Internet reputation management: problem prevention is better than cure

Every site needs assistance from experts who are knowledgeable about online reputation solutions. If a difficulty does arise, these individuals will have the capacity to minimise the impact of the problem. However, limitation exercises cannot prevent an optimisation campaign from losing some momentum in every set of circumstances. The best online reputation management policy is one which reduces the amount of potentially awkward issues in the first instance. There are detailed site-specific ways of taking adequate precautions against mishaps.

At Searchengineoptimisation.co.uk we are conscious that although site-specific approaches to reputation management are required, it does seem that there are some general rules which are more or less applicable in a diversity of contexts. The net is a complex place and provides plentiful spaces for angry customers to vent their feelings. It is best to adhere to the precautionary principle and antagonise as few consumers as possible.

The first thing to do is to respect the consumer’s statutory rights without fail. If one breaches these basic rights one is flirting with the potential of an embarrassing catastrophe. Not respecting the customer can lead to hostile blogs about services, negative stories about the firm on internet and negative publicity on the social media. Unpleasant facts about what has happened can appear high up the rankings for relevant search terms. To compound the problem, traditional media in the area can get hold of the story via the internet.

The second thing to do is to use a reliable delivery service. There are few things which irritate customers more than waiting too long for their products. People are not very patient in age where they have been taught that the consumer is king. If a product does not turn up at all then they will have no alternative to complain.

Another tip is to be honest about the quality of the goods and services which you offer. Content on a site should not generate entirely unrealistic expectations among the potential consumers reading it. It is best to stick to reality in product descriptions. Pictures should always show the goods as they are. Instructional videos should be intended to assist users. Anything which is of a seriously misleading nature could be a hostage to fortune.

Something else which should be borne in mind is company policy with regard to employees and their use of the social media. For example, their personal social media accounts should be clearly marked with the detail that the opinions they express are their own. The likes of Facebook and Twitter should not be used during working hours. Excess social networking can detract from productivity, while the distraction of working can also lead to gaffes on the networks.

However thorough the precautions one takes are, there may still be the odd product glitch. A customer may take it badly. Sadly, a culture has evolved where some people lack a sense of proportion with regard to the performance of their purchases. In addition, some users of the net are not above using unnecessarily hostile language when they feel they have been treated poorly. Responses to complaints must always be polite.

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