Thanks to the advent and proliferation of technology, especially those associated with the Internet, search engines effectively pull up a wealth of information in nothing more than seconds. Search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing are integral parts of search engine optimization, in which businesses, individuals, and other entities refine their websites, social media pages, and other online content to garner higher results than competitors. Effective search engine optimization (SEO) strategies increase visibility of entities’ webpages, helping potential customers locate information more easily.
Sometimes, unfortunately, negative information about these entities finds its way to the front page of search results. Here are several tips, tricks, and strategies for making your business look better to consumers researching it using search engines.
Utilize as Many Channels as Possible
Google, the most popular search engine, features ten listings per page of search results. Engines like Google attempt to list the most relevant resources. Those searching for restaurants will likely find nearby places to eat, rather than the most popular across the United States. Users who search for your business will find official webpages, social media profiles, and news articles about your business. Many organizations have one official website and a social media page on Facebook or Twitter, with many others featuring only two or three social sites. That leaves between eight and six spots for news articles to pop up that your business didn’t author itself. Negative information could pop up, encouraging potential customers to choose another organization’s products or services.
Even established, long-time customers could think negatively about your business if they see such information from news sources, often trusted for their reputable information. Establishing a website with several pages, as many active social media accounts as possible, and sponsoring positive information about your business written by third parties are effective means of boosting your business’ online reputation.
Promote Positive Content
As mentioned above, consumers often look to news agencies for “the inside scoop” on businesses. Most news information aren’t slam pieces, or negative information, at that. However, it’s easy for bad news to spread about your business, and if news agencies’ writers catch wind of that negative information, your organization might end up looking bad online.
One way of circumventing bad articles from showing up on search engines’ front pages is to promote positive content about your organization. Commission articles and other pieces from reputable organizations, as readers won’t tell the difference between paid-for writing and un-commissioned articles written about companies.
Regularly Post on Social Media Accounts
Up to 80 percent of consumers research small businesses, just like yours, and corporations before further engaging with them. Regularly posting on multiple social media platforms will purvey positive vibes about your business to consumers. People that use search engines are likely to be familiar with technology, and probably own social media accounts themselves.
Every business should utilize the advantages of social media, done through regularly posting content. Social media isn’t just confined to the realm of Facebook, though. In fact, it is includes any site where you can build a profile to help build your brand awareness. ASEA, for example, does this with their Crunchbase profile. As such, your business should make the most of all popular social media sites by posting original, educational, entertaining, informative content on them on a regular basis.
Keep Online Reviews in Check
Because technology is so easily accessible in today’s age, those with technological devices — pretty much everybody — can post reviews online about their bad experiences. Most reviews are made because customers have negative interactions with businesses. As such, make sure to reply to them and provide discounts, free products, or other ways to make it up to them.
Businesses who fail to maintain active online presences may experience negative news articles, reviews, and other information floating around the front pages of search engines. As such, your business should maintain active websites and social media profiles prevent information fueling a bad reputation off of search engines.
