Reputation management: Which industries need it the most?

A popular restaurant group, dishing out great meals for over two decades, was worried that its hard-earned reputation might take a hit if it couldn’t dig into its guest sentiments. The company was struggling with a manual, labor-intensive process of managing its online reputation until it found a solution that marked a significant turnaround. The result? A remarkable 49% increase in customer feedback from review sites, all within just six months.

This story isn’t just about a bunch of restaurants, though. It’s a common headache for businesses today across sectors as they need a streamlined and efficient online reputation management process. For companies in certain key industries, dedicating resources to manage their reputation has become necessary for survival.

In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of the reputation management industry and provide an in-depth analysis of the sectors where reputation management is a must for success. 

What are the benefits of reputation management?

When you get down to the nitty-gritty of managing your business’s reputation online, the perks are worth the effort. Let’s dive into the benefits of reputation management:

• Driving new business: Online reviews are like your digital word-of-mouth. A whopping 92% of people read at least two reviews before forming an opinion about a local business. So, when you rack up those positive reviews, it’s like having an army of supporters sing your praises, leading more customers to your doorstep.

• Improved visibility and reach: The more reviews you have, the more likely your business pops up in local searches. A high local SEO ranking means that you’re found easily whenever someone is looking for what you offer.

• Boosted revenue: When people see others loving your product or service, they tend to jump on the bandwagon. This is called social proof. When customers trust you, they’re more likely to buy from you, pushing your sales numbers up.

• Competitive differentiation: When you actively manage your reputation, it tells customers that you care about them and are committed to providing great service. That’s a big deal to them and can set you miles apart from the competition.

• Crisis mitigation: You can catch any red flags early by monitoring what’s being said about your business. Addressing issues promptly can help you significantly avoid escalation risks. 

• Informed strategy: Customer feedback can be your roadmap to getting better. You can tweak your products or services to hit the mark when you know your customers’ likes and dislikes.

The reputation management industry is like your go-to expert for making the most of your online presence. It’s essential to keep an eye on online reviews or feedback, thoughtfully assess the vibes out there, and shape those chats to show off the best side of your brand.

And, if you’re into a sector with sky-high stakes, having a solid reputation management strategy isn’t just nice to have – it’s like your lifeline to stay relevant.

Common traits of industries that need reputation management

Every business needs to monitor its online reputation in today’s digital world. But for some industries, even a slight slip in reputation can send things spiraling out of control really fast. Bad press or negative feedback? It can lead to catastrophic outcomes for them. That’s why investing time and effort into managing their reputation is an absolute must for these sectors to stay afloat.

These high-risk, public-facing sectors often share traits like:

1. Direct consumer impacts: When things go wrong in these sectors, it’s not just a minor setback. Negative experiences or incidents can majorly impact customers, potentially leading to public outrage.
2. High consumer expectations: In these industries, customers don’t just hope for good service; they expect top-notch quality, solid reliability, and trust you can bank on. Falling short of these expectations can severely damage your credibility.
3. The power of reviews: Potential customers in these industries heavily depend on shared reviews and experiences before making purchasing decisions. A string of bad reviews? It can be a real deal-breaker.
4. High competition: With so many options to choose from, any weak spot in your reputation can make customers pick someone else. In a world where choices abound, your reputation is often the deciding factor that sways customers one way or the other.

List of industries that need reputation management the most

Now, let’s dive into the key industries where a strong reputation management process really makes a difference:

1. Healthcare

No sector depends more fundamentally on consumer trust than healthcare. Choosing providers — from hospitals to specialists to dentists — can really get your nerves jangling. That’s why managing reputation in healthcare is crucial for attracting patients and building that all-important trust.  

Check this out: About 70% of patients call online reviews crucial in selecting a healthcare provider. And, 75% of all consumers now pick doctors based on online ratings and comments.

By keeping tabs on patient feedback and public sentiment, healthcare providers can show they really care. Responding with empathy to patient reviews can help them calm those nervous prospective patients.  

2. E-commerce

Online shopping is all about trust – buying something from a store you can’t even walk into and then waiting for days or weeks to get what you purchased. That’s why e-commerce businesses need to be super vigilant about monitoring customer feedback.

