How Facebook Impacts Your Online Reputation

For years now, businesses have known that you need to follow the rules and tricks to make sure your Google search index score is high to ensure the reputation of your business.

But what you may not know is that Google is only one part of the equation; the other half that can have a huge impact is Facebook. This is because of the high number of reviews posted to the social media giant. If you really want to get a handle on your online business reputation, then you’re going to have to be Facebook-savvy and learn how to work with this platform.

If you wish to truly cultivate your online reputation, you’re going to need to use Facebook’s “Locations” feature. In this way, it allows a business owner to have a local Facebook page that is then linked to the main business page. Think of it as all of the individual franchises and business locations all joined together to one central “hub” for the main business. This gives you the following abilities:

• If you have a local page, then customers can check in when they visit a business. Once they check in, the Facebook user is also able to leave a recommendation. But if the local page doesn’t exist and a customer tries to do this, Facebook will automatically create a page, but with the customer as the administrator for the page. This could seriously complicate your marketing. That’s why it’s important to create your own pages first so you can retain control of the page.
• If a customer checks in, they are asked a simple yes or no question: Would you recommend this business? Even though some people may not be willing to write a review, the question’s simplicity usually prompts responses. Then, the customer can elaborate on this answer with short reviews along with accompanying pictures. What makes this even better is that you can respond to these reviews. If a customer leaves a negative statement, you can try to make amends for the problem and get the customer to reassess the negative review. You can also take positive reviews and post them to your own page.
• One thing that Locations offers to businesses is to take local recommendations and leverage these into more customer visits. You are allowing your current clientele to be your marketing strategy. In the past, word-of-mouth has always been a tool for spreading a business’s praises. But now, with social media connecting hundreds (or more) friends together in a network, you have even more of a chance to promote your business through these connections.

While other social media platforms are trying to take over the market, Facebook is still one of the most influential services on the Internet. If you truly wish to improve your online reputation, then this is a platform you need to take advantage of.