Why Online Reputation Management is a Must for Small Business

Dealing with bad reviews online can seem overwhelming and defeating. It seems these days every business, big or small, has a review floating around somewhere online. The ubiquity of Yelp and the ease of posting on an individual social media page has turned every consumer into a reviewer. To start, 92 percent of consumers read online reviews. The same study revealed that 88 percent of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. This means that we are approaching a point where word-of-mouth is not the most effective marketing method.

The online reputation of your small business goes far beyond a website and social media accounts. What people are saying about your small business is an important factor in online reputation and can carry significant weight. Consider these points: