Reputation management is hugely important for any individual or business. Controlling and monitoring your reputation is vital for maintaining good customer relationships, ensuring stability and in the end is essential for business survival.
What people think about your brand matters. Something as simple as a conversation can have a huge impact on the level of trust which people invest in you or your company. Social media has made reputations even harder to manage. News spreads faster, information is misinterpreted and before you know it, you've got a situation on your hands.
Can we control this? Yes and no. While we can't really control what is said about us, we can put systems in place to minimize the damage and mitigate risk. So with that, here's the 5 things you need to know about reputation management.
Have a good reputation
We'll start with an obvious one. In order to protect your good reputation, you need to have one. Deal with all issues, complaints or claims in a professional, calm manner. Never lash out or let your personal emotions take over.
Remember: Everything you do or say about on behalf of your company has the ability to affect it's reputation, so think before you speak.
Google yourself
This is a great place to start. Simply googling your or your company's name will show you what's already out there. This way you can begin to figure out what areas of your reputation may need some work. Plus, it will give you insight into what other people see when they search for you, so you can start to understand their first impressions.
Monitor social media
We can't control everything that people say about us online. But one way to stay ahead of any issues and have some element of control over what's being said is to monitor your social accounts daily. This is a key way to stay on top of negative or even untrue statements made towards you.
Don't get bogged down with negative comments
Someone will always have something to say. From time to time, not everyone is going to like what you do. That's OK. Try not to get too obsessed over monitoring communications surrounding you or your company. Often, getting involved can result in making things worse. Choose your battles wisely and know that you can't silence every bad comment.
Set attainable goals
With everything in life, it is important to set realistic goals if you are to complete the overall objective. Taking too much on when monitoring your reputation can leave you feeling fed up especially if there is a lot of negativity being spread. Take small steps and remember to focus your efforts on whats important. Try googling yourself once a week, or choose one social media platform to monitor every couple of days and rotate.
Next month's blog post will feature advice from industry recruiter, Noreen O'Keefe, on how to stand out from the crowd when apply for jobs.
Until then, here's last month's blog on personal branding!
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