In today’s competitive business world, branding has become more important than ever and the demand for Online Reputation Management for companies has shot up. This is because there are all kinds of businesses in almost every sector, and if you want yours to stand out, then you need to ensure that it’s online reputation and brand image are good. However, as the company leader or CEO, your own reputation also plays a key role in the success of your business.
The following are some of the best CEO reputation management tactics that are proven to work:
1. Earn Top Search Results
Today, a large number of customers learn about new brands and their leaders through popular search engines like Google Search. So, if you want to improve your online reputation, then you must ensure that when Internet users search your name online, then they are able to find you in at least the first 10 spots. These pages shouldn’t be from your own website or social media, but rather media coverage, authority blogs, and customer testimonials.
2. Get Active on Social Media
In this age, the leaders of top companies need to be active on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. In fact, a survey has revealed that 82% of people are more likely to trust a company if its leaders are active on social media.
When you are openly communicative on social media, then you show transparency and authority. Doing this also gives you control over your online reputation. Otherwise, anyone can open new social media accounts using your name and brand and promote false information that can hurt your reputation.
Now, there is no denying that a strong social media presence is important for every business leader. However, you also have to be careful with what you share. For instance, expressing your opinions about topics like religion, politics, etc. can backfire and divide your followers.
3. Take Responsibility for Your Mistakes
All businesses, no matter how disciplined and strong they are, make mistakes. However, the usual response of most of them is to enter damage control mode in which they try to dodge the responsibilities and put the blame on others.
As a business leader, if you want to protect your reputation, then you must own the mistakes of your company and be open about it. If you will try to play the blame game, then it will only work against you and the customers will stop respecting you.
A good example of how brands can admit their mistakes and show their apologetic selves is O.B. tampons whose one line of products were taken off the market in 2010. As the customers became furious, the parent company Johnson & Johnson created personalized apology videos for more than 65,000 women customers that were identified in the company’s database. It then created 10,000 videos each of which had a different name and sent the same to the appropriate customers. In this way, it averted a massive disaster and won the hearts of the customers at the same time.
4. Publish Fresh and Authority Content
When you publish high-quality content online, then you establish yourself as an authority figure in the industry. This goes a long way in building your reputation. For instance, you can publish eBooks, informative videos, blog posts, etc. Just make sure the language you use is in sync with your brand and puts you in a good light.
Publishing fresh content also makes you appear in more search results which helps with your image. This is because even if you have received bad press, you can push it below the positive results (content published by you) and control how others perceive you online.
5. Consult an ORM Expert
Online Reputation Management (ORM) is a powerful technique that’s used by brands and business leaders across the globe. There are professionals who provide these services that you can use yourself.
If you don’t have the time or think that you won’t be able to manage your online reputation properly, then you should talk to an ORM professional and let them handle your online activities.
So, there you have it. These were some of the most effective online reputation management techniques. By implementing them, CEOs and other top leaders can prevent bad press and leverage their personal branding.