A strong social media presence is crucial in today’s digital world. There are literally billions of people interaction on social media every day, and businesses need to jump in there and engage if they want to grow.
But, wait. There’s billions of users. That means billions of eyes that can potentially land on you. Talk about feeling exposed. When social media is done right, that’s a ton of potential for building a stellar reputation in front of a global audience.
Unfortunately, with all the perks of social media come a few downsides too. One of the biggest being that it’s easy to lose control of your reputation, especially if you aren’t diligent about checking up on it. In a digital world filled with trolls and people who aren’t willing to give you a second chance, negative talk can affect your reputation before you’re even aware of it.
However, you’re not going to let the naysayers get you down. Whether your dealing with a few not so stellar reviews, or are just interested in proactively protecting your reputation, we have a few tips that will keep your followers happy and your name in good standing.
Be aware and monitor your reputation
It’s a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised at how often it gets overlooked. It’s easy to slip into that place where you’re confident in your product and top-notch customer service. After all, it’s a great place to be.
The issue here is you can get lulled into a false sense of security. You never know what little thing might have pushed a button, or how even the most benign gesture might be misinterpreted. It’s important to be aware of what’s being said about you, and where.
This starts by actively monitoring your social media profiles for feedback. There are some great reputation management tools available to help with this time-consuming task. Tools like Review Trackers scours a vast number of sites, including social media, for reviews on your brand. And then there’s straightforward apps like Go Fish, which is a digital complaint search that makes it easy to spot negative mentions of your name in the digital world.
Damage control
You’re going come across the occasional person who is less than pleased. There’s a theory out there that negative reviews can be a positive for your business. Here’s why.
First, nobody expects perfection out of you. But, they do expect professionalism. Mistakes happen, however it’s how you handle them that matter to your reputation. That’s why it’s absolutely crucial that you respond proactively to negative reviews.
The simple act of acknowledging concerns in a public forum is enough to gain respect. But, if you actively work to resolve the issue and show genuine concern for the customer while maintaining a professional presence, then you get a huge gold star for effort.
Potential customers want to know how you’ll react if they do have a problem or concern. Putting yourself out there as someone who’s compassionate and easy to work with is an instant reputation builder.
Have complete profiles
It’s all in the details. In an ideal world, customers would love to really get to know you before purchasing. Alas, that just isn’t always practical. You need to use every tool you have to show them that you’re reputable and trustworthy.
Your profiles are one of the first places they’re going to look for this validation.
Take the time to go to each of your social media accounts and fill in your profiles completely and accurately. Even if you’re certain they’re complete, check anyway. Make sure that all your information is consistent across each.
Pay extra attention to the small details, like the about section, and include quality images which add instant credibility to your social pages.
Partner with the right influencers
It’s absolutely acceptable to partner with an influencer to improve your social media reputation. In fact, it’s a great idea.
Influencers have already gained the trust and respect of their audience. If they say you’re golden (and why would they connect with you if you weren’t), your reputation is automatically elevated without much effort at all on your part. Local and industry specific influencers are great connections for small businesses in local communities.
Don’t let yourself sink in the shark infested waters of social media. You’re your own life preserver. Pay attention, be proactive and build the reputation you deserve. If you have questions about improving your social media reputation, TabithaNaylor.com is here to help.
