5 Tips to Triage a Negative Online Reputation for Businesses on a Budget

If your business is on a budget, but experiencing a problem with your internet reputation, there are several ways to manage the crisis until you can get help. Keep reading to learn more.

 

As a business owner, you are likely aware of the countless review websites where customers can comment on your products or services with relative anonymity. With the fast paced nature of the internet, these reviews can spread quickly, effectively puncturing a hole in your online reputation. If you are a start up or are experiencing financial issues, you may not have professional reputation management in the budget yet. Still, it is important to nip the issue in the bud until you can hire a professional. To protect your brand in the meantime, try the following techniques:

 

  1. Disable Comments.

Some websites, such as Facebook or Twitter offer a variety of privacy settings to help control comments. Using these features, you can disable further comments regarding the detrimental issue.

 

  1. Start Rebuilding Behind the Scenes.

Until you can create a reputation management plan with a professional, try to remain out of the spotlight. That being said, you should also start building a variety of new platforms to re-launch your brand into the industry.

 

  1. Delete The Comment.

Though it may not be possible, some websites allow you to delete the negative comment. For example, if the comment is made on your company’s Facebook page, you can easily delete the offending words. If not, you can hire a professional for the limited purpose of removing the comment.

 

  1. Don’t Retaliate.

It is natural to want to defend your brand when you are under attack. This strategy, however, will only add fuel to the fire and make the issue more visible through search engines.

 

  1. Don’t Try To Do Too Much.

Even if you have the best intentions, you shouldn’t take on a full-fledged reputation management plan on your own. Only professional reputation managers have the skills and knowledge necessary to properly deal with the issue.

 

When you are ready to address your online reputation with a professional, remember to contact us promptly. Your business’s success depends on a trustworthy internet standing.