December 9, 2024 • 22 mins
Can your business reputation become your competitive edge? Join us as we unlock the secrets to transforming positive reviews into powerful social proof, drawing customers like a magnet. This episode of Rainmaker’s Edge Perspective is packed with essential strategies for local businesses to harness the power of reputation marketing. From claiming your Google My Business profile to ensuring your business details are seamlessly consistent across platforms, you'll discover how to craft an online presence that speaks volumes. We also explore the art of encouraging satisfied customers to share their experiences and how to handle negative feedback in a way that turns potential pitfalls into opportunities for growth.
But it doesn’t stop at online efforts. Building brand advocates goes beyond the digital realm, extending into community involvement and strategic partnerships. Picture your business teaming up for local events or joining forces with complementary businesses to amplify your reach. Plus, learn about innovative tools like Rainmaker Reputation AI's Reputation Genius that automate reputation management, freeing you to concentrate on running your business. Remember, it's never too late to invest in your reputation—it's your superpower waiting to be unleashed. Join us next week as we continue our exploration of what it means to truly succeed as a local business.
https://rainmakerreputation.com/post/reputation-marketing-crucial-practices-for-the-main-street-every-day-normal-local-business-owner
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey everybody and welcome back to the Rainmaker's
Edge Perspective.
We're diving into somethingtoday that's super important for
local businesses.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Like yours.
Yeah, Reputation marketing.
You know, in today's world it'snot enough to just have an
amazing product or service.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Right.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Your online reputation is so important.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
It really is.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
It can actually like determine whether a customer
even walks through your door.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
That's a great point.
You know, what's so fascinatingto me is how much power
potential customers have oh yeahthese days they can go online
and they can read reviewstotally.
They can check out your socialmedia and they form an opinion
about your business before theyeven pick up the phone, call you
exactly.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
No, I do the same thing yeah have you ever chosen
a restaurant all?
The time or a shop or anythingbased on reviews.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
I feel like we all have.
So let's really unpack this.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yeah, let's get into it.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
We have a ton of research and real world examples
Awesome and our mission todayis to give you actionable
strategies that you can use.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
To boost your online presence and get more customers.
Let's do it Walking throughthat door.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
All right.
So the first thing we need tounderstand is this idea of
social proof Okay.
It's this powerfulpsychological phenomenon where
people basically just followwhat everyone else is doing.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Oh, interesting.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Think about it this way If you see a huge line
outside a restaurant, you'reprobably going to think it's
good.
That place must be amazing.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Yeah, and get in line .
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Right, you're much more likely to want to try it
out.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
It's like that whole herd mentality thing.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Exactly.
We see a bunch of other peopledoing something.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
We think they must know something we don't Right,
and this is especially true inthe online world.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Positive reviews.
They're like that long lineoutside the restaurant.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
It's a signal to potential customers that your
business is trustworthy and thatyou're going to deliver on your
promises.
So important, really, is Okay.
So we know.
Positive reviews they're likethe Holy grail.
Yeah, where do we even start?
That's the question.
There's just so many platformsGoogle, yelp, facebook, all the
industry specific sites.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
So many options.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
It feels overwhelming .
Speaker 2 (02:10):
It can be, but if we can connect this back to the
listener, one simple thing youcan do is claim and optimize
your Google my Business profile.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
That's like your digital storefront.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Oh, I like that.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
On Google Maps.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
And in Google Search and, honestly, it's often the
first thing that people see.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Makes sense.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
When they're looking for a business like yours.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Right, so if someone is searching for, let's say,
best pizza near me, Perfectexample.
And their pizzeria pops up witha bunch of great reviews and
photos of delicious pizza.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Mouthwatering photos.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
That's going to make them want to go there.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Huge impact.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
For sure, and don't forget about those
industry-specific platforms.
If you're a plumber, angie'sList might be really important
for you.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
If you're a hairstylist style seat.