Here’s a stat for you: A massive 95% of shoppers read online reviews before they hit the ‘buy’ button. And 90% trust these reviews as much as a personal recommendation from a friend.

E-commerce sites that stay on top of their feedback game, find it easy to keep their customers happy and carts full.

3. Professional service firms

When selecting professional services like legal, accounting, or consulting firms, it’s all about reputation, as they depend enormously on client referrals and positive customer reviews. These sectors face a real challenge with online presence, which can make or break their credibility.

Get this: A negative review can scare away 85% of consumers from a multi-location business with a local presence.

That’s why it’s important for these businesses to shine online, showcasing their wins and dealing with any negative feedback quickly and effectively.

4. Restaurants

Online reviews and word-of-mouth hugely influence where people choose to eat. In this industry, your reputation significantly impacts your business’s success.

Customers read reviews for restaurants more than any other industry. So, for restaurants, keeping an eye on reviews, quickly fixing any issues, and encouraging happy customers to spread the word are key to bringing in new diners and keeping those tables filled.

However, this isn’t just about restaurants and healthcare. Loads of other industries with direct customer contact, like entertainment, personal services, consumer goods, and transportation, also need strong reputation management. In any sector where public opinions matter, managing reputation is essential for building trust and watching your business grow.

Managing online reputations requires specialized expertise

Navigating the digital world – from review sites and blogs to social media – isn’t easy for any team. Keeping an eye on every mention, responding to reviews, shaping public sentiment, and then trying to measure the impact of it all can be overwhelming for most marketing departments to handle on their own.

Here’s a smart move: embrace dedicated reputation management industry solutions with the know-how to keep your business shining bright. Here’s what these bring to the table:

• Monitor brand mentions: These tools help you stay on top of relevant conversations across all review sites, social media platforms, and other channels.

• Showcase great feedback: These tools help you promote and republish your best, most meaningful positive customer experiences as advocates. 

• Tackle the tough stuff: When someone is not happy and is vocal about it, you can use these solutions to address negative comments and take action to resolve issues before they escalate further.

• Measure what matters: You’ll receive regular reports explaining everything from how many people are talking about you to how your reputation’s faring overall.

Choosing the ideal reputation management solutions  

When evaluating reputation management tools, keep these vital criteria in mind:

• Relevant experience: Prefer tools actively serving your specific sector. Vertical expertise ensures your reputation management service will address your unique challenges and needs.

• Methodology: How do these tools tackle reputation management? Research about their strategy, processes, technologies, and reporting.

• Proven outcomes: Don’t just take their word for it. Look for case studies and current customer references as proof. You want to see actual results like improved online rankings and a boost in sales to verify that they can really deliver.

• Realistic expectations: Ensure the tool you choose sets rational expectations around how long it will take to turn things around.

• Always-on dialogue: An ideal reputation management tool is your trusted strategic advisor. It should provide fresh insights and planning adjustments based on the ever-evolving digital landscape.

The reputation management industry is now more crucial than ever

In this digitally-driven business world, you can’t just leave your online brand reputation up to fate. Managing reviews and social media conversations is super important for enterprises in industries where customers are spoiled for choice. You need to be there for your customers whenever they need you. 

Reputation management has become essential for customer-facing businesses across healthcare, retail, professional services, restaurants, and virtually every sector. With the right tool or service guiding and managing your online presence, you can turn challenges into opportunities and watch your business grow.

FAQs about the industries that need reputation management the most

How Birdeye can make reputation management a breeze for your business

With Birdeye, it’s like having a command center for all the chatter about your business online. You’ll have all your reviews and customer feedback from different sites popping up in one simple, easy-to-use dashboard. You get to see everything at a glance, respond to reviews in a snap, and even get the lowdown on what your customers are thinking.

And the best part? Birdeye helps you spot the little issues before they turn into big headaches. Quick responses to feedback? Check. Keeping your business info up-to-date across the web? Check. It’s all about ensuring your business shines online and keeping those customers coming back for more.

Ready to take your reputation management game to the next level? Watch a demo today to see how Birdeye can help.