What is Online Reputation Management?

What is Online Reputation Management?

By Sarah Quek

2018 was a happening year.

Last year, countless scandals involving renowned social media influencers, celebrities and other prominent persons surfaced. While 2019 has yet to pass its halfway point, several cringe-worthy scandals have already bombarded the internet.

One of the latest buzzes today involves Hong Kong celebrity Andy Hui’s alleged infidelity. The scandal has even made its way to numerous local publications in Singapore!

Today, our perceptions are largely influenced by what we find on the internet. A simple Google search about you would be telling enough.  Sadly, one mistake could cause your reputation to go down the drain.

But alas, all hope is not lost yet. Because with a handy online reputation management strategy, you can influence a user’s perception of you when he Googles your name.

Sounds complicated? It’s actually pretty simple. Read on to learn about what online reputation management is and how it can help you!

Definition of Online Reputation Management

Whether you are an owner of a business, an influencer or a working professional, one negative review and scandal could damage your reputation. That’s where online reputation management comes in.

But how exactly is online reputation management defined?

In a nutshell, online reputation management (or ORM) can be defined as a strategy to build a “good” reputation by various tech-based means. These include the accumulation of positive reviews on social media and development of microsites.

Effective ORM involves a lot more than just knowledge about SEO, customer service, web development and content marketing. It demands quick turnaround time to respond to negative reviews and websites. Reputation management specialists are constantly on their toes and ready to troubleshoot whenever negative reviews surface.

2 Simple Ways to Manage Your Online Reputation

In the age where reviews matter, ORM is crucial in boosting brand awareness and constructing a professional image. Here are some ways it can be done.

1. Accumulate as Many Positive Reviews as Possible…

If your website and social platforms are flooded with numerous negative reviews, it would probably be quite difficult to earn trust. When you have a colossal number of positive reviews, however, you are more likely to get a lead!

In this sense, getting more positive reviews is imperative. Try to ask for testimonials and feedback to build your own portfolio on your website as well as social networks. Provide incentives like rewards and offers to amplify those 5-star ratings!

Also, make sure you monitor your social media carefully and consistently so that you stay up-to-date with the latest buzz.

…and Respond Professionally to Negative Reviews

Every rose has its thorns. But instead of throwing in the towel when you get a negative review, use it as an opportunity to showcase your professionalism.

If you do get a negative review, own up and apologise as soon as possible. Provide a solution to give the angry reviewer the assistance and help he needs. Never ever ignore a negative review.

2. Develop Positive Microsites

These days, whenever scandals occur, any regular internet user will immediately head to Google to learn more about the situation. In order to give off a good first impression when a user googles your name or business, the first page of Google Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) needs to be filled only with positive websites.

This is where knowledge about search engine optimisation (SEO) and web development would come in handy.

SEO refers to the process of incorporating high-traffic and low-competition key phrases and words to your website. It also involves internal linking to other pages on your website as well as external linksto other websites outside your domain.

ORM experts leverage microsites and craft content with high-traffic and low-competition keywords to push the rankings of negative websites down on Google SERPs. After all, most users do not browse beyond the second page of Google! ORM specialists create and edit microsites such that the microsites will be able to rank high on Google SERPs.

In order to make sure the positive microsites dominate the first page of Google SERPs, ORM specialists need to make sure that their microsites contain SEO-friendly content based on relevant and optimal keywords as well as internal and external links. Moreover, the microsites need to be completely free of errors. That means no broken links, no HTTP 404 Not Found Error, and no spam.

A Sure-Fire Strategy to Salvage Your Reputation

The internet is a cold and cruel place. But luckily with online reputation management, you have another shot at salvaging your professional image.

If you are looking for online reputation management specialist to get your positive URLs ranking on the first page of Google SERPs, then First Page Digital is your best bet. Its online reputation management specialists will be able to offer the most effective solutions to help you salvage your rep. Click here to learn more about what they do.

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About Author

Sarah is a 20-something year old content producer at First Page Digitalwith more than 2 years of experience in SEO, blogging, paid-marketing, and social media management. She enjoys producing content related to health & fitness, digital marketing as well as beauty. Follow her on Instagram (@sarquek_).