Oh yeah, could be key.
Yeah, it's all about figuringout.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Where your people are .
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Exactly when your target audience is searching for
businesses like yours.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Love it.
And here's a quick tip, okay,for everyone listening make sure
your business information.
Oh, this is a good one Isconsistent across all platforms.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Name, address, phone number, hours of operation.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
All the basics.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
You don't want to confuse anyone.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
No.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
With conflicting details.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
It's all about clarity, okay, okay.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
so once we've claimed those profiles and we've made
sure they're all matchingexactly, you got to get those
positive reviews that's the nextstep rolling in got to get that
social proof how do we do thatwithout being like bushy, yeah,
pushy yeah, I totally get it.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Nobody likes to feel pressured, I know, into leaving
a review right but there aresome really subtle and effective
ways to encourage reviews, forexample.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
When you're wrapping up a transaction with a happy
customer Right Just thank themfor their business.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Love it.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
And casually mention that you'd appreciate a review.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
That's good.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
If they have a minute .
Like hey, if you enjoyed thatpizza, Let us know We'd love to
hear about it Online.
Know, we'd love to hear aboutit online.
Yeah, and you can alsoincorporate a little nudge, okay
, into your online follow-up oh,into, like a thank you email or
something exactly after someonemakes a purchase or books an
appointment, send them a thankyou email yeah include a direct
link to your preferred reviewplatform.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Make it easy, super easy, for them to leave feedback
that's such a good point,because sometimes I know I'm
like.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
I'm going to leave a review.
I'm going to leave a review,yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
And then I just forget.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Life gets in the way.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Life gets in the way, so that little reminder is
great.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
It can make all the difference.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
And remember, every positive review adds to that
social proof we were talkingabout.
Yeah, it it makes your businesseven more irresistible.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Okay, so we've covered building a strong online
presence, getting those goodreviews Check.
Now let's talk about theelephant in the room.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Uh-oh.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
What's that?
Negative reviews?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Oh yes.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
No one likes to talk about them, but they happen.
They happen.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
It's part of being in business.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
So how do we handle those?
Speaker 2 (05:02):
You know what this actually raises.
A really important point.
Okay, how you respond tonegative reviews oh interesting.
Can be even more impactful thanhow you promote the positive
ones.
Wow, it shows potentialcustomers that you're engaged,
that you're responsive and thatyou're committed to providing
excellent customer service.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
That makes sense.
Yeah, I have seen businessesthat just ignore them.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
And that's never a good look.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
It's not a good look at all.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Like you don't care.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Exactly.
It makes it seem like you don'tcare about your customers or
their experiences.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Right.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Silence can be deafening in those situations.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Okay, so what should we do instead?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Instead you want to acknowledge the customer's
concerns, apologize for anyinconvenience that they
experienced and offer to takethe conversation offline.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Get out of that public forum.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Right out of that public forum, get more details
and try to resolve the issue.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
That makes a lot of sense, because you don't want to
get into a back-and-forth on areview site, but by
acknowledging it and offering asolution, you're showing
potential customers that you'retrying to make things right.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Absolutely, and sometimes that genuine effort to
address a negative situationcan actually turn a detractor
into a loyal customer.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
I love that Turning that frown upside down.
Exactly you know what Sometimesnegative reviews can be good
feedback in disguise.
That's a really good point.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Yeah, they can highlight areas where you can
actually improve your products,your services or your processes
Totally.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
It's all about reframing it.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
I love that word reframing.
It's an opportunity for growth.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Okay, so we've talked about responding to negative
reviews.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Let's not forget about the positive ones, yes,
the good stuff.
We worked hard to get them, sowe got to make them work for us.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Absolutely.
This is where it gets exciting.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Don't just let those glowing reviews sit on those
platforms.
Think of them as marketing gold.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
You can feature them on your website.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Sprinkle them throughout your homepage, your
landing pages, even your AboutUs section.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
You know what I love?
