According to a Business 2 Community blog post, in today’s ad-screaming world, many have come to distrust advertisements. After all, who can you believe when faced with a constant barrage of companies touting their products and services as “the best” or “the longest lasting?” How do people cope with this constant noise when making decisions?
They rely heavily on a business’s reputation.
A case in point: One study found that 85% of people trust online reviews as much as they do personal recommendations. And in the same study, 97% of people looked online to find out more about local businesses. Whether you’re a local business or not, this speaks volumes about how your online reputation relates to your audience’s needs.
There are many factors that feed into your brand’s reputation, including:
- Website
- Social media
- Third party review sites
- Media coverage
- Awards
- Blog
- Speaking