What do your reputation management goals look like? Whatever you’re looking to achieve, we can help. Call 844-461-3632 to contact a reputation specialist today.
Your professional and personal image is something you should take seriously. Setting and establishing reputation management goals is the first step.
First, let’s define reputation. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, reputation is the “overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general.
Check out the following words that are synonyms for reputation:
- character
- esteem
- prestige
- fame
- mark
- note
- standing
- status
- stature
Your reputation is created by a series of events in your personal and professional career. The famous saying, “you don’t have a second chance to make a first impression,” is true. If you do not make a positive initial encounter with someone it could damage their view of you.
Your actions and what others think and more importantly say about you is your reputation. Your reputation is your character your image your leverage.
According to an article in Forbes.com, 10 Simple Ways To Improve Your Reputation, we have to think about reputation management both in-person and online because of social media.
The article’s author makes a valid point. “Create a great impression in real life and then leverage that work to create a strong reputation currency online.”
Reputation Management Goals: Here’s What to Know
So, what can you do to create and maintain a positive and professional reputation? Get started with your reputation management goals by noting the following:
Integrity Is A Core Value
Integrity is the core of your reputation. It means everything to your reputation. After all, your actions speak louder than words.
Think before you act. Think before your speak. Steer clear of impulsive behaviors and treat others with respect and dignity.
Do you know someone you trust and admire? Follow their lead and example and ask them to become your mentor.
Know Your Body Language
Body language or nonverbal communication plays a very important role in your overall reputation management.
Do you roll your eyes when you don’t agree with someone? Or cross your arms when you are annoyed? How about smiling when greeting a colleague?
You need to be aware of these constant nonverbal messages. And they should match what you are saying verbally.
According to an article in Helpguide.org, “your nonverbal communication cues—the way you listen, look, move, and react—tell the person you’re communicating with whether or not you care, if you’re being truthful, and how well you’re listening. When your nonverbal signals match up with the words you’re saying, they increase trust, clarity, and rapport.
When they don’t, they can generate tension, mistrust, and confusion.”
Consistency Is Key
Consistent behavior or presenting yourself the same way with everyone will pay off in the long run. Let your positive personality shine through with everyone you meet.
One bad day, one negative comment could harm your reputation, especially in a professional setting. It’s sad but true, that people are more apt to gossip or talk about a bad experience instead of a positive one.
Fulfill Promises You Make
One of the first things that can damage your reputation management efforts is not keeping your promises. Always do what you say you will do.
If for some unforeseen reason happens, always inform the person. Don’t leave them waiting. Think about a circumstance that someone stood you up, or didn’t follow through with a promise. It probably created negative outcomes.
Consistently fulfilling promises that you make will gain people’s trust and resulting in a strong reputation.
Help and Motivate Others
Light up the room. Help others accomplish goals. Pay it forward with a smile. Motivate others to do better and become better professionals and people.
Offer your assistance without being asked.
Give someone credit for a project. Pay attention to other’s needs. Refer a friend or colleague to a trusted source. Make a connection to strengthen a colleague’s network.
These positive and thoughtful gestures will strengthen your reputation.
Pay Attention To Image
We mentioned how important first impressions and body language are. Part of your reputation management goals is developing your image.
Dress to impress or at least professional. Wear clean and pressed clothing. Refrain from dressing too casually in a professional environment. Follow the dress code. Wear appropriate shoes.
Hire a reputation management expert like Net Reputation to help you.
Have Reputation Management Goals in Mind? Don’t Forget About Your Online Brand
Your online image is another component of your reputation management goals. Your personal reputation is your personal brand.
Today, your professional reputation and your personal reputation go hand in hand. This is important for you to understand.
Social media platforms like Facebook, Linked In, YouTube and Twitter are powerful tools if you use them properly. The goal is to reduce negative conversations and increase positive ones.
What you post and what others post about you play a part in your overall image. Your website is important too. Pay attention to your online image.
According to an article, the CEO Reputation Premium, an eye-opening 49 percent of company reputation is attributable to the business owner or CEO’s personal brand or image. That is a big number!
Here are some tips to improve your online reputation:
Pay Attention to Your Online Presence
Stay up to date and know what all of your platforms are saying about you. Post only positive messages and images. Remove any political posts. Block negative people from your platforms.
Share posts that are positive and fit into your professional image. Use Google and other search engines to research your name.
Take a look at the following shared by our Net Reputation Team:
- Avoid gossiping with colleagues or friends, especially through emails or social media accounts.
- Don’t allow someone to use your personal computer without protecting private images and information.
- In the small moments when we’re under stress, a negative word to someone can start an avalanche of revenge.
- White lies that we think are harmless can be the foundation for a larger defamation campaign against us.
- Sloppiness about our love life, home life, or personal activities – keep tabs on who knows what about you.
Create an Online Reputation Strategy
Take control of your online reputation. If you are new to the social scene start off in the right direction. Create an online strategy that will position you as an expert in your field. Get to know SEO or search engine optimization that search engines use to rank you on their search engines.
Get this statistic from Google.com. 90% of Google traffic is generated by the first page in a search result! So, use relevant keywords in posts and content on social media and your website. Check on your platforms daily and follow your online reputation strategy.
Ask For Personal Endorsements
People like to do business with people they know, like, and trust. They also prefer to do business with people who their connections recommend. It’s human nature, and now it’s social media platform nature. Personal endorsements provide credibility.
For example, LinkedIn is a platform used in a more professional environment than Facebook or Instagram. This is a great place to strengthen your online reputation. They have features to showcase awards, skills, and certification. They also have features where others you know can endorse you and your skills. Let others recommend and speak highly of you.
Every time someone endorses you your online reputation improves to job recruiters, potential customers, existing clients, and your peers. Ask for personal endorsements. Provide endorsements too to help your connections’ online reputation.
Post Relevant Content
Content is king, is a phrase coined by Bill Gates founder of Microsoft back in 1996.
Today, content remains king and will continue into the future. The content you post makes a very big impact on your reputation. Content others say about you makes a very big impact on your reputation too, Reviews, like endorsements are very helpful.
According to a brightlocal.com consumer review study, “87 percent of consumers read online reviews for local businesses in 2020.”That was an increase from 81% in the previous year.
So, post regularly on social media, respond to comments and questions in a timely manner and create blog posts that position you as an expert in your industry. Create positive, helpful volumes of content that are relevant and timely.
Some content ideas include:
Blog Posts
Create consistent, relevant, and helpful blog articles to position you as an expert
Listicles
Create articles written in a list format that is short, easy to read, and either educate or delight readers
Infographics
Create graphics of data, or information intended to share helpful information quickly and clearly.
Videos
Create videos that appeal to your audience to entertain, educate or inform viewers.
Polls
Create a Poll on social media to gain answers to questions to generate helpful information and engage followers.
Facebook Live Sessions
Go live on Facebook to capture the attention of followers
Behind the Scenes
Create a behind-the-scenes event to share how things are accomplished.
Community Spotlights
Spotlight your charity and volunteer work to show how you give back to your community
User-Generated Content
Share UGC. User-generated content is any content including photos, graphics, videos, posted by others that will engage existing and new followers.
At NetReputation, we specialize in improving your reputation. We’re here when you are ready to improve your image and set reputation management goals. Contact our team of experts today for your free reputation score scan. Let’s get started right now!
by Net Reputation