That when I'm browsing awebsite and I see a whole
section with customertestimonials.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
It's so powerful.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
It just makes me trust them.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Yeah, it builds instant credibility.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Totally.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
It's like those customers are vouching for the
business.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
What is that?
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Their own words.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
And you can also share them on social media.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Absolutely Right Turn those five star.
Share them on social media.
Absolutely Right Turn thosefive-star reviews into engaging
social media posts.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Love it.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Highlight a specific phrase or sentence.
Oh yeah, that really capturesthe essence of that positive
experience.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
It's like through many advertisements.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Exactly From happy customers.
Straight from the source.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Speaking of getting the word out, yes, let's shift
gears and talk about communityengagement.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Oh, this is a fun one .
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
It's so important yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
And it's not just about managing online reviews.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Right.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
It's about being part of your community.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Exactly, it's about becoming a valued member, so how
do we do?
That Well, sponsoring localevents is a great way to start.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
It gets your name out there.
It shows that you care.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
What kind of events are we talking about?
Speaker 2 (08:05):
All sorts of things.
Charity runs farmer's markets.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Oh fun.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Local festivals, school events.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Anything that resonates with your brand and
your values.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
I know a local bakery .
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Oh, I love that.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
That donates a portion of their sales to a
local charity.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Awesome.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Once a month.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
It's a great way to give back and build goodwill in
the community.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
And another good thing is partnering up with
other businesses.
Yes, right, absolutely thatcomplement yours, but aren't
direct competitors.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
That's key.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
So like a bookstore partnering with a coffee shop,
love that For a book club orsomething.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Perfect example.
Or a fitness studio teaming upwith a healthy meal delivery
service.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
For a joint promotion .
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Great idea.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
You expand your reach , you leverage each other's
reputations and it creates awin-win situation for everyone
involved.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Okay, so we've got all these great ideas, lots of
ideas For building ourreputation online and offline.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
How do we keep track of it all?
Speaker 2 (09:04):
That's where online reputation monitoring comes in.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
But it's not as daunting as it sounds.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Okay, good.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
A really simple starting point is to set aside
some time each week.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Or each month, whatever works best for you to
do a quick search.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
What am I searching?
Speaker 2 (09:22):
You're searching for your business name.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Maybe some variations of your business name.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Gotcha.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Any common misspellings and see what's
popping up.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
On Google.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
On Google, on Yelp, on Facebook, yep, any other
relevant sites.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Okay, so we're looking for any red flags or
anything.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
You want to catch any potential issues early on?
Yeah, and if you want to takeit a step further, you can set
up Google Alerts for yourbusiness name.
Okay so you'll be notifiedwhenever your business is
mentioned online.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
It's like a little watchdog.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
I love that analogy.
It's like having a littlewatchdog monitoring your online
reputation.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
And alerting you to anything that needs your
attention.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
That's awesome, and this whole online reputation
management.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Yeah, it's an ongoing process.
It is.
It's not a one and done.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
It's like tending a garden.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
I love that analogy.
You have to, you got to keep atit.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Keep watering it and weeding and nurturing it.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Absolutely Consistent effort is key.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Speaking of nurturing , yes, let's talk about how to
address negative feedbackoffline.
Okay, because sometimes thoseonline reviews can highlight
things we can improve.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
That's a really great point, yeah.
So instead of getting defensiveabout negative feedback, try to
see it as valuable information.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
I like that.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Analyze those comments.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Look for any recurring themes.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
And try to identify any legitimate concerns.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
That need to be addressed Exactly.
So if a bunch of people arecomplaining about long wait
times, the perfect example.
Or a confusing checkout process.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Yeah, maybe we need to take a look at that,
absolutely.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
It's a signal that something needs to change and
sometimes you can even reach outdirectly.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Oh yeah, to the customer who left the review,
that personal touch can go along way yeah and say like hey,
we saw your review.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
We appreciate your feedback, we're working on it.
Can you tell us a little moreabout your experience?
Speaker 2 (11:12):
that's a great approach right it shows that
you're taking their feedbackseriously yeah.
Yeah, and you're committed toproviding a better experience.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Okay, this is all starting to come together.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
And they're connected Right.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
We're building a strong presence online.
We're getting positive reviews,responding to the negative ones
.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
We're engaging with our communities.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
It's all part of the bigger picture.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
It's a lot to juggle.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
It can be, but that's where Rainmaker Reputation AI
comes in.
Oh, tell me more.
We understand the challengesthat local businesses face.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
Yeah, and we've developed some amazing tools.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
I love a good tool To simplify and automate this
whole process.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Speaking of amazing tools, let's talk about
Reputation Genius.
This is part of the RainmakerReputation AI CRM.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
It is.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
And this is where things get really exciting.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
It's a game changer.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
So, instead of spending hours every week
manually managing yourreputation, reputation, genius
does a lot of it for you.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
One of my favorite features is how it makes
collecting reviews so mucheasier.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
You know how it can be awkward, like explaining to a
customer.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
I know exactly what you mean.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
How to leave a Google review.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Oh, it's like okay, go to Google, but not the
regular Google.
You have to click on the mapsthing.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Yeah, and then you have to scroll down and find the
thing.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
It can get really confusing.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
It gets so confusing.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Well with Reputation Genius?
Yeah, it's so's so simple.
You just give the customer apre-programmed NFC card they tap
it on their phone and boom,they're taken straight to your
Google business profile, readyto leave a review?
Speaker 1 (12:46):
It's like magic.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
It's so easy.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
And it gets even better.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Okay, lay it on me.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Reputation Genius uses AI to automatically respond
to your reviews, both positiveand negative.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Oh wait.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
So you save a ton of time.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
And you can be sure that those responses are
optimized for maximum impact.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
So it's like set it and forget it.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Pretty much, and these AI-powered responses are
super smart.
They're actually crafted in away that signals relevance to
Google oh interesting, which canhelp boost your visibility and
search results.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
So it's a double win.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
What else can this magical ai do?
Speaker 2 (13:21):
well, it can also automatically share screenshots
of your five-star reviews.
Oh nice, on social media whichamplifies their reach even
further.
That's awesome.
It's like having a dedicatedsocial media manager right
working around the clock topromote all those glowing
testimonials that's amazing, andhere's another thing that I
think is really cool.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Reputation Genius can help you build a VIP list of
all your most loyal customers.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
You know what so many businesses.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
They miss this opportunity.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
They miss this.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
They're so focused on attracting new customers that
they forget about the goldminethey already have.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Those loyal customers who love their business Right.
So with Reputation Genius, youcan easily segment your customer
base and send targeted offersand upgrades.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Oh, that's smart.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
And exclusive promotions to your VIPs.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
This not only boosts customer loyalty.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
But it also increases their lifetime value.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
So important.
It's all about building thoselasting relationships?
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Yeah, not.
It also increases theirlifetime value, so important.
It's all about building thoselasting relationships, not just
one off transactions.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
This is incredible.
It sounds like reputation.
Genius is like the ultimatesecret weapon.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
It really is.
It's a game changer for localbusinesses.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
OK, I'm sold.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
If you're intrigued by what you're hearing.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
You can go check out the Rainmaker Reputation AI
website.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
We'll put a link in the show notes.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
To learn all about reputation genius.
And after a quick break, yes,we're going to dive even deeper
into the world of reputationmarketing.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
I can't wait.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
And uncover another little hidden gem.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Oh, this is going to be good that can supercharge
your growth.
This is where things get reallyinteresting, so.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Interesting, so don't go anywhere.
Stay tuned.
Okay, so we're back and readyto uncover that hidden gem.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
I was talking about before the break.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
I'm intrigued.
