In this article, we’ll discuss ways to use social media to protect your online reputation.
When it comes to social media, a lot of individuals and brands put themselves at risk for negative comments, exposure and judgment rather than use it to their advantage.
Today, there are billions of users spread across an assortment of social media sites, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and X. Social media users spend almost 2 and a half hours on social media per day and access 7 and a half platforms each month.
As a business owner, always assume that once something is posted to a social media site, it’s on the internet permanently. While you may have the ability to delete a post or image, it may have already been shared, and you can’t stop the spread of information on (or off) social sites.
The best way to protect yourself or your brand from social media blunders is to think before you post.
Additionally, social media apps provide so much more than an opportunity to tarnish your brand’s reputation online. You can use it to your benefit, too.
Let’s take a look at how you can use social media to your advantage while building a protective wall around your brand.
Claim Your Profiles on Various Social Sites
Social networks are powerful. And that’s not only because of how many people use social media and the broad audience you can reach with it.
Social media posts can rank highly in search engine results for a person’s or business’ name. Plus, a lot of users turn to social to learn more about a brand and ultimately decide whether or not to trust it.
DataReportal found that more than 76% of internet users go on social media to learn about brands and products. And according to Sprout Social, 68% of consumers use social media platforms to stay up-to-date about new products and services.
What does that mean? It means that you should have a presence on any and all social media platforms that are important to your audience.
To get started, make sure that you have an account set up on every social platform you plan to use. Even if you’re not going to be active on the platform right now, sign up for it and register your brand name (or as close to it as possible). If you wait to claim your brand name, you could lose it, and acquiring it can be impossible or at least very expensive once someone else has it.
Once your social account is set up, fill in the profile details. If you’re not yet going to use the profile, say something like “Coming soon!” in the details section so people know it’s not just a stagnant account. You could also link to an email list where people can subscribe to hear the news as soon as you officially launch the account.
It’s possible to create a robust, positive reputation online even if you’re starting from zero. Call us at
844-230-3803
for more information.
Develop a Positive Personal or Professional Brand Online
Next, you’ll need to create branding for your social media profiles. This is key to building and protecting your online reputation using social media. Here are some important best practices to keep in mind.
Keep It Consistent
Chances are that you’re going to have profiles set up on multiple social platforms. Make sure that your brand stays consistent across all of them.
That means using the same business name, primary image and color scheme on all of them. Also, keep the voice, tone and messaging the same or similar everywhere you have a presence online.
Additionally, never contradict what you post on one social platform with a post on another platform. Your brand values and goals should remain the same no matter where you post, and there’s never a reason to conflict with the image you’re trying to build.
We work with clients to help them build their online reputation and take control of their online identity. Give us a call at
844-230-3803
to learn more.
Show Off Your Authority
Instead of copying what everyone else is doing, post original content that spotlights your authority, expertise, knowledge and skills. Share industry insights, practical tips, links to your in-depth online content, etc.
Additionally, use social media to get involved in relevant conversations your audience is having. This is where you can share thoughts on industry topics and cement yourself as an expert in your field.
Remember to use different types of content and media to capture the attention of all your audience members instead of only a segment of them. People like to get their information in different ways, so be sure to deliver it via written content, photos, videos, etc.
Be Authentic In Your Engagement
People like to know that there’s a human being behind a brand’s facade. Social media provides the perfect platform for engaging with your audience in a real, genuine way.
Don’t be afraid to go behind the scenes at your business or show off your personality! Let your audience see your more human side so they can feel a real connection with you and your brand.
Also, responding to comments and messages — both negative reviews and positive feedback — will show your audience that you’re paying attention and care about what they have to say.
Dominate Search Engine Results With Regular Social Media Content
Social networking sites can protect your brand because it provides an easy way to post frequently, which in turn influences search engine results.
For example, if you Google “Taylor Swift,” the first results will be an overview of her career, including her demographics, songs, albums, events, etc.
If you scroll down a bit on the first results page, you’ll see a few top news stories about her, followed by Reddit posts in a “What people are saying” section.
After that, though, are the main Google search results, and the top spots are all dominated by Swift’s own content, including the following:
- Her website
- A Wikipedia page
- Her Instagram account
- Her X account
- Swift’s Facebook page
- Her TikTok account
- Her YouTube page
- Swift’s music on Spotify
Note that while Swift doesn’t own her Wikipedia page, it’s still considered a reliable source of neutral and positive content.
When it comes to the main search results, Swift doesn’t have to worry too much about what people are saying online because her own content takes up the top spots.
The lesson is that by regularly posting content to your owned platforms, including your social media profiles, you can control what people find out about you when they search for your name on Google.
You Can Build Your Online Presence With Professional Services
At OnlineReputation.com, we provide must-know information to individuals and businesses who want to create, grow or repair their digital reputation using social media. Whether you’re prioritizing your personal or professional online reputation, our advice and team of experts can help.
Through our parent company, NetReputation, we offer a range of online reputation management services, including ad management, search engine optimization, review monitoring, content removal, social media management and more. Our five-step ORM strategy ensures we cover every base to create a tailored program that’s right for you.
Get started with a free analysis here or explore our services offered through our parent company, NetReputation.