Online reputation has become one of the most powerful drivers of trust, visibility, and growth for SMBs. Yet feedback is fragmented, response expectations are rising, and manual processes are struggling to keep up.
The 2026 State of Reputation Management is built on proprietary survey data from SMBs and the partners who manage reputation at scale. This report reveals how reputation is actually managed today, what outcomes matter most, and where execution breaks down as volume and complexity increase.
More than a snapshot of trends, this report connects the data to real execution and shows how leading teams are adapting as reputation shifts from a reactive task to an operational priority.
Why you want it
This report breaks down how reputation management is evolving and what it takes to manage it safely and consistently at scale. Inside, you’ll uncover:
- Why 74.5% of SMBs now consider reputation management critically important
- Where manual workflows and channel sprawl introduce the greatest risk
- How response speed and consistency quietly impact trust, revenue, and retention
- What buyers expect from AI-driven reputation management and the guardrails required to maintain trust
- Why the future of reputation is shifting from monitoring to prevention
What you’ll learn
This report shows how reputation is actually managed today and what execution-ready teams are doing differently. You’ll learn how to:
- Understand how reputation has shifted from a marketing metric to an operational responsibility
- Identify the biggest execution gaps caused by fragmented tools and manual oversight
- See where buyers are open to automation and where control and brand voice still matter most
- Prioritize reputation outcomes tied to growth, visibility, and conversion
- Recognize early warning signals before reputation issues escalate publicly
Who it’s for
SMB owners and operators
Marketing agencies, ISVs, and platform partners
Multi-location business and franchise leaders
Executive and operations teams
Online reputation now shapes how businesses are discovered, evaluated, and trusted, often before a customer ever visits a website or speaks to a team member. As review volume grows and expectations rise, manual oversight is no longer enough.
If you want a clear, data-driven view of where reputation management is heading and how to execute it with confidence, this report provides the insight you need.
Ready to see where reputation management is headed?
Get the 2026 State of Reputation Management and learn how SMBs and partners are navigating trust, automation, and execution in an AI-driven economy.