Small Business Trends on Google’s creation of Reputation Management Problem
maria gudelis | December 10, 2009
How will you handle your company or your client’s company brand management when social media customer complaints hits Google Page One?
What really drives the point home on the importance even to think about the SEO implications (getting onto Google Page 1) is the video below:
Holy Twitterfeed and Friendfeed Batman…
Click Play Below Now to see Official Google Video…
There was a fantastic article today on the Small Business Trends website that really should have all business owners, and individuals concerned about their reputation online…listen up.
This latest Google Announcement is HUGE for Brand SEO
Right from the Official Google Site:
Relevance meets the real-time web
12/07/2009 11:31:00 AMSearch is a natural starting point for discovering the world’s information, and we strive to bring you the freshest, most comprehensive and relevant search results over an ever expanding universe of content on the multitude of devices you use to access it.
That’s why today, at the Computer History Museum, we’re excited to share a few new innovations in the areas of real-time, mobile and social search that we feel are important steps in the evolution of information access.
First, we’re introducing new features that bring your search results to life with a dynamic stream of real-time content from across the web. Now, immediately after conducting a search, you can see live updates from people on popular sites like Twitter and FriendFeed, as well as headlines from news and blog posts published just seconds before. When they are relevant, we’ll rank these latest results to show the freshest information right on the search results page.
This actually is such a timely article since I’ve been releasing the Free Tri-Branding Strategy Formula Webinars where branding online is becoming so fluid and if you are a marketing consultant, having a reputation management offering as part of your services is a big trend to be on the forefront of.
The article discusses…
…how social media such as twitter really interplays with getting onto Google Page One…especially if a bunch of customers start discussing a company’s brand, product or service. And watch out if it is of a negative nature…
We all know that it is impossible to have every customer satisfied and there will always be an element of the ‘keyboard junkies’ who love to flock to negative remarks…and shoot…what isn’t even discussed is this:
A company’s competitor may create pen names and say negative remarks in the social media arena!
How to address that?
Have a social media strategy in place that has a ‘reputation management’ piece to it.
Why do you have to be so heavy on social media?
Because browsers online first go to social media sites before even your company website to find out about you, your product or service!
Four years ago, social media would never have appeared on the chart below!
Check this graphic out:
source: OTX/DEI Worldwide Report The Impact of Social Media on Purchasing Behaviour
Hope you enjoyed this post, Maria Gudelis
Thanks for the great blog post! This will definitely help in the future and excited to see what you have for us next.
So true! Social media sites are heavy these days. Come to think of it…what's the first website that you open when you turn on your computer??? I bet it's a social media site that starts with the letter F :-p
Twitter: mariagudelis
says:
Yes – FAcebook is the real thing…doing lots of facebook advertising now too for myself and clients!
cheers, M
very nice article. Thank you for sharing
Two are better than one. So have a good team to make it to the top. thanks- Robert
Any chance of catching up with the new MindMap for a loyal lurker?
Twitter: mariagudelis
says:
Hmmm….Chris – there was a free offer for it during the 90 day challenge offer 2 weeks ago..
Let me ponder a New Year special for it! Thanks Chris! Cheers, Maria
. Small Business owners are largely forgotten. Thats why I only focus on them. I have experience several members of my family file bankruptcy due to small business failures. I also I suffered through 2 destroyed businesses due to failure however, in my failings I have learned some of the secrets to success. (Who can say they know it all?)
What I like about small business owners is that they are not afraid to take huge risks and lay it all on the line. But, I agree they do need a lot of help with their marketing. I think having them go the social media and email route is not only the least expensive but its also the most effective. Thanks for the stats!
On the webinar this weekend you mentioned a link you would have available on Monday Dec 14th to a FREE new MindMap…..Where can I find it?
Hi Tom! You can get the Offline Money Mindmap 2.0 for FREE for the next 24 hours via
http://www.WildhorsePerformanceMarketing.com/replay
Cheers, maria Gudelis
Maria,
The link to the replay seems to be broken.
Just FYI.
Twitter: mariagudelis
says:
Got it – fixed!! Thanks Susan
http://www.WildhorsePerformanceMarketing.com/replay” rel=”nofollow”>
http://www.WildhorsePerformanceMarketing.com/replay
This is really going to be big. Like in the rest of the IM world, we need to combine being up to date with technological and communication trends, with an emphasis on the basics: it’s more important than ever for a business to have absolutely impeccable customer service, to always provide great value to their clients, and to communicate clearly and set expectations so that they always exceed them, and generate raving fans!
