By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2011-03-11 03:20:11 | Word Count: 664
In the business world, image means everything. Your image is what makes your company seem credible and trustworthy. Without these elements, your business can only become mildly successful, if that. A good image and reputation is what takes businesses to the next level. The most influential factor that can make or break a company is their internet presence. The characterization of your company online is far more important than any other source. As a business owner, you need to stay on top of what consumers are reading about your company.
Whenever a customer is upset about a service or product you provided to them, you should assume that they might post a negative comment or review on a consumer advocacy site or forum. These kinds of customers are normally passionate about spreading the word about whatever wrong your company supposedly committed. This type of customer is liable to make very damaging statements. If a customer felt that the service they were provided was short of professional or what was promised, they have the grounds to express their displeasure.
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On the other hand, if a customer or a competitor makes blatantly false statements in public that can harm your company’s reputation or image, that statement can be considered defamatory. The internet is a very public medium that many people can view easily. Online defamation is particularly damaging because of its’ ability to last forever and reach so many people. The search results that appear for certain keyword searches will be the same regardless of who searches for those keywords. This enables people from different parts of the country to access the same negative information.
Original content providers like publishers, bloggers, or speakers that make false statements can be held accountable according to defamation laws that extend to the internet. Defamation isn’t the only way that someone can paint a bad picture about your company. It is more common for someone to publish a comment that is strictly based on their experience and opinion of your company. These statements may be grounded in some truth and may sometimes be proven. These types of opinion based messages can destroy your business just as easily as a defamatory statement.
You should do as much as possible to maintain a good public image because this will help to keep your company profitable. Customers that share their bad experience or discontent with your company are usually trying to warn others and discourage others from doing business with you. When you do notice a negative comment appear among search engine results, you need to deal with it. Don’t pretend that it doesn’t exist.
A reputation management company like Optimum7 can use Search Engine Optimization and Social Media Optimization principles to control the effect of bad reviews and create a preventative strategy for protecting your business’ reputation. Methods of management include monitoring search engine results for your company, responding to claims, reconciling with customers using incentives and publishing a consistent flow of positive information aimed at pushing down bad comments in search results.
Contact us today, we can help if you have been a victim of online defamation.
