This article about reputation score explains what the score is and why it’s important for your business.
You’ve been busy building your brand and business online. You’ve worked hard to craft social media profiles, publish blog posts, create a professional website, and engage with your audience.
But have you ever wondered what your online reputation score is and why it matters?
The truth is that your reputation is one of your most valuable assets in today’s digital world. An online reputation score objectively measures how you’re perceived online.
A brand’s online reputation score can determine your trust and authority with your audience, how credible you seem to others, and, ultimately, how successful your business can become.
If you haven’t given much thought to your reputation score, now is the time to start. Monitoring and managing your online reputation is vital to protect your brand and achieve your goals.
This article will explore online reputation management and your brand’s online reputation score, covering why it’s so important and steps to improve your score while strengthening your reputation.
Your future success depends on the reputation you build today. To speak with an online reputation management expert today, call us at
.
What Is an Online Reputation Score?
Your online reputation score is a number that represents how you’re perceived on the internet. It’s calculated based on various elements, including:
- Mentions of your name or brand on websites
- Social media
- Online reviews and ratings
- News articles
The higher your score, the better your reputation.
A good reputation score means search results for your name showcase positive and flattering mentions. For businesses, this translates into more visibility, credibility, and trust in customers’ eyes. For individuals, having a positive personal reputation score means establishing your authority and expertise.
Companies that offer online reputation management services use several reputation scoring models. Most evaluate factors like the following:
- The overall sentiment (positive, negative, or neutral) of what’s being said about you.
- The credibility and authority of websites and domains mentioning you. Authoritative, reputable sites carry more weight.
- The relevance of search results for your name or brand. Mentions that refer to you are more impactful.
- How recently mentions were published. Newer results have a bigger influence on your current reputation score.
- The frequency of mentions. More mentions, especially over a long period, indicate higher visibility and prominence.
Understanding your professional or personal reputation score and the factors affecting it is critical to improving your reputation.
You need to know your baseline to set goals and track progress. The good news is that with ongoing effort, you can absolutely boost your score over weeks, months, and years.
When your personal or company’s reputation is on the rise, the sky’s the limit!
Why Your Online Reputation Score Matters
Your online reputation score matters more than you realize. In this section, we’ll explain why it’s so important to consider online reputation management to generate positive reviews, leverage customer feedback and focus on your business’s reputation score.
Your Company’s Online Reputation Affects How Others Perceive You
The internet never forgets. Whether you’re an individual or a business, people can easily find information about you with a quick search.
If what they find paints you negatively, their opinion may be swayed before they even know the real you.
Monitoring your reputation and making corrections when needed helps ensure people see an accurate, positive representation.
Your Score Impacts Your Opportunities
A poor online reputation and a bad reputation score can limit your chances in many areas of life.
As an individual, it may hurt your dating prospects or job opportunities. For businesses, it can reduce new client acquisition and damage customer retention.
People prefer to engage with those who have a good reputation. By maintaining a positive reputation, you open yourself up to more and better opportunities with current and potential customers.
A Bad Reputation Score is Difficult to Repair
It’s much easier to build and maintain a good reputation than to fix a low reputation score.
Harmful online reviews and negative content spread like wildfire across the internet, and trying to put out the flames once the damage is done often feels like an uphill battle.
While reputation repair is possible, it requires consistent work over a long period of time. It’s always best to monitor your reputation before issues arise and make proactive efforts to strengthen it.
Your online reputation matters for many reasons. Paying attention to it now and trying to improve or maintain it will serve you well for years. The opportunities and success it brings are worth the investment.
What’s your reputation score, and what are you doing about it? To speak with an expert, call us today at
.
How to Check Your Online Reputation Score for Free
Anyone with an online presence should regularly check their online reputation score. This allows them to monitor what information comes up about them on the internet and gives them insights into their digital reputation.
Here’s how to check whether or not you have a good reputation score.
Search for Your Personal or Brand Name
The simplest way to check your online reputation is to search for your name on major search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
See what websites, social media profiles, news articles, images, and other information appear in the search results.
Look for negative items like scathing reviews, negative customer feedback critical blog posts, or embarrassing photos that could damage your reputation.
Check Online Review Sites for Comments and Ratings
Search for your name on sites where people can leave reviews, like the Better Business Bureau, Glassdoor, and Google Reviews.
See if any reviews mention you or your business by name and whether they seem primarily positive or negative.
Negative reviews here can hurt your reputation, so you may need to address them.
