Online Reputation Management: How to Balance the Risks and Rewards

Today, opinions are easily shared through the proliferation of networking sites, forums, blog sites, chatrooms and other social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. These social media platforms are also being used by business organizations to connect with their clients and attract new potential clients. 

However, nothing prevents your company from being the target of a negative note. Social media can really affect the reputation of a company. The buzz may be good or bad, but a strategy to interact directly with customers on the Internet and to respond to their enquiries, is absolutely invaluable.

Social media is designed to be spread through social interaction and create publishing techniques that can be scalable and easy-to-use. The characteristic of social media is that it can excite others to repeat information. This can be done instantly through platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, MSN, etc.

It is crucial to listen to what is being said online, even if it is negative. Listening creates the opportunity to take action and resolve internal problems or deal with malicious information, both of which can negatively influence a company’s brand image and reputation.  

WSI works hard with it's clients to maximize the benefits that these new Social Technologies bring whilst minimizing the risks.  

We have a range of products and services to allow businesses, large and small, manage their online reputation and on this page we are happy to share some of these free.  Please feel free to listen to the Global webinar that Rob Thomas (MD of WSI-eMarketing.com) delivered across 87 countries in 2011, download the accompanying white paper or view the supporting presentation above.
 
However these are only tasters of what is on the one hand a very complex subject, but on the other hand something that can be managed really effectively given the right balance of tools and techniques.  

A good place to start is to attend one of our Social Media Strategy Workshops, or perhaps take advantage of our Social Media 'Kick-Start' Plan.  However, once ready to implement, you might also be interested to learn that WSI has developed a new platform that allows you to 'listen' to what is being said about you, your brand, your people & products (as well as the competition) - Radar.  Radar allows you to respond and cast your communications to the widest relevant audience. And allows you to monitor and measure the end results and key performance indicators, such as engagement and of course most importantly impact on sales and profitability.  

This new platform is called WSI ReachCast.  Call Rob Thomas today on to find out more or book a personal consultation to explore your business needs and opportunities to work out if we are a good fit.



For Business Owners, Managing Directors and Marketing Directors that are not sure which Social Technology is right for their business (to help them either increase sales & profitability or assist with their Reputation Management) then we run either "in-house" or open Social Media Strategy Workshops...read more..