It will also help a lot if we can use video and other seo strategies to dominate page 1, for the companies’ name and main keywords, pushing the critics to page 2, since few searchers will ever see them there.
One of Jay Abraham’s main strategies for reactivating past customers becomes more important than ever: to go after the ones who had a bad experience, find out why, and make it right!
On another subject, the chart that shows more people going to social media sites than company sites to check a company out has a lot of impact, but I’m wondering what exactly the numbers mean and how they were arrived at. Is this what people do before they make a major purchase, every time they visit a new store, or just media that they use once a week, or what? Can you clear that up for me, Maria? Does it come from Google, from polls, or some other source?
Twitter: mariagudelis
says:
Yes, Jay Abraham is the Master! Recently started to listen to his stuff and love it!
“One of Jay Abraham’s main strategies for reactivating past customers becomes more important than ever: to go after the ones who had a bad experience, find out why, and make it right!”
On the chart it was a survey done via IDX/DEI
cheers, Maria Gudelis
Hello Maria,
I would like to to say thanks for the webinars they have been very informative. you give such great content that taking action on the steps is easy.
thank you, Joe Johnson
Twitter: jodierecommends
says:
WOW! Is this actually live now on google?
Huge information especially for those of us with twitter services – wow!
Here’s a link Angii provided to the more detailed report the chart came from. http://www.deiworldwide.com/files/DEIStudy-Engaging%20ConsumersOnline-Summary.pdf
Interestingly, they excluded twitter from their definition of social media-so it is not part of that 70% you see on the bar graph.
Not to say it’s not important, but twitter’s not nearly as big as I thought-perhaps their story dominates because of their awesome growth trajectory (I think they grew over 500% over the past year). I looked at a list of the 50 sites with the most traffic and they weren’t even on it! Strange-I checked it twice, because I couldn’t believe it.
Twitter: http://www.marketinghuddle.com
says:
Maria
What legal implications would we face if our client doesn’t like something done while “managing their reputation”?
Mike Saunders, MBA
Twitter: mariagudelis
says:
HI Mike – that is a great question – You would have to ensure the consulting contract you have covers such an area and better yet – lets get JJ Childers, one of the best lawyers I know…to answer that in a webinar or call!
Twitter: mrbfsh
says:
I recently submitted a proposal to a potential client that included a suggestions on social networking. The proposal is still on the table but one remark that I have gotten back was that they wanted to avoid social media because they were afraid of the negative news that it could attract.
After attending your webinar yesterday and reviewing the information here,
I will be re-addressing the topic with them prior to our next meeting.
Thanks
Twitter: mariagudelis
says:
Fantastic Dave! Cheers, Maria
This is really outstanding. Your comments above and the Small Business Trend article are quite eye opening. This information will definitely be part of my presentation to clients going forward. Asking a small business owner what they know about their online reputation at a networking or social event will be a great ice breaker. Great job sorting out meaningful information to share with us.
Twitter: mariagudelis
says:
Thanks Dave! Glad you liked it!
Maria Gudelis
Thanks Maria! As always, great information and I will definitely be mentioning these facts when speaking with potential clients.
This is a definite game changer, and expands to market to not only a business but to a business owner and key staff that can be tied to the reputation of their organization.
Twitter: mariagudelis
says:
Thanks Mark – you are right! It is a big game changer and exciting to have all of us on the leading edge of this.
Cheers, Maria
Twitter: mariagudelis
says:
Why thanks Kim! glad you liked the offer! Yes – this is so on target for offering what was in the webinar and getting in on the 90 day challenge!
Cheers, Maria
Awesome post, Maria!! Google has unknowingly given us ammunition to go out there and show businesses why they need our services more than ever. BTW, I was on the TriBranding webinar this afternoon and was blown away by your generous offer!! Thanks, again!
Well said! It makes the load lighter – and a lot more fun. =)
Twitter: mariagudelis
says:
Hey Kate! it is only effortless because I have a great team behind me
and great energy from my clients like you!
We all stand on the shoulders of each other!
Excellent post, Maria! Thanks for keeping us in the loop with all the latest developments. That in and of itself is a full-time job, yet you make it look effortless. Appreciate you!