In today’s fast-paced world of reviews and viral social media videos, your brand’s reputation is now more fragile than ever.
You’re being watched and closely monitored on social media and everything you do could either strengthen or even undermine your reputation. Even when you think that you are doing everything right with your reputation, one minor oversight can take its toll on your reputation which is the last thing you need.
From disgruntled customers to former employees who weren’t happy with the service you provided, it’s safe to say that you need to take steps now to safeguard your future.
Find out Why People are Unhappy
Why are your customers unhappy? Is it because you did not live up to your promises? One example of this could be if you promised to send one of your plumbers out to fix their boiler but they never showed up. Either way, you need to work on fixing the source of the issue. One way for you to do this would be for you to invest in a field service app or something similar. When you do, you can then track your team without having to worry about customers being missed. Little things like this can work in your favor, so make sure you give them some thought.
Respond to Bad Reviews
Another thing you need to do is respond to any negative reviews. Online reviews are everything and they have the power to turn your customers away while tanking the reputation. In fact, one bad review can affect your company’s reputation and it can make you lose both customers as well as business opportunities. This is the last thing you need, so make sure that you take the time to focus on this and don’t let yourself get too wrapped up in things.
Be Positive
One of the most efficient ways for you to repair the reputation of your company would be for you to push as much positive content as you can. You need to try and replace negative search results and you also need to drown out any bad reviews.
This is known as content suppression and it allows you to outrank any negative comments that people may have made about you. The goal is for you to ultimately create more content that you want to be seen. The easiest way for you to push negative results down the SERPS page would be for you to push great reviews and for you to focus on high-quality pieces where possible. If you can do this and if you can take the time to optimize customer testimonial pages then this will help you a lot going forward.
Admit your Mistakes
You have to make sure that you admit your mistakes and that you take the time to apologize. Whether your brand has slipped in the past or whether you have a genuine level of remorse, you are more likely to win your customers over if you apologize and if you show that you are willing to change your policy going forward. Be sure to display some empathy and make sure that you acknowledge your part in the situation. Remember, simple words tend to go a long way and you don’t need to issue flowery language. A simple heartfelt apology is sometimes all you need to clear the air and turn that negative review into a positive one.
Double Down
Another thing you need to do is double down on customer service. Poor customer service can impact your brand in more ways than one. It can also impact your sales in the future. Even the most forgiving of customers are less likely to go to someone else if they deal with the same receptionist over and over again. If you are the one who answers the phone, or if you have a random employee take calls then this can lead to some bad experiences, so make sure that you are mindful of this and that you take steps to ensure that any calls are answered professionally. If you can do this then you can avoid some serious damage to your reputation, so make sure that you keep that in mind as it could make a major difference to your reputation.
Offer Solutions
After you have assessed the damage and when you have measured the impact of your reputation crisis, you then need to come up with solutions so you can effectively mitigate some of the damages. If you have made a bit of a mistake, you should find ways to deal with the situation and then help your customers accordingly. Make sure that they get an apology before you offer solutions, as this is the best way for you to come out on top.