Why Online Reputation Matters In Business

SCUNTHORPE, U.K. - Feb. 7, 2018 - PRLog -- Let's look at the two most common online reputation problems – Bad Reviews and Negative Search Results. Both of these can have a major impact on businesses, and potentially even lead to the closure of the business if remedies aren't applied.

What do we mean by Bad Reviews?

A bad review is negative feedback that usually results in a one star rating that is visible when someone searches for you or company in a directory like Yelp or professional directory like Health Grades.

What do we mean by Negative Search Results?

A negative search engine result is an undesirable complaint or bad review that is visible when someone searches for you or your company in search engines like Google.

So, How Damaging Are Bad Reviews really?

Imagine for a second that you are looking to open a straightforward savings account where you plan to invest a substantial proportion of your life's savings. You search Google for "best savings account" and several companies show up. You visit their websites to get some more information, and decide based on services etc which company you're going to choose.

The next step is to open the account. Only this time you search the company's name and you see negative results, including a complaint website. For due diligence or out of curiosity, you just can't help yourself and have to click the negative result. It's irresistible.

In only a few minutes, the article you read and the comments from other people have changed your mind. The business you were prepared to have manage all of your money, you no longer trust. You don't know for sure if they are a bad company, but it is too risky to work with them.

You are going to find another option:- and this is exactly what potential customers will do to you or your company if you have a bad online reputation.

http://www.digitalox.co.uk/online-reputation-management/

Alana from DigitalOx explains 'People can't help their shopping habits. It's ingrained in us now. We check people or companies out Online, and if we see negative reviews, complaints etc we take our custom elsewhere. It's the way the world operates now.'

Some Reviews Can Be Fixed

In the case of many review websites, you can correct the problem by getting more positive reviews. As a result, the star rating will increase and a negative search result can become positive.

Some companies, such as DigitalOx, now offer a Review repair and management service and if your company is suffering from negative reviews it would be well worth you speaking to one of the market leaders in fixing the problem.

In this Online world, the biggest problem most businesses face is negative search results caused by news, blog and complaint sites that cannot be corrected by getting new positive reviews. It can even be an editorial piece where a writer is simply told to report the news or write a controversial story.

Does Your Business Suffer From A Damaged Online Reputation?

If you Google the name of your business and the first page contains negative information it is only a matter of time before it costs you customers. In the best case scenario, the customer will simply avoid doing business with you. In the worst case scenario, they will tell everyone they know.

In the digital era everyone has a voice – and let's be honest, that's not always a good thing. It gives anyone that has a problem with you the opportunity to share that with the world. For some business owners, it can be competitors maliciously taking advantage of the anonymity of the internet. For others it can come from a disgruntled ex-employee or even someone who missed out at an interview.

Whatever the origination of the problem is, failing to fix it can cost your business thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of pounds a year.

If someone Googles your company's name and on the first page they see negative articles, especially if those articles are in the top five results, then you have a damaged reputation and you need to talk to someone about repair.

The experts at DigitalOx continue 'We constantly see companies who've waited until nearly the whole of Page 1 of Google is a negative before seeking help. We're proud of our ability to help anybody, but it obviously makes our job easier – and the costs a lot less – to deal with it sooner rather than later'.

What Damaging Information is Out There?

Each company is a little different. Depending on what happened, the size of your business and the amount of money your customers spend will impact the types of content found online.

For businesses with legal trouble, the issues can be court documents, news stories, press coverage, and even arrest records. For businesses that wronged (intentionally or unintentionally) a customer, they can see negative reviews, ripoff reports, BBB complaints, scam advisor reports, videos and even entire websites maintained by those wronged customers.

While each scenario is slightly different, the problem is still the same. When a potential or even current customer sees these reports, they can be scared to do business with you. Not just because of being ripped off but also because they don't want to be associated with those types of issues.

Do I Need Reputation Repair?

If you Google your company and you see negative information, your current and future customers will see the same thing.