Reputation Management is an essential part of brand building that influences the way people perceive your brand in Rwanda, and it goes beyond making sure your company has great reviews. The best reviews can quickly be overrun by bad ones, especially on the internet, where a wrongfully written article about your business can cause almost irreparable damage to its reputation.
You could be misquoted, accused of breaking the law or violating human rights. You could simply be the target of competitors who seek to take your place in a competitive market. That’s why it’s important to maintain an effective reputation management system that will protect your company.
So, how do you do that?
Research
You can begin by using free research tools at your disposal – Google Search to be specific. In this phase, you will research everything that relates to your company name and product, and document the results. Also, you can conduct surveys as your company grows, to get data specific to your brand.
Stay Aware of What’s Going On with Your Brand
Effective online reputation management involves constantly knowing and understanding what is happening with, and being said about your brand. You can use brand monitoring tools like Mention that can help you holistically manage your brand and stay on top of your reputation. Google Alerts may also be helpful for you to see what others post about you.
Keep Your Website and Social Media Updated
Your business needs to remain relevant if you want to rank high on online search results. Ensuring that your website and socials are always updated will do so. This means you need to keep your content fresh, share it consistently, and pay attention to your social media strategy.
Don’t Respond Immediately to Bad Press
When you are facing a potential PR disaster, your gut reaction would be to respond immediately. This is understandable. Sometimes though, it would be sensible to step back and wait. While you might need to say something such as, “we are looking into this,” it’s important that you don’t be negative, attack your detractors, or meltdown in any way.
Admit Your Mistakes and Commit to Fixing Them
In case of mistakes made on your part, your best move would be to admit to them. Apologize to your clients and your online audience, and do your best to rectify the mistakes. People give second chances, meaning you can redeem yourself. Be frank, even if you don’t go into detail. And also, avoid cover-ups.
Build Relationships with Your Audience
It’s important to continue building relationships with your audience. Online reputation management has a lot to do with how many people actually believe what is being said about you. Create a brand that people love, and you’ll be able to weather most storms that come your way.
Are you considering building a Reputation Management Strategy, or revising an existing one for your company? Don’t hesitate to contact us for our services in helping you achieve this. Email info@blueoceans.rw