Have you ever put your name, or the name of your business, into an Internet search engine to see what comes up?

If the answer is no, then you should, because it’s an interesting exercise. You might be surprised by the results and how much information about you, and what you do, is already out there in the public domain.

Managing your online reputation is important because, in most cases, a quick search is how potential customers will formulate their first impressions of you and your company.

Your online reputation will also play a key role in whether people decide to go ahead and buy your products or services or choose a competitor.

So, how can you manage your online ‘name’? Here are some tips.

Control your domain

A good way to start managing your online reputation is to own and operate all the domains or platforms in your name or the name of your business.

Open accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest and any other relevant social media site.

These accounts will usually be the first to appear when someone searches for you online, so if you are the one that created them, you can control what people find out about you.

Even if you are not active on all these sites, it’s better that you have access to these accounts, rather than someone who might want to harm your reputation.

Define your image and brand

Once you’ve created all the relevant online profiles and accounts associated with your name and the name of your business, you should work on making them look and feel the same.

Create a one-sentence or paragraph mission statement, which will be the first thing people read when they click on your online presence. Think about your brand, logo and professional persona and make sure this is what people encounter when they see you or your business online.

Make it personal

You can enhance your online reputation and build a community of loyal followers, who may turn into customers and advocates for your company, by sharing your expertise and personal experiences.

Set up a schedule to post online regularly. Digital tools such as Hootsuite, Postling or Sprout Social make it easy to post across several social media platforms at the same time.

When you do post, make sure your content is informative, honest, and interesting and enhances your reputation as an entrepreneur. Google’s search engine rewards good content by ranking it high up on search results pages so your content should be top quality and insightful.

Encourage feedback

Online audiences value businesses that are transparent and open.

Don’t be afraid to engage with your followers and ask for their feedback on you and your business. Positive testimonials and reviews will encourage other people to buy from you and can be used on promotional material.

Do not ignore negative comments and feedback but handle them sensitively. If people see that you are willing to listen and learn from your mistakes, then you are more likely to gain their respect and enhance your online reputation.

Constructive criticism is helpful and should be viewed as a chance for you to improve your products or services.

Hire a team

One of the best ways to manage your online reputation is to hire a team of experts who will do it for you.

Yello has a team of professionals who can monitor and enhance all aspects of your online presence so you can concentrate on running and growing your company.

We’ll keep you informed with regular meetings and reports so you can keep track of how this service works best for you.

Call us today to see how we can work together to ensure that your online reputation is helping and not harming, your business.

Sources: Status Labs, All Business, and Clutch.