Estimated reading time: 5 mins
For both a small business just starting or a large corporation that has been running for years, their reputation is the single most important aspect of the business. It can help to increase a company’s profit and build higher levels of trust, which is essential for attracting new clients.
Having a good, strong positive reputation is attractive to potential clients, as it shows that the business is reliable and delivers excellent service. When searching for a business, the reputation of a company can be a deal-breaker for potential clients. Aside from attracting clients to a business, a reputation can also determine if they stay, or not.
However, it is not just clients that a strong reputation attracts, any quality talent looking for a job will look at companies with a good reputation as it signifies a thriving business, with opportunities to grow.
Having a strong reputation overall can provide a business with countless benefits. Having a positive reputation online, however, can open the door to an endless stream of opportunities for a business. It can allow a business to stand out amongst its competitors in the industry, marking them as the best choice for potential clients.
Although having a strong reputation might seem as if it only refers to how good a company looks, it is more about how they can survive in the larger corporate landscape. In addition to building a strong reputation, creating a positive presence for your business online can help to accelerate the growth of your business.
Perks Of A Strong Online Reputation
Surveys conducted surrounding online reputation revealed that 60% of consumers admitted to looking at online reviews of businesses weekly at least. A staggering 93% revealed that online reviews influence their decision on whether they make the purchase. These figures are an indication of the impact having a positive online presence can have on a business.
- Create Connections – Having a good reputation can lead to building excellent relationships in your network. When you interact and connect with more people and develop a close, positive connection with them, it can lead to an increasing number of opportunities available to your business. This allows you to further spread the word about your business to a new audience, which will allow you to further increase the number of people who like your company. In turn, this could lead to a rise in potential clients and possibly even partnerships.
- Advantage Over Your Competition – Having (and maintaining) a strong online presence marks you out amongst your competition. When searching for the services or products you provide, potential clients will take notice of what previous clients have said about your company and the experiences they had when working with you. If they find your company and one of your competitors, they will take into consideration what previous clients said about you and the other business. For example, if a client was looking between the reviews of two companies and one had 4-star reviews whilst the other had 2, they will be more inclined to go with the higher rating business. Of course, the price of the service might play a small part in their decision, but it is the online opinion of previous clients that could make the difference.
- Effective Form Of Marketing – In today’s world, there is a vast range of platforms available that allow clients to voice their opinions on the companies they have worked with and leave reviews for others to see. The convenience of being able to share their experiences online in reviews easily is an attractive factor for clients. Any clients looking for a particular service or product will spend time reading the reviews of previous users as they feel as they provide a more accurate picture of what a business offers. Previous clients who were extremely happy and satisfied with their experience and the service provided, are also more likely to tell friends and fellow peers in their sector about your company.
How To Achieve A Positive Presence Online
Currently, we are in an era where the internet is dominating a lot of our choices, how we view things and how we consume information. When it comes to businesses, the information about your product or services and what clients should expect to receive will only help so much in their decision on whether to work with your company. It is the information available online, such as reviews created by previous clients, that tend to be the deciding factors for clients if they seek your services or products.
Knowing the importance of having a positive presence online is one thing, understanding how to create one is another. There are resources available to help create a positive presence, here are just a few of them.
Raving Reviews Are Essential
As mentioned, one of the most effective ways to establish a positive reputation for your business is through raving reviews. There are various ways to help you build a reputation in your sector for being a trusting provider. For instance, you can use review generation software which allows previous customers to write reviews of your services.
It is important to keep on top of the reviews made about your business. Whether they are positive or negative, responding to each comment about your business shows potential clients that you take all feedback on board and are actively working on improving your company.
Always Remain Updated
Take the time to review any information about your business, whether it has been posted by yourself or others and remove anything irrelevant. This will ensure that all information about your business online is relevant and updated.
Take The Time To Make A Good Impression
Building a positive online presence for your business is not going to occur overnight. Growing your presence and receiving a substantial number of reviews from clients is going to take time. It is important to be patient, using the strategies available to help you grow and create a positive presence online. Whilst it may take a little while, the results will certainly be worth the wait.
