Almost every business needs a strong online presence today. Modern consumers have quick and easy access to the internet. They don’t hesitate to use this to research different products or services. Over 80% of customers will research a product or service online before they commit to a purchase, which is why it is important to manage your online reputation well. A well-managed reputation will help you earn a customer’s trust and improve sales significantly.
Whether you’re an eCommerce company or a brick-and-mortar retail store, you will need the assistance of a good reputation management agency. Here are some signs that indicate it is time to hire one:
1. You Have Many Negative Reviews
Negative reviews happen to everyone, even if you have a great provide or provide exemplary services. Some customers may have a poor experience with your brand and complain about it on review platforms or social media. A few negative reviews and bad comments won’t cause much damage to your reputation but if your listing has more negative than positive feedback, it is a cause for concern.
A good reputation management company will look at the root cause of these bad comments and recommend a strategy that may help. Most experienced marketers will seek to turn negative reviews into positive experiences. They will help you address the root cause and resolve issues with the customer.
2. Website Traffic Has Dropped
There are several reasons for a website’s traffic to drop, but it usually happens if there’s a search engine algorithm upgrade or a problem with the brand’s reputation. A few bad reviews or a popular negative opinion on social media can lead to a sharp drop in traffic. A good marketer will conduct an audit to determine what’s wrong before coming up with a solution to address the problem. If the website traffic has dropped and you can’t determine why, you should hire a reputation management agency to check. They will provide a detailed report on your current online presence.
Consistently low website traffic can have a big impact on your sales and profit. It is better and more affordable to invest in professional reputation management. Your reputation will be back on track and your sales will improve again.
3. Your Content isn’t Ranking High Enough
Google wants to ensure all of its users have a good search experience. That’s why the company’s algorithms look at different aspects of a website before ranking them. If your website or brand has a poor reputation, the algorithm will notice that and won’t rank your content favorably. You won’t be able to run an effective or successful SEO campaign because your brand’s poor reputation is actively compromising you.
If your content isn’t ranking high enough and your SEO is lagging, consider hiring a reputation management company to look into the matter. They will double-check your online reputation and help you refine the content to improve overall performance as well.
4. The First Page on Google Isn’t Favorable
Search users rarely look beyond the first page when they’re searching for information. Most of the clicks go to the first three or four links on the SERP, which is why it is important to ensure the first page is full of positive content. If you search your brand name or product name and only see negative content first, you need reputation management.
Experienced professionals will make sure negative content related to your brand isn’t present on the first page of Google. They will publish informative and helpful pieces to push all unfavorable content to the second or third pages, where they’re not likely to get any attention.
5. There are Inaccurate Rumors About Your Brand
Sometimes malicious entities will spread inaccurate rumors about your brand. They will publish false reviews, lodge inaccurate complaints on consumer review websites, and more. Disgruntled ex-employees, dishonorable competitors, and angry customers may attempt to compromise your online reputation out of spite.
A professional reputation management agency can take care of this problem for you and ensure your reputation is cleaner.
Almost every modern business needs a reputation management company in its corner. A team of professionals can help manage your online reputation, counteract bad feedback, and make sure your business has a good standing in the industry. They’ll use proven techniques and tailored strategies to achieve these goals.