If you are a small business owner, you’re probably no stranger to the highly competitive digital marketplace.

Online reputation management, or ORM, is critical to success because it allows you to control how your business appears on search engines.

What is Online Reputation Management?

Your online reputation is the sum of everything that mentions your business on the web. This includes anything from negative reviews and customer comments to social media discussions and slanderous materials created by your competitors.

When a prospect starts looking for product or service, they head to Google. If they’re considering your business, they enter your name into the search bar and judge you by the results on the first page.

If Google’s first-page results are positive, you’re leaving a good impression. If they are negative, however, the customer will likely move on to someone else.

Online reputation management is just as it sounds: the practice of managing and guiding your online reputation. It gives you more control over your company’s search results and your brand’s online conversation.

Why Online Reputation Management is Important

“Say no to the things that keep you on a certain level and say yes to the things that will help you keep moving on.” -Brian Honigman, CEO

When purchasing decisions are influenced by Google’s first page, the power to control search results is worth its weight in gold.

Imagine the ability to remove negative reviews from sight, or to reverse them through effective customer communication. And imagine the potential of eliminating unfavorable links on Google, and to replace those results with content you’ve created!

This is the power of ORM.

The use of ORM also sets your company apart from others with bad reputations.

The Impact of NOT Implementing an ORM Strategy

Highly trained professionals provide online reputation management services, and their expertise comes at a cost. Should you opt not to implement an ORM strategy, you might feel that you are more intelligent with your budget.

Businesses without ORM, however, are likely to take a hit to their bottom line—particularly in the long term. If you don’t have negative reviews or results about your business now, it’s likely just a matter of time.

When a search for your business yields negative results, Google’s first page can be your worst enemy. When consumers are exposed to negative information, they’re likely convinced to spend their money elsewhere, which hurts your image and your bottom line.

In short, ignoring the need for reputation management could cost you dearly.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

Why wait for negative reviews and results to appear on Google? If you don’t have an online reputation management strategy for your small business, you’re giving your competitors the advantage.

Damage control is much more complicated than proactive prevention. Visit Reputation Sciences today before it’s too late.

The post Why Online Reputation Management is Critical to Small Businesses appeared first on Reputation Sciences.