The Importance of a Positive Online Reputation

A positive online reputation should be one of the most important goals of your business. An online reputation will signify how your business is perceived in the eyes of potential customers, based on the information that is available online. If your business already has an online presence, hopefully it is a positive one. Whether you have a positive online presence or have a negative one, this is the best time to put some hard work and effort into establishing a more robust and positive online presence.

The Consequences of a Lack of an Online Presence

An online reputation is so important, that a simple mishap can lead to a loss of revenue as well as a loss of trust in your business or brand. An online reputation is a fragile matter and can sometimes be difficult to recover. Consequently, it is vital for businesses to make necessary investments to ensure that their online reputation is in good standing.

What is an Online Reputation?

A good online reputation is characterized as a positive perception of the business that is based on available information found online. An online reputation is frequently mistaken as being a matter that is uncontrollable, since an online reputation is essentially information consumers gather via Google reviews, Google search results, Yelp reviews, social media platforms, and more. Although opinions are largely subjective, they can be shaped by the actions your business takes to manage what appears on the internet.

Key Benefits of an Online Reputation

According to some reports, Google handles close to 4 million online searches per minute worldwide. Now more than ever, people are Googling and searching the internet for information at an increasingly fast rate. Given the large volume of online searches being made, it is critical that you make sure that when your business is being searched, your online presence is a positive one.

When a business has established a good online reputation, this can lead to higher trust in the business, less risk, better talent, and a significantly higher profit. When a business has a good online reputation, it is likely the business will be given a second chance given a mishap. Further, many search engines and review websites will rank business listing factoring in positive reviews.

The following is a detailed list of the aforementioned benefits that will establish and maintain a good online reputation:

• Better talent: A brand that has an established reputation can obtain better employees. Many people seek employment at companies that share the same beliefs and core values as they do. They will look for a company that they feel they can trust. When a company has a good online reputation, this will usually lead to applicants who have a higher probability of sticking around for a while.
• Higher trust in the brand: A business that cannot get customers to trust in their brand will have a very hard time to get people to buy their products. Consumers tend to trust companies that have a good and established reputation more than they trust companies with a negative reputation or lack thereof. As a result, customers who trust the company are more likely to make recurring purchases and recommend the business to others.
• Increase in profits: A company who has an online presence gets more business. There are ample studies out there that indicate that a business who has an online presence and good reviews will have an increase in their business revenue.
• There is less risk: Many consumers tend to follow the crowds. If your business has not established an online presence or if the online reputation is a negative one, it is likely that this can perpetuate a negative sentiment. Unfortunately, this can lead to additional problems for your business.
• Mitigating the severity of a scandal: A company that shares the same core values as its clientele base is more likely to overcome a scandal easier than one that does not. An online presence gives businesses the opportunity to share their values, goals, and other information customers can find valuable.
• Improved marketing: An online reputation is relatively close to a business’ marketing efforts. Maintaining an online reputation can help your business stand out from other competitors, and in turn, help you attract more customers. With a good online presence, these customers have a higher probability of becoming repeat customers and will also take their time to share their experience with other consumers through a review or social media posts. Further, positive reviews can help boost your business into the Google Map Pack, which is responsible for much of the search traffic on Googles search engine.

Build and Maintain an Online Reputation

In today’s modern world, access to the history and reputation of a business is accessible in the simple click of a button. As millions of consumers turn to online platforms to share their experiences, it is evident that a non-existent or subpar online reputation can be disastrous.

At Launchpad Legal Marketing, we understand that an online reputation can make or break your business. Our team is dedicated to taking the time to assess the current situation of your business, review your search results, create positive online content, and help you focus on maintaining a positive brand. Our review generation and reputation management packages are comprehensive and can start working to boosting your brand image immediately. Contact us today for more information on how to get your business’ online image to increase your clientele base and ultimately increase its revenue.