Whether you have an online business or a brick and mortar shop, your reputation is your greatest asset. You will need to make sure that you keep an eye on customer feedback and keep your clients happy. With the rise of social media’s popularity, it is no longer enough to have a website to get noticed by potential customers. Likewise, reviews on social media and  blogs can damage your reputation beyond repair. Below you will find a few ways social media can make or break your business.

Social Media and Search Engine Optimization

Not many business owners know that being present and active on social media can improve website rankings. The more customer mentions, interaction, and likes you have, the higher your site will rank in search engines. The bad news is that maintaining your social media accounts and your website can be a time-consuming task. You might outsource this task to a professional company, such as Optimind Technology Solutions and focus on developing better products or services for your customers, instead.

Ratings and Reviews

Most social media sites, such as LinkedIn and Facebook now allow customers and employees to rate your company. If you do everything to please them, you will be able to benefit from the reviews, but one unhappy employee or customer can ruin your reputation for a long time. You need to monitor your online ratings and reviews, so you can find out what people are happy and unhappy about, and you can make adjustments.

Credibility

Being present on social media as a business can improve your credibility, as well. Your credibility is important when you are a blogger, affiliate, or manage your own brand. The more places your brand is present online the more chances you will have to increase your personal and brand reputation, and keep an eye on the competition.

Customer Service Flexibility

Social media accounts will also give you additional ways of connecting with customers. Some people simply don’t use search engines to find a local business, but ask for recommendations on Facebook and other social media networking sites. If they stumble upon your business page and are given the option to ask a question or get a quote, you will have a better chance of turning them into customers.

Free Promotion

Social media will also give you free promotion through recommendations and mentions. If somebody mentions you in  a post, they vote for your business. Their friends will be tempted to check out your page or website, and you will get more customers. At the same time, if they complain about your company on social media sites, and mention your business, your reputation will suffer.

Running a successful business online or offline is challenging in the age of social media. You will need to be present on social media and review sites, and monitor your feedback, as well as your company’s brand performance. Your success no longer depends on your website alone; you need a comprehensive digital content management system to make sure that social media works for you, and not against you.