Do you have these 3 essential online reputation monitoring systems in place?

Do you have these 3 essential online reputation monitoring systems in place?

3-tools-online-reputation-monitoringWhen we talk about online reputation monitoring, obviously we focus a lot on social media monitoring tools such as Trackur. That’s our business and a darn fine job we do to!

That said, even I don’t rely solely on Trackur to monitor my reputation. No sir! There are two other important ways that you should be monitoring your online reputation, so let’s make sure you’ve not overlooked them.

1. Your peers

When something negative gets posted to one of your reputation’s circles of influence–message board, blog, social network group, etc–you may find that it’s a friend, co-worker, or business partner that spots it first. [highlight color=”yellow”]Before it shows up anywhere on your reputation radar, you receive an email, direct message, or text from a friend giving you the heads-up.[/highlight] Even if you’ve already seen the negative post yourself, always express gratitude for them letting you know. The next time they contact you, it may be with a negative attack that would have blindsided you otherwise.

2. Your web analytics

Sometimes, the very first alert to something negative will come from your web analytics. A sharp spike in traffic from a forum that doesn’t normally send any. A boost in Twitter referrals. Or, something more subtle–such an influx of traffic but with an equally huge jump in bounce rate. [highlight color=”yellow”]You should check your web analytics at least once–preferably 2 or 3 times–a day for anything that looks out of the ordinary.[/highlight] Every analytics tool will let you follow the referral path back to the origin–where you might just be able to nip a customer complaint in the bud!

3. Your social media monitoring

If your online reputation were a plane, your social media monitoring would be its radar. You wouldn’t fly your plane without a pilot (peers) and you wouldn’t navigate without air traffic control (analytics). Your social media monitoring is your automatic alert should your brand get close to hitting a reputation hillside. Did that analogy totally confuse you? Just [highlight color=”yellow”]make sure you have social media monitoring in place, but don’t make it your only means for monitoring your reputation.[/highlight]

What else do you use for monitoring your online reputation?

ByAndy Beal

Andy Beal is The Original Online Reputation Expert™. A bestselling author of two critically-acclaimed reputation management books, a keynote speaker at dozens of events, and brand consultant experience with thousands of individuals and companies.