5 Reputation Management Mistakes to Avoid

It's common sense that your business' reputation is its most valuable asset. After all, we make countless decisions based on reputation all the time. Some of these decisions are big—like whether to accept a new job offer. But many are small—where to order a pizza, shop for new shoes or get a haircut.

Today, customers use online reviews to gauge your business' reputations. A glowing online review can drive revenue, while a bad review can haunt you.

Read on to learn five common mistakes businesses make when it comes to online reputation management.

Reputation Management Mistake #1: Posting Fake Online Reviews

Customers crave the social proof online reviews provide. With so much riding on online reviews, it's no wonder some business owners resort to posting fake ones.

When business owners become desperate for positive reviews, writing fake reviews becomes tempting. However, writing fake online reviews is one of the worst things you can do for your business. It could even get you kicked off some online review platforms.

It's important to care deeply about your online reputation management. But it's always better to take a slow and steady approach. Real online reviews are worth the effort, and fake ones aren't worth the risk.

Reputation Management Mistake #2: Expecting Online Reviews to Magically Appear

There are a few things that always seem to attract a crowd. Freshly-baked pastries, puppies, and public marriage proposals all fit the bill. Your online review profiles? Not so much.

If you're waiting for online reviews to organically show up, you may be disappointed by the results. Companies that earn dozens of online reviews often work for them behind the scenes. Reputation management is too important for you to leave it to chance.

Top tactics for earning more online reviews include:

• Leveraging post-purchase emails
• Requesting online reviews via a review management tool
• Displaying signage in your brick-and-mortar locations
• Adding a request to your printed receipts
• Including direct links to review platforms on your website and email signature

With time, these strategies can yield the valuable online reviews you're hoping for.

Reputation Management Mistake #3: Focusing on a Single Platform

Everyone has a favorite review platform. For some, Yelp is a go-to source for recommendations. Others might rely on Google or Facebook's caches of online reviews. Thorough online researchers may even check several platforms, searching for reviews that corroborate each other.

That's why it's crucial to maintain a presence on multiple online review platforms. Companies that limit their focus to a single review site risk ignoring substantial swaths of their customer base. In addition, being listed on multiple platforms boosts your Google listing.

Today, there are dozens of online business directories to choose from. Most also feature prominent online reviews. You can even use digital tools to manage online reviews from a single dashboard.

If you're serious about reputation management, cultivating online reviews on a range of platforms is a must.

Reputation Management Mistake #4: Attempting Pushback or Sarcasm

Every once in a while, your business might receive a suspicious review. It might contain impossible details, such as a date when your business was actually closed. Or, it might include a personal attack that violates the platform's rules.

In these situations, it's easy to get emotional. You might find your fingers flying over the keyboard, readying a sarcastic response. But before you hit "send," it's important to step back.

No matter how unfair a review might be, remember that your replies are visible to all customers. Engaging in a public fight will always do more harm than good.

Fortunately, most online review platforms provide a path for removing fraudulent or abusive reviews. For example, Google allows you to flag suspicious online reviews. If a platform agrees that a flagged or reported review is fraudulent, it will be taken down.

Reputation Management Mistake #5: Ignoring Online Reviews

With so many potential mistakes, some businesses ignore online reviews altogether. It's easy to understand why. After all, managing online reviews is a complex and time-consuming process.

But what people who ignore online reviews may not realize is that they're missing out on significant rewards. Businesses that pay attention to online reviews enjoy benefits such as:

• Receiving honest feedback about their goods and services
• Building deeper relationships with loyal customers
• Accessing user generated testimonials for their social media or website
• Earning a significant boost in search rankings
• Appearing in local searches
• Winning new customers who read positive reviews

Along with monitoring your online reviews, you should write responses as needed. If you do receive negative reviews, it's never too late to turn things around.

Customers who write negative reviews may still end up impressed by your commitment to customer service.

The bottom line? If you're serious about improving your reputation management, online reviews are a crucial part of the process.

Want to see how simple managing online reviews can be? get reviews!