(This is a contributed post)
If there’s one thing every business needs to make sure they keep in check, it’s their image. How your business is seen in the public eye will determine your ability to grow and succeed as a business, so you must be able to both improve and maintain a positive image. Many factors go into your business’ image, so there’s going to be a lot to work on. You should also know that you can never fully be in control of your image, as both your employees and external parties may damage it.
It’s not just you who represents your business, but your employees too. If your employee does something that your business doesn’t stand for, it will negatively reflect your business and views. This has happened many times, where an employee has said something controversial on social media, and as a result, the business has to act on it. You need to make sure you enforce the rules and values within your business, as you have a reputation to uphold. Ensure that the business values are clear during and after recruitment, as it’s hard to get second chances in the public eye.
There have been many instances where a business will receive fake reviews in an attempt to harm the reputation of that business. While it might not be a huge problem for bigger businesses, it can be very damaging for small businesses. If you’ve received a fake review online, you should know that removing fake Google reviews is an option for you. Many people check the Google reviews to decide whether or not they can trust a business, and if you’re small and unheard of – you may lose customers from negative reviews.
If you want to show that you’re a business that can be trusted, making yourself available to your customers outside of sales is important. If you can be seen interacting with customers, like online for example, then you will have a much easier time building trust with your audience. A purchase is less risky when you know that the business will be there to deal with any issues that arise. Your customers don’t have to worry about dissatisfaction with the quality of product or service they receive, knowing that you will respond to them one way or another.
Quality is one of the most important things for many businesses. There are some industries where quantity over quality wins, but generally, you should be ensuring some standard of quality. The quality that you provide will be part of your brand, and if you’re aiming to be seen as a high-standard image, then you want to make sure you’re providing high-quality products or services.
You’re going to struggle as a small business if you can’t carry yourself properly, as it will slow you down significantly. The better you’re able to represent yourself, the quicker you can build a strong relationship with your customers.