Digital Marketers Will Devote More Resources to Online Reputation Management in 2018
New survey finds that more than half of businesses (54%) believe online reputation management is "very necessary" and plan to allocate more resources to it in response to the growing popularity of social media and online reviews.
WASHINGTON, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 40% of businesses will increase their investment in online reputation management (ORM) this year, according to a new survey from Clutch, a B2B research, ratings, and reviews company. Businesses' plans to allot more time and money to ORM are a result of the popularity of social media and third-party reviews sites, which impact businesses' control over their online reputation.
Clutch surveyed 224 digital marketers in the US and found that more than half of businesses (54%) consider ORM "very necessary" to success. As a result, 34% said they allocated more resources to ORM in 2018, and an additional 43% said they plan to hire a professional public relations or ORM agency in 2018.
Businesses already invest a significant amount of time observing their online reputation, Clutch found. More than 40% of digital marketers (42%) monitor their companies' brand online daily, while 21% monitor their online reputation hourly.
According to public relations experts, businesses frequently monitor how their brand is portrayed online because they know even one negative media mention can quickly damage the public's perception of their company.
"When people search for brands online, they tend to search for stamps of credibility," explained Simon Wadsworth, managing partner at Igniyte, an online reputation management agency in the UK. "If potential customers find anything negative, that could end up being a significant amount of leads the business won't get from people who are put off from using the service."
Social media also has shifted the ORM landscape because it gives consumers free-reign to share their opinions and experiences quickly and frequently: 46% of businesses look to social media most often to monitor their online reputation.
By using professional agencies that have expertise in online reputation management, businesses can minimize losing new customers who may be dissuaded from purchasing their product or service.
To read the complete report, please visit: https://clutch.co/pr-firms/resources/importance-online-reputation-management-businesses.
For the raw data, a quotation on the findings, or an introduction to the experts interviewed for this report, contact Jenna Seter at [email protected]
About Clutch
A B2B research, ratings, and reviews firm in the heart of Washington, DC, Clutch connects small and medium businesses with the best-fit agencies, software, or consultants they need to tackle business challenges together and with confidence. Clutch's methodology compares business service providers and software in a specific market based on verified client reviews, services offered, work quality, and market presence.
Contact
Jenna Seter
(202) 888-5181
[email protected]
SOURCE Clutch
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