Everyone Is A Brand And Online Reviews Decide Your Reputation

Are you underestimating the power of online reviews?

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Have you ever tried “searching” yourself online? After you type your name into that fateful search box, what comes up? Your social media profiles? Articles that highlight your accomplishments? Information and images you are a bit shocked to find online?

“Searching” yourself is usually the first suggested step to do when sprucing up your online brand. For individuals and businesses alike, online reviews greatly contribute to your digital and offline reputation.

Ratings and reviews… everyone wants ‘em, everyone needs ‘em. Especially when it comes to our digitized lives.

Everyone’s A Brand

Yes we know, it’s a bit strange for you to be lumped together in the same branded pile as some business. But never fear, there is a method to the madness.

Unless you’re actively avoiding the internet, pretty much everyone has a digital presence. Being virtually connected is just a part of life now. You are a brand because of your digital presence, whether you like it or not.

When you apply for a job, you can be pretty well sure your potential employer is typing your name into a search box.

Websites out there even exist where people rate individuals such as their ex’s, teachers, or freelancers.

Freelancers are a sector of people where positive online reviews can make or break their careers. Sites like Fiver, feature reviews of the freelancers on their site. Naturally, the more positive reviews a freelancer has, the more likely other people will want to work with them. And that starts a positive cycle of success.

Businesses, of course, have a brand. But because of the internet, the way a business’ brand interacts with their audience shifted from unflinching authority to a respected peer or friend. Company brands engage in a two-way conversation with their audience. Life-long trusted customer relationships rule over one-off transactions.

In a community-based brand relationship like this, positive reviews are even more important. According to research, people trust what third-parties say about a company over what a company says about itself.

Ratings And Reviews

Online reviews go far beyond just being a comment. It’s your online reputation that’s at stake. Now that we know everyone’s a brand, what exactly are the benefits of online reviews? Online reputations is deeply, deeply important for businesses.

1. Increased Sales

This is the number one reason why reviews are so important to a business. Reviews give consumers the information and social proof to make a final decision and hit that “Buy Now” button. People always, always, always will more likely purchase something recommended by someone else. Even if that “someone else” is a random internet stranger.

2. Understand and better serve customers

The better you serve your customers, the more they will purchase from you. So what better way to hear it than straight from the horses’ mouth? In their reviews, they will let you know where you’re doing well and where you need to improve.

3. Improve rankings

Not only will you have a better reputation with people, search engines fancy a site that has online reviews as well. What does this mean for you? Your site will be higher ranked in search engine results, giving your site more visibility.

4. Higher keyword content

The keywords in reviews most likely contain relevant keywords for your business (they are reviewing your product/ service, after all). So your website will more easily rank higher in search engine results.

5. Customers have a voice

People love to feel that they are worthwhile and important. When they leave online reviews, it helps them feel that their words are making a real difference especially when you respond to their reviews and make adjustments according to their review.

6. Create consumer loyalty

Anyone who leaves you an online review are more likely to feel a certain loyalty to your company and return year after year.

7. Create consumer engagement

Rather than just a one-way lane of feedback, you can create a social community where everyone responds and comments to each other’s commentary. Consumers continue to go back to your website to see if their post has any responses, or to see what other customers have to say about your company in general.

8. Consumers do the marketing for yourself

A good review is invaluable as they act as micro-campaigns that keep working long after the online review has been posted. It acts as word-of-mouth marketing.

9. Reviews snowball into more reviews

Yes, it’s the snowball effect. When people see reviews on your site, it encourages them and gives them the confidence to add their own 2 cents. Psychologists are still trying to figure out this new form of online “crowd behavior.”

Some Practical Tips On Managing Your Ratings And Reviews

We’ve seen what online reviews are and their benefits. Now, here are some quick tips and tricks on practically managing your reviews.

How To Deal With A Negative Review

Respond promptly – disgruntled customers are not ones to wait

Be polite – your customer is already in a sensitive mood

See the good in a bad review – customers don’t trust sites with only positive reviews, a few negative reviews give your site a more authentic feel

Focus On Your Best Performing Channel

You no longer need to have a social profile on every. Single. Social. Platform. Instead, spend your time and energy on the social platforms your audience spends the most time on.

Create A Variety Of Content

Your audience deserves the best content. Mix it up and try different mediums, messages, and forms. Rather than create content for the sake of it, really reflect if that piece of content gives value as a light laugh, deep insight, or helpful advice. Can’t attract reviews if no one engages with your content!

Word Up:

Everyone with an online presence is a brand. And the reputation of that online presence directly affects your real life, whether that be employment, dating, school, or business.

Favorable reviews lead to greater sales, improved search engine rankings, and create customer loyalty. Ratings and reviews are deeply important for forging a positive view of your brand.

(T) The Major (T)rending Topics For 2019

(R) Everyone Is A Brand And Online (R)eviews Decide Your Reputation

(E) What’s Trending In (e)Content

(N) The (N)aked Truth About Your Online Privacy

(D) Surprising (D)ata Predictions For 2019

(I) Stay Ahead Of 2019 With These 11 (I)ntelligent Trends

(N)etwork Personalization And Humanization Create A Human-Centric World

(G) New Kids On The Block: (G)eneration Z And The Future Of Tech

(T)rust Makes The Online World Go ‘Round

(O) Content Marketing (O)bjectives Are The Bridge To Your Goals

(P) Online (P)rivacy Trends: Your Data Is A Big Deal

(I) 2019 – The Year Of (I)nventions, Innovations, Progress, And Ideas