Just as environmentally-conscious people and organizations are concerned about their carbon footprint, your brand’s digital footprint and reputation should be of equal consideration. There are a lot of misconceptions out there about online “reputation management.” Some people discount how much your online image matters, others choose to ignore negative comments and reviews – hoping nobody will see them or they’ll just, somehow, disappear – and still others think SEO and online reputation are unrelated. These can all spell disaster for your organization’s brand.
Trying to manage your brand’s reputation online and optimizing your website for search engines might seem intimidating, and it can be difficult if you don’t know the proper steps to take and how to execute them, but managing both are critical to your brand’s success. You need to constantly monitor and manage your online image, and never let your guard down.
What many people don’t realize is that doing so isn’t as hard as you might think, if you know what you need to do.
How do you manage your online presence?
Through careful digital marketing strategies and clearly defined social media outreach.
By increasing your website’s search engine optimization, you move your website higher in search engine rankings, making your brand even more reputable in a digital world over-saturated with content. Ranking higher matters. The Edelman Trust Barometer finds that 51% of people trust search engine results to deliver accurate reports and those businesses and organizations ranked higher tend to be seen as more trustworthy by consumers. What does that mean for you? It means people want information, they want it fast, and they tend to believe what search engines are showing them. If your online image is not the one you want, you’ve let your brand – your organization, your business – down.
Your digital footprint matters.
Your digital footprint is your online identity and individuality, and what makes you unique. It’s your brand’s online self portrait and people will use that image to size you up, so it’s important tha you do everything you can to ensure it’s accurate, and truly displays who you are. Here are a few ways you can improve and maintain your brand’s online image and reputation:
Respond to Reviews
When you respond to reviews on platforms like Google and Yelp, you engage with your audience and improve your search engine rankings. No matter what the review — good, bad, or ugly — you want to be a part of the conversation. Always tell your story.
Stay Active & Keep it Fresh
Whether it’s tweeting or blogging, you never want to leave enough time for dust to settle. Frequent posts on social media and consistent blog uploads help maintain brand awareness online.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
With over half the people in the world trusting search engines to deliver the best information first, it’s important to make sure your SEO is up to snuff. Make sure your site is working for you.
Managing your online reputation and boosting your search engine rankings are important pursuits for any organization, and even the smallest businesses or organizations cannot afford to overlook the potential benefits and pitfalls. If you’d like some professional help in managing your online reputation and optimizing your website for search engines, then reach out to Public Alliance. Our experts in digital marketing, social media, and reputation management are here to help you make the most of your digital footprint.
