Should Local Businesses Care About Their Online Reputation?

There are more than 2.1 million small businesses in Australia. Needless to say, these companies make a huge contribution to the economy and provide millions of jobs for Aussies across the country.

That said, owning a small local business can be challenging. Besides getting the funds to get started, you need to pay attention to a number of aspects that help keep your business afloat. One of the things you need to look out for is your company’s reputation and improve the way your customers perceive you.

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons local businesses should care about their online reputation.  

The Power of Local SEO

Before discussing the benefits of taking care of your digital image, let’s take a look at the power of local search engines. A whopping 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations in most scenarios.

What’s more, 86% of consumers read online reviews for local business, so having a bad reputation translates to trouble for your business. The good news is that managing your digital presence is easier than ever before, as long as you put in the time!

Why Should Local Business Care About Their Online Reputation?

Most local business owners wouldn’t necessarily think about checking their online reputation as a priority. After all, if they haven’t set up any profile, they shouldn’t have to worry about monitoring them either.

However, you may very well have an online reputation without knowing it. Consumers can pinpoint, name, and review businesses on platforms like Yelp and Google. The rightful business owners can claim these profiles, but they contain public information that’s available to anyone who cares to look.

Here are some reasons why you need to monitor your online reputation.

Ensure Your Company Has a Positive Image

The first and most obvious benefit is the fact that you’ll ensure a good reputation. You have to focus on delivering stellar service to every single person that walks through your door. At the same time, monitoring your reviews will give you an idea of the areas you need to improve.

Increased Exposure

Having a good online image is a great way to enhance your marketing efforts. It can increase your exposure and give you a slight advantage over the competition. The best part is that your reviews showcase your quality and work as an endorsement at the same time.

Build Trust and Credibility

As we mentioned before, online reviews are almost as powerful as word of mouth. Creating a bad reputation can actually reduce foot traffic, which can put any small business in trouble. Instead of ignoring your digital repute, you should use it to build your company’s trust and credibility.

Collect Feedback from Your Customers

Caring about your reputation also gives you a chance to collect feedback directly from your customers. The reviews themselves will tell you what you’re good at as well as the aspects of your companies that displease your target audience.

Higher SEO Rankings

A positive online reputation that includes good reviews and referrals can help boost your SEO rankings. At the same time, they will help you appear on Google’s local results, which only appears for users who are searching for a close business.

Moreover, Google’s recent acknowledgment that posting a response for customers that review your company online has a good impact on your SEO makes this an even better call.

Hire the Best Digital Development Company for Your Project

There are many elements that can affect the way your customers perceive you. Having positive reviews and a good reputation can create a good image for your company in the digital world.

Also, having a reliable website will ensure that your customers have the best experience once they access your platform. That said, take your time and find a company that understands your goals as well as the vision you have for your company.

Contact us today and learn more about our digital development services by giving us a call or accessing our online contact form today!

Author’s Bio Kym Wallis, the founding director of Higher Ranking has over 15 years of advertising sales, digital strategy, and business development experience. He is currently working as Digital Adviser for Colourtech.