When deciding between two similar businesses, the consumer will always go with the company that has a good reputation. This is because they expect to have a positive experience with this brand, so it seems like the safer choice. This is logical thinking, but it can make it challenging for businesses that are just starting out, or for those without a great reputation to succeed and compete. So, what can be done about this? There are a handful of strategies which can be used to improve brand reputation and combining these should deliver strong results (but keep in mind that reputation can take some time to improve).
• Make Customer Service a Priority
Reputation often comes from the way a business interacts with its customers. By going the extra mile and making customer service a priority, your customers will feel important and valued so they are more likely to leave a positive review and recommend you to their network.
• Social Proof
Following this, social proof is an effective tool for improving brand reputation and boosting sales. This will involve using customer reviews on your website and encouraging word-of-mouth marketing through the use of referral programs. People will look to others for advice and recommendations, so if you can get your customers to recommend your business then it can do wonders for your brand reputation.
• Be a Brand That Cares
With so many issues currently facing the globe, consumers are becoming increasingly conscious and will often look to a brand that reflects their values. This means you need to be a brand that cares — whether that involves going green, raising awareness for a social cause or getting involved with the local community.
• Take Action Against Online Fraud
Cybercrime is a huge problem for businesses and can be damaging in many ways. Online fraud is highly common and is something that can negatively affect your brand reputation, but you can protect yourself with the use of an online cybersecurity agency like FraudWatch International. Agencies like this can take down fake websites, social media profiles and phishing websites to protect your company and help you to avoid developing a negative reputation.
• Social Media & Content
Social media provides businesses with a platform to show their expertise and communicate with their target audience, so you need to make sure that you are using this in a positive manner. One of the most effective ways to do this is to create original content and to share this online — this content should be high quality, engaging and of value to your target audience, such as how-to guides and tutorials.
Follow these tips and soon you should start to notice positive results. Brand reputation is critical to success in the business world, but it is also an area that can be extremely challenging for new brands — while those that do not have a great reputation can also struggle to change how they are perceived by their target audience. It is possible to build a positive reputation, though, which will then help you to compete and attract more customers.