When you buy something online, how do you decide what to choose? Do you go by price only? Or, like most of us, do you also look at what other purchasers think of the product? If an item on Amazon, for example, gets a number of negative one-star reviews, you’ll probably read the reviews to understand the reasons for the poor rating…and it may cause you to buy a different item. The same goes for businesses: A business that receives poor customer and client ratings rarely does well (if you allow issues to remain unresolved), so you need to take care of your own online reputation.
- Large internet, large audience. You have to consider that anyone who has dealt with your company, whether a large conglomerate or a smaller local operation, can and probably has written something online about the interaction. And, for good or ill, a number of views skew to the extreme–either positive or negative. Consequently, you need to do what you can to give your clients (and employees) a positive experience so you earn more “five-star” reviews. The internet makes your company eminently “findable,” and online reviews can impact a company’s bottom line.
- Consider the numbers. Along with that large audience, a study done by BrightLocal, a company which focuses on SEO marketing, did a study in 2014 that discovered 88 percent of consumers have used reviews to determine the quality of a local business. Thus local businesses need to work hard at bringing in local reviews as a way to maintain a positive online reputation. And 85 percent of those surveyed say they read up to ten reviews before feeling they can trust a business. Not only do you need to keep up that online rep, you should ideally make it easy and inviting for people to post a review.
- Suggestions for maintenance. You can take a few steps to create a solid online reputation. Start by regularly googling your company name to see what pops up. This can show you what others are saying and in what context. You should also maintain a regular presence on social media sites such as LinkedIn (posting articles about your company’s latest doings, causes and outside groups you work with) and blog pieces (if your company writes one) linked from your website. Customize your company website (and purchase the domain name) so others can easily find it.
A great deal of business is conducted through various online channels. It makes sense to keep your reputation as sterling as you would on paper or in person. Review your online presence regularly so that others will have only positive comments to leave. To learn more, reach out to our experienced staffing professionals at Medical Professionals today!
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