Optimize your online reputation to attract and retain clients
Posted: July 31, 2020 - By Cris RiveraWhile it has always been important for a business to remain flexible and adapt to the countless variables, both in and out of your control, it’s safe to say not many businesses imagined the ability to adapt would become a top priority. After all the economy swings up and down, cities grow, and demographics change, so adapting is nothing new. However, adapting to the new digital paradigm as a result of the pandemic is something businesses have never experienced before. At the onset of the pandemic, it was apparent that being able to adapt would become so fundamentally vital in successfully managing and optimizing your business online.
Online listings like Google My Business, Yelp and other online directories are one of the best ways for local businesses of all sizes to gain online visibility which is essential in these times. During the pandemic, instead of using online listings to search for local businesses to visit, people are looking for information like updated delivery and pickup options as well as adjusted hours. This change in behavior makes optimizing online listings and regularly monitoring online reviews critical. Here are some ways you can make sure you’re improving your online presence and reputation.
Make sure your business information is current
This is the first step you can take to make sure that clients are aware of the most up-to-date information about your business. By providing current information on the listing sites, you’re easily letting clients know if there are any temporary changes including: change of operating hours, COVID-19 safety procedures, out-of-stock items, and gift card availability. By far the best way to accomplish this is using a listing management software that ensures listings are updated simultaneously across all review sites. Whether your business is currently on a few listing sites or you need to quickly update your business information across numerous listing sites, an automated listing software can help save valuable time and allow you to focus on operating your business.
Monitor and respond to reviews
Your clients’ opinion matters! This is especially true for clients who take the time to leave a review on one of your business listings. Everyone has needed to adapt to this pandemic in numerous ways but the one thing that hasn’t changed is people leaving online reviews to express what they think of your business. Clients are sure to express if they felt safe coming back to your office and if you are taking proper precautions to ensure their health and wellbeing. Now is the time to pay extra special attention to online reviews. Remember to respond to all reviews in a timely manner, even the negative reviews. Actively maintaining your online reputation shows existing and potential clients that you care about them receiving the best service possible. Additionally, keep in mind that Google takes into consideration a combination of both review activity and responses from businesses when propagating search engine results. By responding to reviews you ensure that you are getting more online visibility compared to your competitors.
Consider professional review management
If you’re a business owner you know that the best strategy to optimize your online reputation in order to attract clients is with an automated solution that will help you navigate successfully through the pandemic and beyond. Demandforce provides online reputation management tools that make it easier to collect and manage online reviews all in one place. Features like Review Alerts help you stay on top of your reviews by sending an email notification to you as soon as you receive an online review on sites like Google, Yelp, Facebook and more. In addition, Demandforce customers are equipped with suggested replies to make responding to customers faster and can even customize a response to be sent publicly or through a direct message.
