Today online reputation management is a mandatory aspect for all Internet users. Anyone can enter your data (phone number, first name, last name, nickname, etc.) into the search engine and see everything that other users say about you. Unfortunately, they will not be able to rank the information in order to understand where is the truth and where is the lie.
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In fact, any user can spread any false or true information about you, and it will depend only on you how many people will see it. We offer a checklist for online reputation management, which will help optimize the situation.
The Importance of a Positive Reputation
About 95% of companies use social networks in the hiring process. Imagine if they are faced with negative information about you, will you get the job? Unfortunately, this will become a weighty argument for refusal.
The same thing can happen when planning a first date, getting into college, or buying a service from you. If you are in e-commerce, it is imperative to check the reputation of the supplier before you source products.
A positive online reputation has become a trump card for all people and helps in a variety of situations. It is important to support it and prevent data falsification by ill-wishers. We have collected 9 actions that will help maintain your reputation.
№1. Google Yourself Right Now
Go to all search engines - Google, Yahoo!, Bing, etc. - and look up your name. Rate at least 2 pages of SERPs and any images related to you. Also, bookmark the links where you found information about yourself so that you can follow them in the future.
Use more than just your real name to search. Search for yourself by phone number and nicknames of various platforms on which you have been registered. If you own a business, look for data about it.
This will help to evaluate all possible opinions about you and will allow you to correct the shortcomings. If you didn't manage to find anything, then you are really lucky and can create a positive reputation from scratch.
№2. Track Information About Yourself
When you know what is written about you on the Internet, you can track future publications. To do this, use Google Alerts, set up an account so that the system monitors all your versions of names and/or company names.
This is useful for all users, even those with extremely positive reviews. You can also use a Small Business CRM Software & MDM Software or one of the other no-code tools to effectively manage your team and increase productivity.
Now you will be able to see all posts with your name. Don't forget to change your Google Alerts search data when you change your name/nickname.
№3. Claim Your Domain Names
Submit a request for all domain names, social media accounts, Big Tech accounts, and professional accounts. This will give you complete control over your data, no one else will have the right to do so.
Thanks to the setting, users who will search for information about you will see on the first page of search results only those sites that belong to you. And due to the fact that only you will manage the information on them, people will see the information that is optimal for you.
If you don't, any other user can do it. They will also have the right to publish false information.
№4. Data Update
If you are starting to build a business or want to get a job in a serious company, check your records in professional profiles and social networks. They should characterize you only from the best side. Check them for negative comments and delete everything possible. In some cases, it is worth saying goodbye to old accounts that do not reflect your real-life and thoughts.
Close personal accounts so that only family members and close friends can see them. Set up all the necessary privacy settings so that the information does not get into the general search results.
After updating the data, double-check the work done.
№5. Be Active
Before publishing any information in your account, think about its correctness and quality. Plan your content, post as much as possible on social media, and comment on posts that match your views. The more popular the profile in which you leave a comment, the more authoritative you will look. Videos can be a great way of building a reputation online. You can use tools such as StoryXpress (alternative to Vidyard) to create thought-leadership videos for yourself.
The more quality content you publish, the more search engines will display it. In this case, negative comments will be discarded.
In the future, all new bad reviews about you will have to compete with the main content, which is extremely difficult.
№6. Manage Reviews
Even if you don't have your own business, you should learn how to manage reviews if they exist. Even a negative comment can be turned into a positive one. You need to present your version of events to the audience. To do this, register on the feedback management platform and respond to a negative review. Now it remains to be hoped that most of the users will have enough of your arguments.
For business owners, reviews are the basis for building an optimal customer experience. And no doubt, CX has a direct impact on your sales, as it drives purchase decisions (42%) and influences brand preferences (37%).
Unfortunately, consumers don't reach out to brands and companies that have less than 4-star ratings and also rate them based on the number of responses to reviews. If a company does not give feedback, users do not trust it. Therefore, you, as the owner, need to closely monitor your reputation and customer feedback.
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№7. Follow the Results
Review the results of your online reputation campaign monthly. Gather all the data, do the analysis, and wrap everything up in a report. This will make it easier for you to track changes. Set new goals and plan new victories.
№8. Learn to Apologize
Perhaps the negative reviews about you are not unfounded. Even if you do not agree with the opinion, but reputation is important to you, you should ask for forgiveness. This will turn the situation in your favor and eliminate problems in the future.
№9. Blog
Whether your blog is personal or professional, it will help build a positive online reputation. It will also allow you to find a good job or monetize your blog in the future. The main task is to blog correctly and choose the right topic in which you can open up and provide value to users. Do not copy information from the Internet, articles must be unique and free of errors.
Final Words
We have sorted out a reputation management checklist that will allow you to deal with negative comments about you on the Internet. Remember that about 57% of companies do not hire job seekers after evaluating their social networks. Work on your reputation comprehensively and use the 9 actions prescribed in the article to achieve what you want.