Monitor Social Media for Mentions
Search for mentions of your name on social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Look for posts, comments, tags, and hashtags referencing you, especially public ones from people outside your connections.
Check that the overall sentiment seems optimistic and your social media profiles project a good image.
Use Online Reputation Tools for Reputation Management
Some free tools can give you an overview of your digital reputation in one place. Try BrandYourself, Ubersuggest, or MozBar. These tools search the internet for references to your name and profile and give you a reputation score to show you where you stand. They also provide recommendations for improving poor scores by optimizing social profiles, addressing negative reviews, publishing positive content, and more.
It’s important for both individuals and businesses today to monitor their online reputation regularly and take steps to improve it when needed. A poor reputation on the internet can damage relationships, credibility, and even revenue, so it’s worth investing the time to keep your reputation score high.
To speak with an ORM expert today, call us at
.
How To Improve Your Online Reputation Score
Now that you know why it’s so important to create a positive online reputation, we’ll give you a few ideas of what to do next. The best path forward is to focus on the factors within your control to improve your online reputation score.
Here are some tips to boost your score over time:
Be Active on Social Media
Establish profiles on major social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Post regularly to build your networks and engage followers. Share a mix of personal and professional updates, news articles, and media related to your industry or interests.
Likes, comments, and shares all contribute to improving your score.
Build a Professional Website
If you own a business, create an attractive, mobile-friendly website to establish your online credibility. For individuals, consider a personal website or blog to highlight your experience, skills, and accomplishments. Regularly update your site with new content to keep visitors engaged.
Generate Positive Reviews
Ask happy clients or customers to leave reviews on Facebook, Google, and Bing. Respond to both positive and negative reviews in a professional, constructive manner. Politely address issues raised in any critical reviews.
Studies show that consumers trust businesses with some negative reviews that have been professionally addressed.
Be Active in Online Communities
Search for Facebook Groups, LinkedIn Groups, or online forums related to your industry or interests and become an active, contributing member. Provide helpful information, start discussions, and build connections. The more you participate, the more credibility and authority you will gain.
Search for Your Name Regularly
Google yourself at least once a month to monitor what information appears in the search results. Report any negative, false, or outdated content to the appropriate companies for removal.
With consistency and time, following these tips can significantly improve your online reputation score and help you gain greater visibility and trust on the internet. Keep strengthening your brand by cultivating an authentic, engaging online presence.
If necessary, you may also consider reputation management services to reduce unflattering content. In that case, speak with one of our experts today by calling
.
You Can Create and Maintain a Positive Online Reputation With the Right Approach
Now you know that your online reputation score matters and is worth monitoring regularly.
Take steps to improve your score by being more active on social media, engaging with others positively, and pushing out great content that shows your expertise. Work to build a solid personal brand and online presence.
The higher your score climbs, the more opportunities may come your way, personally and professionally.
While it may feel overwhelming, focus on consistency and authenticity. Ultimately, the key to a good reputation is simply being your best self.
Check your score, plan to boost it, and then get out there and engage — your future self will thank you.
Get a Free Reputation Analysis
Online reputation management companies like OnlineReputation.com can help monitor and improve your online reputation score.
We will evaluate your online presence across the major search engines and social media platforms. Our experts will look for any harmful content about you or your business and gauge how prominently it ranks in search results. We can give you an honest assessment of your current reputation and a plan for improving it.
Improving your score takes work, but OnlineReputation.com has several effective techniques we may recommend based on your situation:
- Create positive online content, such as a professional website, social media profiles, and blog, to push down harmful listings in search rankings. Post frequently to keep content fresh.
- Build citations and get listed in high-authority directories to increase your online authority and rankings.
- Engage in online conversations and highlight your expertise by commenting on relevant industry blogs, news sites, and forums. Make sure to always be authentic and add real value.
- Promote positive reviews and testimonials from happy clients or customers. Ask them to post on sites like Google, Facebook, and other platforms.
- Consider online reputation advertising campaigns to promote positive content and drown out the negative. OnlineReputation.com can help get promotional content ranking higher.
- File complaints when false, defamatory, or malicious content is posted about you. Get legal counsel on the proper procedures for requesting its removal.
With professional guidance and persistent effort to cultivate a stellar online reputation, you can control what people find when they search for you and improve your overall reputation score.
However, it will require ongoing monitoring and upkeep to defend against future attacks.
OnlineReputation.com can help you win the reputation game in the long run. Contact us today by calling
.