Jeff Bezos is credited with saying “Your model is what individuals say about you if you’re not within the room.” Within the age of social media visibility and virality, what individuals say about you may velocity its approach to hundreds of thousands of individuals. Or a minimum of be seen to your subsequent potential buyer. And that’s why social media popularity administration is so essential.
Fame administration isn’t about controlling the narrative. It’s about listening to what clients say, studying from their suggestions, and responding in a approach that builds belief in your model.
The stakes are excessive. Over 2,000 executives surveyed attribute 63% of their corporations’ worth to their on-line reputations. Most shoppers (93% in line with this survey) say on-line critiques have an effect on their shopping for selections. Even hiring is affected as 86% of staff verify critiques and scores earlier than making use of for a job.
This isn’t a story of woe. It’s a hero story starring you. By studying this publish, you’ll have at your disposal the instruments and techniques to “hear” what your clients say about your model. You’ll be capable of reply in actual time. And also you’ll create an internet popularity that endears your organization to your clients.
Bonus: Obtain a free information to learn to use social media listening to spice up gross sales and conversions at the moment. No tips or boring suggestions—simply easy, easy-to-follow directions that actually work.
Social media popularity administration is the observe of observing and shaping how individuals understand your model on social media platforms like Fb, Twitter, and TikTok.
Your group’s on-line popularity is constructed on the references individuals make about your organization. Every publish, Tweet, TikTok, remark, or overview that mentions your model provides one other brick to your reputational basis.
With out consideration and steerage, your popularity shapes itself. Perhaps that’s OK if everybody interacting together with your firm has an incredible expertise.
Sadly, persons are extra prone to share a unfavorable buyer expertise than a optimistic one. And generally, somebody will unfold deceptive info. So you may find yourself with a poor popularity on social media, even when the overwhelming majority of your clients love you.
With a popularity administration plan, you’ll know when somebody calls out your model and the temper of that point out. Plus, you’ll have a plan to handle it. You possibly can shout optimistic messages far and broad. And deal with the unfavorable mentions earlier than they change into full-blown public relations crises.
@janellewinn @geico is the WORST PLACE TO INSURE YOUR CARS. Use anybody else however them!! #moneywasted #geico #screwgeico
A social media popularity administration technique sometimes consists of three parts:
- An audit that surfaces your present popularity on-line
- Ongoing qualitative and quantitative monitoring of social channels
- Proactive and reactive messaging to construct, enhance, or restore buyer belief
With that big-picture context in thoughts, let’s have a look at the steps you’ll take to construct a loyal and loving fanbase on social media.
An excellent social media popularity administration plan begins with listening to what individuals need to say about your model. It continues with steps to mitigate unfavorable sentiment. It consists of methods to humanize your model and promote the optimistic vibes your followers share.
Monitor model mentions and conversations
Social media model monitoring and sentiment evaluation are on the coronary heart of all on-line popularity administration efforts.
Model monitoring tracks all of the social media posts and conversations that embody a point out of your model, merchandise, and key spokespeople (like your CEO). Some individuals @ your organization instantly, however many don’t. So that you’ll want to trace branded #s and untagged mentions as effectively.
One factor about me, if I’m already late I’m going to Starbucks
— C Candy 🍀 (@csweetnsour) April 18, 2023
Bear in mind to trace widespread misspellings. If the crew at Starbucks didn’t try this, they’d miss out on some fascinating conversations.
Want social media monitoring instruments to search out these model conversations? Hootsuite has you coated.
Sentiment evaluation is the contextual overview of name mentions. It goes past counting how typically your organization is mentioned on social media. It additionally considers the temper and opinion behind these conversations.
Say hundreds of individuals discuss your product’s efficiency.
@sarahbaileyreads Making some ✨forbidden✨ chocolate milk 🐄 #cleantok #bissellclean #littlegreenmachine #weekendvibes #teachersoftiktok
Sentiment evaluation takes cues from their language to provide you an concept if the temper is optimistic or unfavorable.
A quantitative evaluation of what you collect will let you know your social share of voice, social ROI, and your social sentiment rating. From qualitative evaluation, you’ll study what hashtags and traits individuals affiliate together with your model.
Monitoring conversations about your model on-line doesn’t simply floor superficial sentiment. You’ll uncover all kinds of the way to enhance what you are promoting — even studying methods to make your product higher. Which is precisely what The Isle of Paradise did right here.
@theisleofparadise @foamy3 requested, we listened!💖Introducing the NEW Professional-Glow Spray Tan Mister! Store @sephora & @Boots UK ✨#isleofparadise
A TikTok creator had loads of good issues to say in regards to the firm’s self-tanner however didn’t love the spray applicator. The model listened, up to date the bottle, and the TikToker shared the story. That one interplay turned a free focus group, commercial, user-generated content material, and buyer testimonial. The corporate confirmed they have been listening to buyer considerations and constructed lots of goodwill within the course of.
Pay attention for competitor and key phrase mentions
What occurs to your opponents and all through your trade may have an effect on your on-line popularity. Bear in mind the viral video of safety officers dragging a United Airways buyer off of an overbooked aircraft? Different carriers felt the warmth and needed to change their overbooking insurance policies.
