06 Jun What is Online Reputation Management?

Online Reputation Management is so much more than what the title implies. Reputation managers will monitor any communications that might be happening about a particular brand. If they notice something negative that requires attention, they will apply their broad and vast knowledge of Internet marketing techniques to ensure that the problem is fixed.

You could think of reputation managers as part customer service rep and part online marketer. The goal of reputation management is not to suppress the honest feedback of customers, but to ensure that damages resulting from negative inaccuracies are reduced and that the company is being correctly represented online.

These negative online implications can come easier than you might think. For instance, anybody can start a blog. There are literally hundreds of free blogging platforms that people can use. If an ex-employee or a competitor wanted to start a blog that was meant to spread lies about your business or even about you personally, they could do it. In fact, this practice happens all too often, thanks to the Internet making it so easy to do so. It is the job of the reputation manager to ensure that problems like this are dealt with quickly, properly and professionally.

10 ONLINE REPUTATION MANAGEMENT FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW

1. Fortune 500 Company Executives Believe In Reputation Management.

“58% of executives believe that reputation management should be addressed, but only 15% actually do anything about it” –Deloitte. You want to get a competitive edge? Start DOING what nearly 60% of big time executives say they SHOULD be doing but aren’t!

2. Professional Marketers Say “Trust” Is Number One for Making a Sales-Worthy Impression.

“84% of marketers believe that building trust will be the primary focus for marketing efforts in the future” –Deloitte. Most marketers feel that trust is what makes the sale. Do you trust someone with a bad reputation? Neither will your customers.

3. MOST People Use Social Media to Decide What to Buy.

“4 out of 5 people state that they have received advice via social media regarding what product or service to purchase.” It is no secret. Social proof is powerful. If your social media reputation is lacking, you lose.

4. More and More Large Companies Are Hiring Full-Time Online Reputation Managers.

“The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the average salary of an online reputation manager between $38,000–$72,000.” –Labor Dept. Want to know what big companies think about reputation management? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics they think highly enough of reputation managers to hire them full-time and pay them handsome salaries.

5. More Adults Are On Social Media Sites Than You Might Think.

“46% of online adults have created their own profile on asocial networking site.” We can’t dismiss social media as a young person’s world anymore. All the people with the money and the spending power are moving online and making decisions based on what they find there.

6. The Public Trusts Social Media.

“Half of online adults (48%) agree that getting to know new people now is easier and more meaningful because you can learn things online about the people you meet. “Do you ever wish your customers could get to know you better? If they knew you better, they might buy more of your products and/or services. They can, and they want to via social media!

7. More Than You Know…

“16% of all Internet users have looked online for more information about someone they were dating or in a relationship with.” Think about that for a second! Even the most personal parts of our lives are affected by our online reputation.

8. People Are Using Social Media to Gain an Edge On Their Competition. That Means You.

“31% of employed Internet users have searched online for information about co-workers, professional colleagues or business competitors.”

9. Employees Feel Pressure to Manage Their Online Reputation.

“12% of employed adults say they need to market themselves online as part of their job. “If 1 out of every 10 employees thinks they need to be building their online reputation, shouldn’t you as a business owner be acting in the same capacity?

10. Social Proof Reigns Supreme and Traditional Advertising Is Dying.

“78% of consumers trust peer recommendations, only 14% trust advertisements. “Guess what, your reputation goes before you and social media only ensures that. No matter what ads you are running, no matter how many banners you put on your storefront, it will be the recommendations of peers based on your reputation that will bring customers, who are ready to buy, right to your doorstep.