Blogs Damaging your Brand?
Blogs have become extremely popular over the past few years. Web logs, or blogs, as they are more popularly known, are online journals that allow bloggers or writers to write about anything and everything. Setting up a blog only takes a few seconds and is generally free via services such as WordPress and LiveJournal.
Blogs can actually be a great benefit to businesses. Many companies are finding that these online sites can be a great way to project a more relaxed and friendly image. Some businesses are setting up not only company blogs, but also blogs for every team member and employee. In short, blogs add personality to your company. With their images, video, and casual conversationalist tone, blogs are also a big hit with readers. Potential customers and clients may be interested in hearing what your employees and team members have to say. It doesn’t hurt that blogs add more links that direct traffic to your website.
The fact that everyone and anyone can have a blog can be a problem, though. The ease with which blogs can be established means that anyone can set up a blog exclusively devoted to criticizing your business. Worse, blogs can be anonymous and can rank devastatingly high on search engines. Since these blogs can be fun to read, they may also get many readers. Many blogs allow readers to leave comments as well, and comments on blogs supporting negative messages about your business can lend credence to the claims made against your company.
If you notice blogs that cast your business in a bad light, your first priority should be to determine where the criticism is coming from. Is the blogger a former customer with a legitimate complaint? Is the blogger a business rival? Read the blog carefully to determine the overall tone and the message being sent. Check to see how popular the blog is with viewers as well.
If the blogger has a legitimate complaint, look up the blogger’s email address on the blog and send the author a polite email asking what can be done to clear up the issue. Keep in mind that the blogger may choose to post your email on his or her blog, so choose your wording carefully. You don’t want to add fodder to the blogger’s rage. Your aim is to resolve the problem gracefully and completely so that the blogger feels good about changing his or her views about your company.
You can also use blogging in a positive way to bolster your online reputation – no matter who is making negative comments about you online. One way you can use blogs to your advantage is to make polite and helpful comments on other blogs in your industry. This helps establish your credibility and ensures that negative blog comments aren’t the only ones out there related to your business. You can also use your own blog to project a sincere and positive image about your business.