional review sites. Most sites take your average review rating and display it as a grading system to alert potential customers – you’ve seen the gold stars (or fractions of a star).

Companies with positive reviews – a long line of stars – gain instant credibility and trust from online views. Turning that first impression into sales is the next step.

Consider the steps “Millennials” and other shoppers take today:

  • 94% use search engines to find local businesses and sources of goods and service.
  • 70% of households use the Internet as their first option for purchasing and sourcing local products and services.
  • 70% of Internet searchers say they trust a company with 6-10 positive reviews.
  • 74% say they place a high level of trust in online reviews – anonymous posts get the same high mark as personal recommendations.
  • The more glowing reviews the better – more reviews lead to more sales. The Harvard Business Review found a difference of one star in a rating reduces revenue potential by almost 10%.

The bottom line:  Reputation management doesn’t cost, it pays.

Get Started Right With TALKIN SEO

A successful reputation management strategy begins with solid SEO practices. When you’re ready to take the next step to monitor your performance and grow your business with solid, positive online review TALKIN SEO will show you how.

Call (262) 649-1158 to discuss how TALKIN SEO will improve your visibility and impact while taking advantage of your strong business reputation. TALKIN SEO provides the complete package from search engine optimization and Internet marketing plans to reputation management strategies in Milwaukee and Madison WI.