Earlier, when we didn’t live in the digital age, a company’s local reputation was dependent on word of mouth. Someone who liked your product or services would recommend them to another. And someone who didn’t like them would recommend that people steer clear of you. This is generally how a reputation is born. And the fact is that once you get a certain reputation, it becomes very difficult to change it.
Reputations Which Are Good, Bad and In-Between
A reputation is more than just “good” or “bad.” There are many intervening shades of grey and qualitative ideas which are bound up with your reputation. For example, you may have the reputation of producing something which is good enough in terms of quality but cheap. In this case, it will be very difficult for your company to move into producing something which is high end. A reputation, once established, is difficult to change.
When Does Your Local Reputation Matter?
As a local business, it’s necessary to maintain a good reputation locally. This is especially true if you’re engaged in the kind of business which serves the locals. There are businesses which ship their products to people all the way across the country. Their local reputation may not be as important to them, but it still can’t hurt to be known as a reliable company which produces good products or provides good services.
Using Social Media to Establish Your Local Reputation
In the digital world, you get a little more control over your reputation and there are many ways to influence it to develop in a certain direction. The most important of these is social media. If your local reputation is important to you, then make sure to “friend” or “follow” other local businesses connected or unconnected to yours as well as local people who might be influential in establishing your reputation.
Getting in Touch with Local Influencers
A local influencer is anyone who is active in the community and has a strong online presence. It could be the mayor of your small town or a teen who seems to know everyone at their high school. If you can get influencers such as these to endorse your brand, that will help you a great deal in establishing and maintaining your local reputation.
Contact us for more tips to establish, develop and even change your local reputation.