Online Reputation Management or ORM is a relatively new concept in the age of digital marketing. The bulk of ORM is focused on monitoring how the online world perceives your brand and what impression leaves on customers. There are plenty of ways to go about it, but there remain many misconceptions around it. Here are some of the most common ones and the truths behind them.

5 Myths of ORM Busted

Myth 1: You Can’t Control Your Online Reputation

Because anyone can say anything online doesn’t mean that the internet works without patterns. You can take charge of the way people perceive you by employing some ORM techniques that exploit these patterns of behavior. 

If you need more reviews, you can get them by encouraging buyers to leave them in exchange for a discount. You can reach out to customers who give bad reviews to ask if there is anything you can do to make them satisfied with their purchase. Reputation management is also part of customer service, which is something you have to continuously improve. 

Myth 2: Nobody Has Time to Write Reviews

Everyone has a minute or two to spare, but sometimes it takes just a bit of encouragement to get them to write a review. Never underestimate the power of asking. A simple email or message will do just fine. A handful of people will review if you ask. 

Myth 3: No Reviews Is Better than Bad Reviews

Bad reviews are obviously not ideal. But that doesn’t make products with no reviews any better. Not having reviews can cast doubt and deter purchases. Is it better to have negative reviews than none at all? Definitely not, but it is not ideal either.

Myth 4: Deleting Bad Reviews Solves the Problem

Some thin-skinned brand owners would assume that hate comes from trolls, bots, or humans paid to leave negative reviews. And while this can be the case for some, some are real customers with honest feedback. Deleting bad reviews is not the answer. 

When you disallow users to submit their opinions, you won’t invite change as much as you should. It is essential to listen to your customers and take feedback with all seriousness. People online appreciate a humble brand that knows how to be humble around its customers.

Myth 5: ORM Is a Waste of Time

There are plenty of tricks and techniques in the management of your online reputation. It may seem tedious, but all the work will pay off soon. A reputation is something you build over time, so it won’t instantly blow up after a couple of weeks. If you can find software and tools to help you, it may be less of a struggle for you.

Conclusion

Your online reputation can often make or break your business, mainly since people rely on reviews and ratings for information. When you start to look at ORM for what it truly is and ignore the myths, you’ll begin to see the value of investing time and money in improving your online reputation the right way. 

Do you want to be in control of your online image? Turnkey Reputation is the reputation management software you need to keep track of your progress. Our automated reputation marketing system helps companies, both big and small, increase their customer reviews and boost results from marketing efforts. Try our 30-day free trial today!

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