That’s the place social listening is available in. It goes past searching for mentions of your model. It additionally tracks conversations that embody your opponents and market-related key phrases.
Take a look at how gaming chair maker Mavix jumped into this thread.
If anyone’s searching for a gaming chair various after watching this, look no additional😈
— Mavix Chairs (@mavixchairs) April 18, 2023
Somebody tweeted an unflattering video of their competitor. Mavix’s soft-touch trolling gathered curiosity and good emotions from avid gamers who wanted a brand new seat. It’s a scenario made doable first by energetic social media listening.
You must also set your software program to pay attention for essential key phrases like H&R Block did right here.
🧮 It’s Tax Day within the USA! I’m counting beans 🫘 and filling out tax kinds! 📝 https://t.co/XK6juft8p6 #taxday #fileyourtaxes #CPA #taxaccountant #beancounter 🫘🧮 #roughday #roughcollie #collie pic.twitter.com/xL9EdmYDYY
— Collie Crusader (@CollieCrusader) April 18, 2023
They discovered a chance to affix an ongoing dialog. Regardless that it didn’t point out their firm. And acquired to Tweet about an lovely pup doing taxes.
Interact and reply shortly
It’s not sufficient to hearken to social media chatter about your model. You should additionally reply, and do it quick. Why? 75% of U.S. shoppers anticipate manufacturers to answer to social media questions and complaints inside a day. 20% assume the response ought to be speedy!
Each point out is a chance to enhance engagement on social media and construct belief to your model. Some conversations can be enjoyable and pleasant. Others might begin as a result of your buyer is annoyed or confused. Social media listening instruments will enable you discover and reply to those conversations quick. Now, let’s have a look at how you may reply to the complete vary of social media interactions.
For starters, you may flip your social media account right into a public-facing customer support heart. That’ll assist ease clients’ confusion. Many individuals flip to social media after they need assistance, so it’s a pure place to reply questions and provides steerage.
Nike, for instance, has a devoted Twitter account it makes use of to resolve its clients’ dilemmas.
Any replace on this? I’m nonetheless having this problem…
— J. Strand (@DJ_Ajaxx) September 15, 2022
Nike doesn’t solely use @nikeservice to reply particular person questions, although. The model additionally posts common updates that act like an ongoing FAQ part. Followers can discover options earlier than they even need to ask a query. Which implies much less burden on their customer support reps.
Typically, individuals discuss your model in amusing and optimistic methods. These are nice alternatives to drop in and be a part of the dialog. Wendy’s not often misses an opportunity to speak sq. burgers or…historic structure?
Why the sunrooms, Wendy. Spit some historical past my approach!
— jaxsaid 🐌 (@jaxsaid) April 18, 2023
Not all social media posts are going to be optimistic, although. When a buyer does share their disappointment, it’s essential to assist them shortly.
I’m undecided why @dominos has had me on maintain for this lengthy or why my meals continues to be in “prep” an hour later however okay
— liv (@oliviafyeager) April 25, 2023
Regardless of which kind of dialog you encounter, the hot button is to keep in mind that there’s an individual on the opposite finish. Take into consideration what you’d say to them in the event that they have been standing in entrance of you. Use that to assist make your responses extra human.

Scale back response time (and your workload)
Handle all of your messages stress-free with simple routing, saved replies, and pleasant chatbots. Attempt Hootsuite’s Inbox at the moment.
Allow and reply to critiques
When nurtured and managed, on-line critiques are an incredible kind of grassroots, word-of-mouth advertising and marketing. They’re additionally an essential a part of cultivating your social media presence. A Brightlocal survey discovered that practically half of shoppers have a look at Fb critiques.
The identical survey additionally revealed that consumers assume it’s essential for manufacturers to have a minimum of a four-star ranking. And greater than half of consumers say they wish to see each optimistic and unfavorable critiques from the final two to 4 weeks.
You’ll want a gradual stream of optimistic critiques. To get them, be sure to’ve turned on Fb suggestions. Then don’t be afraid to ask. Over 50% of consumers are “probably” or “extremely probably” to depart a overview if the enterprise asks them to. And what’s the best approach to request a buyer overview? It’s a reasonably shut race between e-mail, in-person, on a receipt, and thru social media, in line with the survey.
Gathering a bunch of current 5-star critiques is nice. However for those who actually wish to wow clients, reply to your critiques. 88% of shoppers stated they’re “probably to make use of a enterprise if they will see the enterprise proprietor responds to all critiques, whether or not optimistic or unfavorable.”
Whenever you do obtain a nasty overview, you’ve acquired to sort out it head-on. It’s a sign to all clients that you simply’re prepared to resolve no matter problem might come up.
An excellent rule of thumb is to handle dangerous critiques publicly. However then resolve them privately. These conversations might comprise non-public info. That’s particularly essential for those who work in a regulated trade like healthcare.
However don’t be shy about sharing the wins, both. You’ve labored exhausting to ship a services or products individuals love. Use their hard-won suggestions to earn extra enterprise by putting it on social posts or your web site.
