Do you know what people are saying about your business? If not, it may be time to take a serious look at your brand reputation. As the number one thing businesses should be concerned about, reputations matter much more than many people realize.
Think about it. Would you go to a restaurant with a 1 star review? Or a retail store that got reviews complaining about customer service? Neither would we!
Now, think about where you heard that these places weren’t good. While it could be a friend or family member, it could also be an online review.
The number one thing businesses should be concerned about is managing their reputation, because without a good one, it will be hard to continue being profitable. Online reviews have given customers the opportunity to tell virtually anyone their feelings about your business. Because negative reviews often show up in high ranking sites, customers are often directed towards the negative reviews first, rather than your website.
Your reputation can be thought of, as the one sentence people will say about you behind your back. Extremely important? Definitely. You should never underestimate just how badly a poor reputation can make your business look. According to Forbes, “There’s no greater value than a positive reputation, as it will open doors for you that otherwise never could.”
People are better connected than ever, which means they have all kinds of resources to turn towards when they are looking for advice. 
The old saying, “Any publicity is good publicity,” is no longer true. While it does bring attention to your business, there’s a big possibility that negative reviews could go viral. No one wants to have a negative reputation, especially when competition is only on the rise.
On the bright side, what comes from having a good reputation is like having a marketing campaign that is always working in your favor. You want your reputation to be one that is respectable, credible, and customer-focused. Without these three key ingredients, you might not have as strong of a reputation and brand as you could.
In order to maintain a strong brand image, you should really focus on your customers. Go out of your way for them and you can build loyal customers who won’t stray from your brand. Another important note is being consistent with not only your messaging, but also how you handle different situations. In the digital age of social media, it is also become increasingly important to be transparent with everything that you do. Remember, if you don’t communicate it with your customers, there is always a way for them to find out, and they will.
The power of a strong brand can be seen in any industry. Take Coca-Cola for example. Think of all the times you’ve reach for a Coke versus any other generic brand, or even Pepsi. Why do you do this? You do this because Coke has focused on their reputation for years, so much so that when you hear Coke, you think of friendship, family, and those cute polar bears, rather than the taste of the beverage.
Do you know what you’re customers are saying about you? If not, it may be time to hire a digital marketing agency that can help you out in this area so your reputation can work for you, not against you! With a lot of hard work, your reputation can always be turned around for the better – just remember that putting in this effort is definitely worth it.
