Online Reputation Management, commonly abbreviated as ORM, is the practice of crafting strategies that shape or influence the public perception of an organization, individual, or other entity on the Internet. It helps drive public opinion about a business and its products and services. By monitoring and managing online content, ORM ensures that when someone looks for you on the Internet, they find the right materials. The goal of Online Reputation Management is to balance, counteract misleading trends, and allow you to put your best foot forward.
Today, the number of internet platforms has exploded, and Online Reputation Management can take place across a vast array of social media sites, search engines, forums, news sites, and more. ORM involves a combination of marketing, public relations, legal and search engine optimization (SEO) strategies to promote, protect and defend your online image or business reputation. This includes addressing content which is damaging to it, and using customer feedback to try to solve problems before they damage the individual’s or brand’s reputation. A major part of the ORM process is trying to suppress negative search results, while highlighting and promoting positive ones.
For businesses, Online Reputation Management is an essential aspect of establishing a strong online presence. It is not only about managing content in search engines but also about managing negative business reviews and encouraging happy clients to contribute more positive feedback. In essence, Online Reputation Management is about ensuring that the positive material about you or your company is not only visible but that it also overshadows any negative material. This strategy plays a critical role in your digital marketing efforts and can significantly impact your brand’s perception and sales.
