How you manage your reputation in the business world is a necessary skill that can either help or harm your career. The main thing to remember is that a lot of people in business know how to manage their image, which is why they do so well. Thankfully, the following advice can be of help for gaining a great reputation.
Follow-ups: To bolster your reputation, follow up to make sure customers are satisfied. This is especially the case if your business is larger. They really want to feel like something other than a number. Consider following up with them with automated systems you put in place. You may also provide a feedback form with their purchase.
Handling Irate Customers: Maintain your good reputation by satisfying an unhappy customer. Working to better a customer’s bad experience will show them that their satisfaction matters. It’s even better when you get to do this on the Internet. Other customers and prospects will see that you are proactive in addressing customers’ problems and will be more inclined to do business with you in the future.
Website Optimization: To improve the online reputation of your business, optimize your pages online with your key search phrase. This is generally the name of your company. Search engines such as Google really like authoritativeness. That will ensure that you’re ranked highly on search pages.
Managing Social Media Accounts: Cultivating a professional tone in your social media accounts makes a big difference in how you are perceived. These pages are a representation of your company, and that’s why it’s a good idea to make sure people see things that will make a positive impact. You want to appear as a professional that is still accessible as a person.
Managing Employees: If you own a company, you should always treat your employees well. Sometimes, business owners are not concerned about this, but they should be. If people find out you’re not a good employer, they may avoid doing business with you.
Private and Public Affairs: A private promotion or deal should always be kept a private matter. This is important if you are trying to rectify a bad situation. You never want to post exactly how you are handling a complaint only to see more complaints from those trying to get something for free.
Honesty: It is important for you to set a solid standard of business. Always be upfront and honest with your customers, and admit any mistakes you make. Transparency is essential to maintaining a good reputation.
Leveraging Customer Feedback: Be aware of what people are saying and where they are saying it. Be familiar with the venues people use to post commentary. Link up to the good comments on your page.
False Reviews: There are websites out there to provide false reviews. Some of your competitors may be using them. Resist the urge to do the same. It is a bad practice, and it may even be illegal in your state.
Without understanding how to manage your reputation, your business will never succeed. Ignorance about shaping the perceptions of others can provide a fatal blow to your business. Thus, it pays to read the information above as often as necessary.
