How to Protect Your Company’s Reputation in 2018

Reputation is everything in business, which is why you will want to ensure your brand is continually painted in a positive light. However, it can be easier said than done, as you could experience negative online reviews, the wrath of a disgruntled member of staff, or slander against your business’s good name. Protect your brand by finding out how to protect your company’s reputation in 2018.

Manage Your Company’s Online Reviews

Are you aware that approximately 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation? You must, therefore, proactively manage your online reviews to reduce the amount of negative comments related to your brand, so your TripAdvisor, Trust Pilot or Glassdoor profile is full to the brim with glowing reviews about your products or services.

Care for Your Personal Brand

When your business is getting off the ground, your name will more than likely appear more in Google than your brand’s name. It is critical to care for your personal brand, as you could deter potential investors, employees, or clients, which could have helped your business grow from strength-to-strength. So, view your personal brand as an extension of your business.

Launch a Defamation Case

It only takes one false negative statement to significantly harm your reputation and, as a result, your business. Don’t sit back and allow an individual or company to tarnish your good name. Fight back to restore your reputation by embarking on a defamation case. Do everything in your power to prove a false statement has been made against you, and provide evidence on how the defamation has negatively impacted your business. For example, you can gather witness testimonials and circumstantial evidence. You could also hire the professional services of a computer forensics specialist to extract and analyze evidence, which they can support with a report and expert testimony.

Secure Your Data

Cybercriminals are using increasingly sophisticated tactics to gain access to a company’s network and files, which could pose a serious risk to your data security. Loss, theft or destruction of employee, client and customer information will not only result in legal and financial repercussions, but it will also negatively impact your brand’s reputation, as people will be less likely to trust in your products and services. Unfortunately, this could signal the end of your company. For this reason, you must effectively secure your data to increase trust in your brand and protect your reputation.

Set Up a Google Alert for Your Brand Name

A business owner has a responsibility to pay close attention to comments and press regarding their brand online. Never miss an article or comment by setting up Google Alerts with your brand name, so you will receive a notification for stories as they are published, which is an effective form of damage control. Once you have received a notification, you can act quickly to potentially remove any negative stories regarding your company. Don’t forget to set up a Google Alert for your personal brand, too.

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