A proud recipient of the New York Excellence Award in 2014 and 2015 as well, the recognition is a reflection on the marked commercial success of ICMediaDirect in the public relations field, as the firm will “consistently demonstrate a high regard for upholding business ethics and company values”. This year has proven innovative for industries facing the many challenges of mastering social media and digital reputation management.
A business’ marketing plan should have brand reputation management as a vital part of it due to the massive impact negative reviews have on other marketing activities. “Bad feedback shouldn’t go unnoticed, as it can allow brands to discover more about their shortcomings and can increase the excellence of their everyday operations,” said a representative for ICMediaDirect. When forthcoming consumers go online to ascertain more about an organization or item, finding bad reviews very often sends them to a competitor. When no such reviews are available from real consumers, they are inclined to drop their transactions to avoid any further risks.
It is mostly seen that businesses try to create a healthy Internet presence and build trust among their consumers but overlook the importance of a sound reputation management strategy. Local business directories are available to potential customers to review their own experience with a brand, and businesses should be aware of how their firm is observed by expected customers. As per the experts at ICMediaDirect, “What people say about your brand has become the key image of your reliability and services. In summation, you are what people find about you online.” Thus, it is necessary for companies to monitor customer reviews and efficiently handle any negative feedback. 70 percent of buyers remark that online disapproval by others influences them before making their own buying decisions, and this may even stop them from selecting the products or service offered by a certain company. As several options are available for handling negative reviews, ICMediaDirect drafts the best approach of replying quickly to rectify any issues offline.
The specialists at ICMediaDirect recommend the upholding of all online listings linked with the brand on several platforms, including local directories, Google Places and further locations that feature such information. The treatment of information available on the Internet is the fundamental pillar of online reputation management. Even though companies have scarcely any power over what other individuals say on social media, they can alter the conversation with the help of proactive brand messaging. ICMediaDirect team suggests utilizing progressive marketing techniques, such as storytelling methods and videos. A mix of avant-garde photography and drafting a powerful narrative increases engagement and creates an opportunity for businesses to build trust and the right image.