Reputation is an important asset for all successful businesses. However, clients enjoy unprecedented online freedom and access to information, which can affect their reputation. How is this possible? Technology makes it easier for clients to post opinions online, which reaches millions of other shoppers globally. In the case of negative comments, this will dent your brand image, and the repercussions are apparent- loss of business and profits.
Check out aspects that can hurt your brand reputation:
1. Not responding to online reviews.
Reviews play a vital role in business promotion. Clients use them to judge your company’s credibility and quality of products. For instance, Leading London-based companies like GlaxoSmithKline and Unilever get thousands of customer comments daily, and most clients use them to make purchase decisions.
Although you can’t control what others say about your business, you can certainly make an effort to acknowledge customer feedback. Responding to both negative and positive reviews shows customer appreciation.
It also displays your concern and that you take customer comments seriously. This way, your clients feel valued and will likely keep on buying from you.
2. Negative PR coverage
Negative information about your brand online can hurt your company’s reputation. Online publications portraying your company negatively may affect clients’ buying decisions, leading to low sales. Monitor what others say about your brand, and use online tools to get alerts on the latest posts and publications.
If you run a business in London and its environs, use the many Reputation Management London professionals. They will help remove any negative content online about your company.
Ignoring the use of social media can ruin your prospects. If there’s little or no information online about your business, this can turn off clients. Moreover, clients will unlikely to trust your products and services, which affects your brand reputation and hampers business growth.
How can I avoid this?
- Post information about your business regularly, and do this when potential clients are likely to be online.
- Engage customers by starting conversations.
- Establish good working relationships with other brands.
4. Inappropriate web copy
Your business website and content act as a storefront. It should be attractive, engaging, and, most importantly, target the right audience. Poorly written content is a put-off to customers and can make them doubt your products and capability. Clients who cannot find meaningful content on your website will abandon the carts, leading to missed sales opportunities. Moreover, this will affect your rankings, thus ruining your reputation.
5. Employee profiles
Your workers represent your brand. What they do or say can affect your company. If your customer bumps into your employee profiles, writings, or actions, they associate it with your business. If your employee behavior differs from what your brand upholds, this can affect your reputation.
To avoid this;
- Motivate your employees and encourage them to become brand ambassadors.
- Create attractive employee profiles and have your employees share them on their social media pages.
A quick wrap-up
A poor brand image will put off customers, leading to low sales and losses. To boost your brand reputation, promptly respond to customer queries and complaints and stay active on social media. In case of negative feedback about your company online, seek help from professionals. They will help you erase the information to repair your ruined reputation.
