9 smart ways to fix your brand’s bad reputation
It takes years to build a remarkable business reputation, but only a few mistakes can cost you years of effort.
Negative publicity spreads like wildfire, and the business loses its reputation, one of its most significant assets, in a matter of seconds.
In such trying times, brands try to settle the matter with compensation or start from scratch with a rebranding move.
However, instead of going to extreme lengths, try out these strategies first!
1. Be transparent and own up to it
Acknowledge the problem immediately instead of ignoring the bad reputation. Don’t pretend that you’re not aware of the issue. It will only make you appear unreliable to customers and employees.
So, stay transparent about the issue at hand. Take responsibility for the mistakes and promise to improve your services from that point onward.
2. Share a sincere apology
Remember that the customer is the king. So, apologize to them and other customers for the mistake through a post or notice. Be specific and sincere, and don’t make excuses or shift blame.
Show gratitude to the customer for pointing out the issue, as that helped prevent this mistake from continuing. The world loves a sporty brand, so your optimistic take will melt their hearts.
Along with the apology, share how you will prevent such issues in the future. This will help you regain customers’ trust and repair damaged relationships.
3. Take steps and share updates
An apology and promise to improve issues is a great start. However, the public also wants proof. So, ensure you keep your customers and all stakeholders updated about your next steps.
Show them your strategy and plan of action so such incidents don’t repeat. Convey that you’re committed to making changes for good. Let them know if you’re struggling but still sticking to necessary actions.
Share everything you’re learning as a company from this experience. If it takes a long time, it’s best to share quarterly reports about the progress.
4. Seek professional support
If nothing helps or you’re uncertain about handling the situation, it’s best to leave it up to experts. Connect with a reliable PR company in Dubai with connections in the top-class news and media outlets.
Their reputation management services can help you share positive messages with the public. This can help your business regain its authority and credibility and build trust among customers. Their efforts can also help your brand get rid of bad press over time!
5. Check the review sites
Often, there is more than one business with the same name. Some people mix that up on review sites and post negative feedback for the wrong companies.
Look up the most popular review sites like GlassDoor and Indeed and claim your business pages. Check whether all the reviews are meant for your business. Clear up any mess so that things don’t go south any further.
6. Address negative feedback
Identify the negative reviews (meant for your business) and address their concerns one by one. Come up with a viable solution for each.
This may take time and patience, but it’s a great step to repair your reputation. Offended customers will be glad that you’re looking out for them, even if it’s late. They’ll reconsider returning to your business for your effort.
7. Post positive content
When people look up your business online and find a bunch of negative articles, it instantly ruins your image.
In this case, an effective way to repair brand reputation is by publishing positive and relevant content. This will replace or reduce the negative search results whenever people search your business name.
Work with SEO agencies to ensure that the positive content ranks higher on search engines than the negative ones.
8. Highlight positive reviews
Whenever you get a happy client, ask them to share a review online. Highlight the positive feedback on your business website, Google Business Profile, LinkedIn, Yelp, and other listings. This will boost your reputation steadily.
9. Guide the customer service department
Sometimes, the public crosses limits and shares crude remarks and reviews. While dealing with such comments, ensure customer service agents don’t lose their calm.
Remember, a bad response to a bad review won’t help you earn back your reputation. Moreover, statistics show that 3 out of 4 consumers spend more on businesses with better customer service!
Conclusion
With a combination of these strategies, your company can regain its lost reputation. So, try them out, be patient, and wait for the situation to improve!
