By It's tough to overstate the benefits of reputation management. A business will see higher revenue, better conversion rates, and increased trust. In fact, customers think businesses that manage their reputations online are 1.7x more trustworthy (Google). The problem is reputation management can be time intensive. Do you or your client’s team members have time to sift through reviews or respond to every comment on social media? With reputation management tools, they can do these tasks efficiently—and get results.r
Is reputation management the key to client retention? Download our insights report “Why Reputation Management Matters: A Churn Study” to find out.
Here are our top seven picks.
1. Reputation management tools like Google Alerts are free
If you’re not sure where to start with reputation management, it might make sense to check out a free tool. The first stop on anyone’s list should be old standbys like Google Alerts.
Google Alerts is a simple but elegant solution for keeping an eye on brand mentions. Plug in keywords or business names you want to track, and Google will send alerts.
This method has its limitations, though. Alerts don’t tell you much about how customers are talking about a brand, for example. It’s good to know that they’re talking, but what are they saying? There are no analytics with this data either. Your team will have their work cut out for them when it comes to reputation management and reporting.
That’s why upgrading to more robust reputation management tools makes sense.
2. Vendasta’s Reputation Management tools and software are an agency fav
One of the most robust options you have is Vendasta’s Reputation Management software. This isn’t just one reputation management tool; it can be used as a whole reputation management suite.
Capterra noted that the Vendasta platform has been gaining popularity recently (Capterra). It’s not hard to see why. This robust tool lets you scan the web for mentions and keep tabs on new reviews. Vendasta’s Reputation Management software also lets you respond to those reviews and manage client listings.
That’s not all the platform does, though. It also comes with a host of business intelligence tools, which let you analyze trends. If you want to show your client what’s working—and why—you have the tools to uncover those insights.
The platform integrates with other Vendasta products, which lets you do more. Best of all, this solution is a leader in white-label reputation management software—which can help you build your brand.
3. Sprout Social helps your team with social media mentions
If your client’s focus is social media, then Sprout Social might be the right tool. Sprout’s software is laser-focused on the social media realm, with integrations for many platforms.
Sprout Social makes it easier to listen to what people are saying on social media. With its publishing tools, you can also respond to those comments. Analytics help you determine what’s working and what’s not so you can design more engaging campaigns.
If you’re looking for an all-in-one platform, though, Sprout Social may not be the right fit. While it tries to do a lot, social media is still the platform’s wheelhouse.
4. LocalClarity is a budget-friendly reputation management tool
LocalClarity is a lesser-known product in the world of online reputation management tools. It could be a good fit for clients looking for something more scaled down. As a result of its limited scope, it’s also more budget friendly.
There are a few integrations, and you’ll be able to list your clients on some of the best review sites out there. You can also work with the app to connect with industry-specific listing sites.
Pricing starts around $12 a month (GetApp), and there is no cap on users. If your client is unsure about spending a lot of money, it could be a good way to get started.
That said, you get what you pay for in this case. The platform has no mobile app, and it doesn’t offer any social media listening tools. You might want to add something else to supplement it right out of the gate as a result.
As much as LocalClarity focuses on reputation management, there aren't many options for getting new reviews.
LocalClarity could be a good choice for someone starting out in this arena. It’s likely your clients will quickly graduate to more robust reputation management tools, though.
5. Vendasta’s Customer Voice lets you home in on reviews
Sometimes, all you want to do is get more reviews for your customer. Vendasta’s Customer Voice lets you do just that. This tool is a great choice to bundle with white-label reputation management software.
Reputation Management lets you manage listings and crunch numbers. Customer Voice, by contrast, is proactive.
You can think of it as less of a “management” tool and more of a reputation builder. With it, you can send personalized messages to your clients’ customers. You can encourage them to review on a wide variety of platforms.
Customer Voice would be a powerful addition to your reputation management toolkit.
6. Meltwater is a top choice for managing media relations
If you’re looking for a platform to help you manage media outlets, then Meltwater might be the right choice.
This platform started as a place to save media clippings. It has since evolved into a brand monitoring platform. With it, you can keep tabs on mentions of your clients’ bands in the media.
Meltwater’s focus is on PR and public perception. It features not just social listening tools but tools that allow you to identify when a reputation crisis might be brewing. You can then use the platform to help get ahead of the narrative and stay in control of brand messaging.
While the focus on PR makes Meltwater unique, it’s also a platform focused on averting crises. Most brands don’t need that. It doesn't hurt to have your finger on the pulse of customer sentiment. Most local businesses are still more focused on getting reviews.
In that case, Meltwater isn’t always the right platform for local business owners. You might want to consider other solutions for your clients.
7. Reputation management tools like Birdeye can give you a bird’s eye view
Platforms like Birdeye feature a wealth of reputation management tools combined. Whether you want to manage your listings, get more reviews, or run reports to see gaps, these platforms can do it all.
The biggest drawback to Birdeye and similar platforms is usually the pricing. These platforms are geared for enterprises.
Clients may not need the scope and scale of enterprise-level packages. Unfortunately, with many of these platforms, you’ll need to pay for the top tier to get access to all the features. Take surveys for example. Unless you have the top package, you won’t be able to access this feature for your client.
There are other platforms with these features, and at a more affordable rate for local business clients.
Choosing the right reputation management tools can make the difference
If you haven’t offered reputation management because you’re worried about the drain on your team, having the right tools can make the difference. The right tools can also convince your clients that they do need reputation management.