Domesticate your popularity proactively
You don’t want to attend for a buyer to publish about you. There are methods to ascertain and handle your social media popularity proactively.
One possibility is to publish content material in your channels that reveals the world what your model is all about. Take the Irish chief of low-cost air journey, for instance. The corporate is notorious for cut-rate companies, however one have a look at its TikTok account and it’s clear that Ryanair simply doesn’t care.
@ryanair Welcome again to the get together 😈 #ryanair
Ryanair doesn’t cease there. Its social crew has masterfully spun its dangerous popularity right into a Stockholm Syndrome-like relationship with the very folks that malign them on-line.
Supply: Ryanair’s TikTok
The difficult stability of snark and savagery is simply the ticket for RyanAir. Its clients know full effectively they’re not getting a luxurious experience, so any complaints about service might be met with a “see, we instructed you” perspective.
GoPro appears at social media popularity via a special lens. They don’t inform consumers what their model is. They ask present customers to point out it.
GoPro gathers UGC (user-generated content material) by asking clients to tag pictures and video posts with a hashtag like #gopro. Shoppers belief authentically created UGC over different kinds of content material. So this technique generates lots of confidence within the GoPro model.
Arrange (and implement) model pointers
Regardless of in case your model is snarky, severe, or someplace in between, consistency is the important thing to sustaining your popularity on-line. A rogue worker posting off-brand replies can harm your popularity very quickly.
Supply: Fb
On this case, it’s a faux “buyer help” Fb account trolling individuals. However you wish to keep away from a scenario the place your staff reply in a approach that hurts your popularity. So that you’ll have to create each a social media type information and a social media coverage.
The social media coverage outlines big-picture expectations for the way your staff publish and interact on branded social media channels (or after they’re posting on private accounts on behalf of your model). The coverage covers content material varieties, how to reply to optimistic and unfavorable suggestions, authorized compliance, and extra. Right here’s a information that can assist you write your social media coverage (it features a free template that can assist you get began).
A social media type information solutions questions on the way you’ll craft particular person posts. What tone will you tackle Twitter, LinkedIn, and Fb? Are there buzzwords and jargon you wish to use (or steer clear of)? And, in fact, are emojis a part of the plan?
Want extra? This in-depth publish will present you every part your social media type information must have.
Social media popularity administration software program
Social media is a giant place. It’s unattainable to floor all of the related conversations you have to be part of. These instruments will enable you discover, analyze, and reply to mentions that matter to what you are promoting.
Hootsuite
Hootsuite makes it simple to trace and reply to model, competitor, and key phrase mentions throughout all of your social media accounts.
Attempt without spending a dime
The key is Hootsuite Streams, a flexible approach to view a wide range of social media actions in a single handy area. You possibly can create a stream to watch key phrases, model or competitor mentions, and hashtags.
As soon as your streams are up and operating, you may leap into essential conversations by replying from your dashboard. So when somebody shares your newest Tweet or talks about your nice service, you may reply shortly with out opening a number of platforms.
Hootsuite additionally comes with Inbox, an all-in-one communication software for social media that helps you retain tabs on all of your DMs and feedback in a single place (and deal with delicate points in a well timed method, earlier than they change into a risk to your popularity). This consists of:
- Non-public messages and DMs
- Public messages and posts in your profiles
- Darkish and natural feedback
- Mentions
- Emoji reactions
… and extra.
The all-in-one agent workspace makes it simple to
- Monitor the historical past of any particular person’s interactions together with your model on social media (throughout your accounts and platforms), giving your crew the context wanted to personalize replies
- Add notes to clients’ profiles (Inbox integrates with Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics)
- Deal with messages as a crew, with intuitive message queues, process assignments, statuses, and filters
- Monitor response instances and CSAT metrics
Plus, Inbox comes with helpful automations:
- Automated message routing
- Auto-responses and saved replies
- Robotically triggered buyer satisfaction surveys
- AI-powered chatbot options
Brandwatch
Brandwatch is a social listening platform that searches via billions of social media interactions. It delivers insightful information about your model’s popularity.
With Brandwatch, you study what phrases are mostly related together with your model. You additionally understand how typically individuals discuss your organization. And you then see the sentiment behind all these conversations.
Brandwatch is totally built-in with Hootsuite. You possibly can view and reply to big-picture traits and particular person cases from one place.
ReviewTrackers
ReviewTrackers rounds out your social media popularity administration toolbox by providing you with a handy area to see and interact together with your on-line critiques.
Supply: ReviewTrackers
In the event you use the ReviewTrackers plugin on Hootsuite, you may prepare your critiques into streams the identical approach you do social media mentions and posts. And likewise, like different streams, you may reply to your critiques in actual time with out leaving the platform. Then when these 5-star raves begin rolling in, simply jump over to your Hootsuite Creator workspace and share them throughout all of your social channels.
Save time managing your social media presence with Hootsuite. From a single dashboard, you may publish and schedule posts, discover related conversions, have interaction the viewers, measure outcomes, and extra. Attempt it free at the moment.
Handle all of your social media in a single place, measure ROI, and save time with Hootsuite.