You’ve heard the phrase, “You only get one chance to make a first impression, right? When a potential client finds you online, he or she will have your site as the first impression and you have no way to make a better impression if the first leaves a bad taste in his or her mouth. What can you do to manage your online reputation? Here are a few steps you can take:
- Set up Google alerts for your name and your business name. This way when you are mentioned on line you will receive a notification.
- Make certain you own your own domain name. You don’t want to be running a business called, ItsMyBusiness and have someone else own the domain ItsMyBusiness.com you need to be in control of your name, your business name and own the domain. It is wise to grab your own name as a .com if possible.
- House your content in one location. Build a website and make certain that all that you do resides there or that it links back to that original home site. It’s not only convenient, but it makes it easier for you to track your online activity and to drive potential clients to that one spot.
- Be on social media sites and be active there. If you want to know what people are saying about you, you need to be where they are saying it. Also, setting up social media sites helps make you and your business more relevant and gives you a place and a way to interact and show your expertise. Don’t just sign up for a Facebook or Twitter page, be active and build your profile once you’ve claimed your name.
- Remember, nothing you put on the Internet is truly private. If you don’t want potential clients to see you wearing a lampshade at the company party, then don’t post it online. Even your “private” settings aren’t as private as you’d imagine. If you don’t want the world to see a photo of you, then don’t have it taken and posted. Simple as that.
If you find a bad review of yourself or your business online, reach out to the reviewer and see if you can rectify whatever it was that made them post that review. You need to be proactive to manage and protect your reputation.