We’ve written extensively recently about the importance of online review management and online reputation management.

Beyond the obvious answers of going to your social platforms and seeing what’s being said and responding accordingly, I’m often asked: “What tools can I use to find and alert me to new online notifications about my business?”

Fortunately, a vibrant ecosystem of reputation management tools and techniques exists to ease and empower you in managing the online reputation game. 

These include:

• Online Brand Monitoring Tools
• Social Media Monitoring Tools
• Ongoing Proactive Reputation Building Strategies

The good news is companies don’t have to be online reputation management experts to utilize some easy and effective tools that will help steer your online narrative to a positive direction. Better yet, at least one of these tools is free.

What Is Online Reputation Management?

Online reputation management (ORM) refers to the process of monitoring, influencing, and shaping the public perception of an individual, brand, or business online. 

It involves proactively managing your online presence to ensure that the information and opinions people find about you are accurate, positive, and consistent with your desired image.

We’ve worked with a variety of businesses in unique industries where reputation was vital to their success. 

In one instance, we used our experience with reputation management for doctors to help a physician more proactively respond to positive reviews with personalized appreciations of the posts. 

This immediate interaction with satisfied former patients showed potential new clients that this physician and his staff cared about building positive customer relationships which helped build trust and credibility. 

Whether you’re an individual, a small business or a large corporation, taking control of your online reputation is crucial in today’s digital world. “Good quality ORM practices can help you protect your brand, build trust, and achieve your online goals,” explains Scott Schalin, Chief Operations Office of the Avita Group, a five-star rated digital marketing agency in California.

Online Brand Monitoring Tools

Free Google Alerts

Google Alerts is a free tool keeps you informed every time your name, brand, or relevant keywords appear online. Set up custom alerts for news websites, blogs, social media, and more.

Google Alerts work like a personalized web-watching service, constantly scanning the internet for any mention of your chosen keywords or phrases. When it finds a new result matching your alert, it sends you an email notification with a summary of the result and a link to the source.

Brand24

A powerful platform that goes beyond simple mentions, analyzing sentiment and providing valuable context around your online conversations.

Brand24 takes online reputation monitoring to a whole new level compared to Google Alerts. 

Brand24 doesn’t just present data; it helps you translate it into actionable insights that will help you build and protect your online image. However, its cost and complexity might not be ideal for everyone. Consider your needs and budget to determine if Brand24 is the right tool for you.

Mentionlytics

Take things a step further by tracking competitor mentions and industry trends, giving you a holistic view of the online landscape.

Mentionlytics, another online reputation management tool, takes a nuanced approach to tracking your online presence. 

Mentionlytics stands out for its highly customizable monitoring, rich AI analysis, and action-oriented features. However, its complexity and subscription model might not be suitable for everyone.

Ultimately, the best tool for you depends on your specific needs and budget. Both Brand24 and Mentionlytics offer powerful online reputation management capabilities, so carefully consider your priorities before making a decision.

Social Media Monitoring Tools

Most (actually, all) social media platforms offer their own built-in native, analytics tools, like Twitter Advanced Search (or now called simply Advanced Search since changing the platform name to X) and Facebook Page Insights on those specific arenas. 

These proprietary tools can track key metrics like follower growth, post engagement, and audience demographics.

You can also insert keyword alerts to monitor mentions of your brand name, product names, industry keywords, and relevant hashtags. 

But in a highly competitive social media world, is relying on each platform’s home-grown tools enough?

If you’re serious about aggressively staying above the social fray…maybe not.

To get deeper into the social monitoring weeds, try third-party tools like Sprout Social or Hootsuite. These plug-ins allow you to actively monitor social media conversations and engage with your audience in real-time.

They track brand mentions, hashtags, keywords, and competitor activity, providing insights into sentiment, reach, and engagement.

As we’ve said before in a previous article about how to protect your reputation on social platforms, it’s important to have a clear communication strategy and designated team members responsible for addressing issues promptly.

Remember, whether responding to a negative or positive review, be sure to use the same voice and tone across all your social media platforms to ensure brand recognition and authenticity.

Ongoing Proactive Reputation Building Strategies

Tools are just one aspect of maintaining a positive approach to online reputation management. Consider these basic tenets that remain the cornerstone of keeping your brand’s visibility and awareness shining in a positive light.

• Content Marketing
  • Create valuable content that showcases your expertise and builds trust with your audience. Publish blog posts, guest articles, and engaging social media content that reflects your brand personality.
• Online Communities
  • Actively participate in relevant online communities, forums, and discussion boards. Answer questions, offer insights, and build relationships with potential customers and influencers.

• Positive Reviews and Testimonials
  • Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on relevant platforms. Share positive testimonials and case studies on your website and social media channels.

• Transparency is key
  • Be honest and open in your online interactions. Acknowledge mistakes, address concerns promptly, and demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement.

• Consistency is crucial
  • Maintaining a consistent brand voice and messaging across all your online platforms creates a sense of trust and reliability.

• Engagement matters
  • Don’t just broadcast; actively engage with your audience. Respond to comments and messages, take part in online discussions, and show that you care about what people are saying.

The tools mentioned in this article by no means represent the whole of the many, many tools available for ORM purposes. Nor does Avita Group sponsor any of the above-mentioned tools. 

The goal is to gain awareness of the tools that are available to marketers and businesses to help them build their brand and better manage their online reputation.

By embracing reputation monitoring tools and techniques, you can transform your online reputation from a passive observation to a powerful tool for success. 

 

About Avita Group – Digital Marketing Agency Los Angeles 

Avita Group is a long-tenured, digital marketing agency in Los Angeles. Our clients often have had previous agency experiences and ultimately find a long-term home with Avita Group.

We offer fractional CMO services to boost your brand and your business specializing in organic Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Pay Per Click (PPC) campaign management, Online Reputation Management (ORM), and ways to become a LinkedIn ads expert to boost your business.

The Avita Group team boasts a collective experience of over 30 years in the industry led by Founder and CEO, Brad Weber, and has worked with a variety of multi-million dollar companies to help them improve their ROI, build better brand awareness, and mitigate negative online reviews.

Contact us for a free consultation to evaluate how we can transform and elevate your business.