Whether you’re a public figure or a business owner, you know that in today’s digital age, social media matters. A bad review or post can throw off your game, and it’s essential that you stay on top of various social media platforms to monitor what others are saying about the services or products you offer.
Let’s look at the most important social media platforms to monitor and what you can do to keep your (or your company’s) online reputation pristine.
1. Facebook
Millennials and baby boomers are heavy Facebook users. If your target audience includes members of these groups, it’s essential that you get on the Meta train and stay up to date with your Facebook page. Monitoring and responding to comments is key to keeping your business afloat. This can feel like an around-the-clock job. If you have a social media manager, it’s important to ask them to track the time they spend responding to comments to ensure that they’re compensated appropriately.
2. YouTube
If your business posts videos on YouTube, it’s vital to monitor and respond to comments. Pay special attention to questions that viewers ask — this can provide you and your team with new ideas for content. Be sure to promote your YouTube videos across other platforms and monitor those posts for video comments.
3. Yelp
It can be hard to combat a bad Yelp review. If you’ve found that Yelp is hurting your business, it’s imperative to work with an online reputation management company that can help your business get back into the good graces of the public. If you decide to manage a negative Yelp review on your own, be sure to be as gracious as possible in your response. Many Yelp readers look at business responses to comments to get a sense of how the business treats its customers.
4. Instagram
Using photos to boost your products to your audience? You’ll want to monitor a few different aspects of your Instagram account, including messages, comments, and reactions. Using stories to show the day-to-day life of your company can be a great way to engage your audience, but you’ll want to privately respond to any messages your viewers send. Remember, even though messages sent on Instagram are private, viewers can easily screenshot your responses and post them, so be sure to only respond in a way that you’d be comfortable responding in public.
5. Online forums
If you sell a niche product or offer a niche service, it’s likely that there are online forums dedicated to your craft. You’ll want to regularly check whether your company is mentioned in online forums in your area of expertise and respond or privately message people posting about your company if necessary.
Working With an ORM Company
Managing all the social media for your company can be exhausting, and depending on the size of your company, it can feel like a full-time job. Online reputation management companies like Status Labs can help. An online reputation management service can take over your social media needs, respond to customers and reviews and help you maintain a positive image.