The Reputation Game: How to Win Over Local Customers

As a digital marketing agency in Manchester, UK, I’ve seen firsthand how an online reputation can make or break a local business. It’s like a high-stakes poker game, where the stakes are your client’s hard-earned customer base. And let me tell you, the house (aka, the all-powerful Google) always has the upper hand.

But fear not, my fellow agency warriors! I’m here to share with you the secret sauce to help your local clients win big in the reputation game. It’s all about leveraging the power of online reviews and leveraging local SEO strategies to dominate the competition.

The Reputation Matters (More Than You Think)

You know the old saying, “first impressions are everything”? Well, in the digital age, that couldn’t be truer. When your clients’ potential customers are searching for their services online, the first thing they see is their online reputation – and that’s the make-or-break moment.

Think about it this way – would you be more likely to visit a highly-rated local business with glowing reviews, or one with a bunch of negative comments and a measly 2-star rating? Exactly. And that’s the power of online reputation.

Recent research shows that a staggering 91% of consumers are influenced by online reviews. That means your clients’ online presence is the make-or-break factor in whether they’ll snag those all-important local customers.

Reputation Management: The Secret Weapon

So, how do you help your clients leverage their online reputation to their advantage? Enter the world of reputation management – the secret weapon in your local SEO arsenal.

Reputation management is all about taking control of your clients’ online presence and ensuring that the narrative around their business is a positive one. It’s not just about racking up a bunch of 5-star reviews (although that’s certainly part of it) – it’s about actively monitoring and responding to both positive and negative feedback.

According to Agency Analytics, “No business likes getting a negative review. But, even more important, no customer likes seeing a negative review that has not been addressed by the business in some way. How your client handles reviews can be just as important as the reviews themselves.”

The Reputation Checklist: 3 Key Steps

So, where do you start with reputation management for your local clients? Here are the three key steps to get them on the path to online dominance:

1. Claim and Optimize Their Google Business Profile

The first step in any reputation management strategy is to ensure that your clients have a strong presence on Google. That means claiming and optimizing their Google Business Profile (GBP) – the info box that appears in local search results.

Make sure their GBP is filled out completely, with accurate business hours, contact information, and high-quality photos. And, of course, encourage your clients to actively manage and respond to reviews on their GBP.

2. Build a Review Generation Strategy

Reviews are the lifeblood of online reputation, and your clients need to be proactive about getting them. Implement a review generation strategy that makes it easy for customers to leave feedback – think email campaigns, social media prompts, and in-store signage.

But remember, quality over quantity. As Agency Analytics points out, “It won’t look very good to your client’s potential new customers when they search their business online and find reviews from 2015.”

3. Monitor and Respond to All Reviews

Once the reviews start rolling in, it’s crucial that your clients stay on top of them. Set up alerts and notifications so they’re aware of every new review, and make sure they’re responding to both positive and negative feedback in a timely and professional manner.

As the Local Search Forum notes, “A negative review that has been handled correctly can be as much of a positive spotlight on the brand as a glowing review.”

The Reputation Reporting Advantage

Now, I know what you’re thinking – that’s a lot of work! And you’re right, reputation management can be a time-consuming task. But that’s where your agency’s reporting capabilities come in handy.

By integrating your clients’ review platforms, social media, and other marketing data into a comprehensive reporting dashboard, you can simplify the process and provide your clients with a clear picture of their online reputation.

At MCR SEO, we use tools like AgencyAnalytics to aggregate all of our clients’ review data, social metrics, and local search performance into a single, easy-to-understand dashboard. This not only saves us time, but it also helps our clients stay informed and engaged in the reputation management process.

The Reputation Payoff: Boosting Local Visibility and Revenue

So, why should your local clients care about reputation management? Well, the benefits are pretty hard to ignore.

First and foremost, a strong online reputation can significantly boost their local visibility. According to Agency Analytics, reviews account for about 13% of a business’s ranking in Google’s Local Pack – the top three local search results.

And that’s not all – a positive online reputation can also translate directly into increased revenue. BrightLocal’s research shows that 93% of consumers say that online reviews have an impact on their purchasing decisions.

In other words, by helping your local clients build and maintain a stellar online reputation, you’re not just boosting their visibility – you’re also helping them attract more customers and grow their business.

The Reputation Wrap-Up

At the end of the day, online reputation is the key to unlocking local success for your clients. It’s the difference between being the talk of the town or the forgotten footnote in the local search results.

So, what are you waiting for? Dive into the world of reputation management, and watch your clients’ businesses thrive. With the right strategies and the right tools, you can help them dominate the local competition and snag those all-important customers.

Remember, the reputation game is never-ending, but with a little bit of effort and a whole lot of creativity, you can help your clients come out on top. So, let’s get to work and show the world what your agency can do!