Does business profit equal business reputation? The answer is no. More often than not, poor brand image will affect business growth in the long term. However, it can take years before the way people feel about your business begins to affect revenues. Nevertheless, if you are not careful, it could still take you by surprise. Therefore, it’s essential to do everything you can to ensure people will like your business.

#1. Keep track of your reputation

Ultimately, it is impossible to monitor everything people write online about your company. That’s precisely why it is essential to partner with an online reputation management company, which can analyze your digital presence and provide strategies and solutions to build a positive brand image. Additionally, in the event of a crisis, such as having to recall a defective product, a reputation management expert can prevent long-lasting negative consequences. 

#2. Put yourself in their shoes

Most companies fail to realize that employees, rather than customers, are their biggest advocates. Indeed, happy and satisfied employees not only stay with the brand, but can also promote the brand. Disgruntled employees or former employees can leave negative reviews about the brand and expose the company’s mistakes. Consequently, your top priority is to create a positive employee experience by putting yourself in their shoes. How does it feel to work for you? Only they know, and if they are not satisfied, it is likely to affect the business in the long term. 

#3. Always capture customer feedback

Of course, your customers also matter, which is why you need to collect customer feedback. Collecting feedback is often the quickest way to spot issues. Even if you think you are doing everything right, your customers could face unexpected challenges when dealing with the business. Therefore, you want to make sure you are aware of their impression. Additionally, you can also spot feedback trends. For example, if the business tends to gather negative feedback during rush periods, it could indicate that your team needs more support to handle the seasonal rush. Or perhaps, regular customers are dissatisfied because they felt they deserved VIP treatment and didn’t receive it. 

#4. Follow market trends closely

You may be doing everything right, yet your competitors are doing more and better. Simple things such as including digital services can make a big difference to your customers. It is worth keeping in touch with the latest trends in your market to make sure you are not missing out. 

For instance, AI and AR play a big role in customer interactions. Therefore, as customers become more familiar with new technologies, they expect their favorite brands to use them too. 

#5. Check your sales figures

Sales revenues fluctuate for a variety of reasons. Many companies experienced a significant drop as households struggled to keep their budget afloat during the pandemic. Additionally, seasonal drops are always to be expected during the year. 

Yet, if you notice drops that you can’t explain, it could also be a sign that your brand reputation is declining. 

Do people like your brand? There are plenty of ways to track how customers and employees perceive your business, so you can react rapidly if your reputation changes. Don’t let your unmanaged brand image ruin your business!