The internet has made it extremely easy for people to share opinions – about products, companies, vacation destinations, restaurants, and people. One negative review will remain in the minds of people far longer than 10 positive ones.
Some people don’t concern themselves over what people think about them. They simply do what they want, not giving a second thought to how others will react.
As a blogger, you don’t have that luxury. If you want your blog to be successful, you need your audience. This doesn’t mean you should pretend to be someone you aren’t. But it does mean you need to be cautious of what others write about you online.
Here are some suggestions you can use to protect your reputation.
Online reputation management should be a part of your daily routine. You need to maintain your credibility as a blogger. People connect with you because you are trustworthy. It’s much more difficult to regain trust than it is to maintain it. Your readers don’t expect you to be perfect. They expect you to be human.
By responding promptly and courteously to comments and questions from your readers, you can forge a better connection with them. They see you as approachable and available. If one day they have a bone to pick with you, they are more likely to come straight to you rather than air out their frustrations all over the internet.
A service like Google Alerts can be a handy tool in your daily routine. You can enter a search query on keywords you want to monitor, such as your name or the name of your blog. The results will be emailed to you on a schedule you designate.
If you do find something negative posted about you or your blog, try to get it removed from the website. You’ll need to contact the site’s webmaster to put in a request for removal.
If you have some dirty laundry in your past that you think may surface and affect your reputation, bring it out yourself. Make it the topic of a blog one day. You never know – someone struggling with a similar issue may gain wisdom by how you handled the situation. Or you could choose to make light of it, and ask readers what the craziest thing they’ve ever done is.
In the end, consistently posting quality content is the best way to protect your brand, while being vigilant is the best solution for managing your online reputation.
Have you ever received a bad review? If so, how did you handle it?
Please share in the comments below!
Amy Kirkegaard is a freelance writer who writes on a variety of topics, including social media, working from home, and processing credit cards. She previously worked in marketing and human resources for an oilfield equipment manufacturer.
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