subject: Public Relations through Reputation Management [print this page] Public Relations through Reputation Management
The need for a favorable brand reputation was always part of marketing. Consumers depend on the word-of-mouth publicity when they make a decision to buy something. That is the basic concept of a brand. In the digital age, that same need for a positive brand image has given birth to reputation management. The aim of online reputation management is to figure out ways to market and promote the brand they are working for. It begins with establishing a brand presence and then slowly building it up over time. Firms working on reputation management services keep it in mind that they have to establish themselves as a dominant brand before they can sell products and services. It ensues from this thought process that reputation management online is about maintaining healthy public relations with customers and users.
It may be that reputation management experts will use the same tools as online public relations. The same channels of communication will be useful for online reputation management teams. Press releases are one way of communicating with the external public. Writers in the reputation management online team need to come up with interesting copies that grab the attention of the online readers. Press releases can be used to announce new product launches, discounts and offers. These releases can be posted on paid and non-paid press release websites. The content is then picked up by networks like Google Alerts. The online visibility of the content goes up by numerous percentages when the press release is distributed over wider avenues. Press releases are useful in the sense that consumers get updated information and also have an option to contact the brand through phone numbers or email ids listed in the body of the content.
Social media plays a major role in the public relations and reputation management efforts. Brands need to maintain a healthy relationship with users on the network. They may be buyers or potential buyers. As a result, the online reputation management team can talk and interact with them. Online chat and tweeting are options that reputation management service units can try out. Users like to connect with the brand representatives. They will feel privileged and special if the brand executives resolve their issues or pays due attention to their problem. The social media networks are tools that every brand needs. Here you are not just interacting with the users, but also creating a platform for the others to do so. The users can talk between themselves and find out how they are linked through a common thread. This bonding is essential for the brand. It keeps the consumer base steady.
Online reputation management follows the basic principles of public relations. Their primary aim is to maintain a positive and healthy image of the brand. It will also be the official mouthpiece for announcements and declarations. The reputation management team also happens to be repository for information and act as a knowledge base. The reputation management services will be able to inform and educate the users on whatever they want to know.