Let's hear it.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Okay, so we talked about the power of online
reviews and community engagementRight, but there's another
piece of the puzzle here.
Okay, that can really take yourreputation to the next level.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
All right, I'm all ears.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
It's all about turning your best customers okay
into brand advocates oh, I likethat right yeah we touched on
the VIP list earlier, right, butI want to go deeper okay, let's
dive in we've got these loyalcustomers who love what we do
yes they leave glowing reviews,they tell their friends they're
your biggest fans.
How do we really like?
Speaker 2 (15:37):
tap into that enthusiasm that's the
million-dollar question and turnthem into raving fans.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
They tell their friends they're your biggest
fans.
How do we really like tap intothat enthusiasm?
Speaker 2 (15:41):
That's the million dollar question, and turn them
into raving fans.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Who are actively out there.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Spreading the word.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Championing our brand .
Speaker 2 (15:50):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
To everyone they know .
Speaker 2 (15:52):
You know what's so fascinating about this?
Speaker 1 (15:54):
What.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Is that it's not about tricks or gimmicks.
It's about genuinely nurturingthose relationships oh, I like
that and giving your VIPs aplatform to share their passion.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Okay, so how do we do that?
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Well, one idea is to create exclusive communities or
groups.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Maybe on Facebook or through a dedicated email list.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
So it's like a little club.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Kind of like a little club.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Of super fans.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Who get to connect with each other Exactly and with
the brand on a deeper level.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
It's all about fostering that sense of
community.
I love it, but I'm wondering,yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Could that backfire?
Speaker 2 (16:28):
What do you mean?
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Like couldn't it make other customers feel left out?
Speaker 2 (16:32):
That's a great point.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
And it's definitely something to be mindful of you.
You don't want to create ahierarchy that makes people feel
excluded.
It's more about cultivating asense of shared passion and
appreciation.
Okay, I see so you can stilloffer perks and special access
Right, but make sure it's clearthat anyone can become a VIP by
engaging with your brand andbecoming a loyal customer.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
So it's not about like.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Shutting people out.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Yeah, being exclusive .
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
It's about recognizing.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
And people out.
Yeah, being exclusive yeah,exactly.
It's about recognizing andrewarding loyalty.
Love it Exactly.
And when you make people feelvalued and appreciated.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
They're much more likely to go above and beyond to
support your brand.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
They become those walking talking billboards.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
I love it that we were talking about earlier.
It's the best kind of marketing.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Yeah, because we all know that people are more likely
to trust a friend'srecommendation than like a
traditional ad.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
It's word of mouth marketing on steroids.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
It's the holy grail of reputation marketing.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
It really is.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
Turning your customers into your advocates.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Exactly, and it all starts with building those
genuine relationships, fosteringa sense of community and making
people feel like they're partof something special.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
I love it.
Okay, so we've covered a lot ofground today.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
We have.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Building a strong online presence.
Encouraging positive reviews,handling negative feedback.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Getting involved in our communities, even
cultivating brand advocates.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
It's a holistic approach.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
It's a lot.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
It is.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
But I hope you're feeling inspired and empowered.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
I hope so too.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
To take your reputation to the next level.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Yeah, Remember even small, consistent efforts can
make a huge difference over time.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Absolutely, and if you're looking for a tool to
help you manage all of this, yes, check out Rainmaker Reputation
AI's Reputation Genius.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
It's an amazing resource.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
It's a game changer.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
For local businesses.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
All right.
So that brings us to the end ofour deep dive.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Already.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
No time flies when you're having fun.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
It does.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
But before we sign off, I want to leave you with
one final thought.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Okay, I'm ready.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
Okay, so we're back.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Let's jump back in.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
And you were about to tell us how we can track
something as intangible asreputation.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Yeah, it's a good question.
It's not always superstraightforward to put a number
on something like that, butthere are definitely some key
metrics you can track to get asense of how your business is
perceived online.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
All right, so what are those?
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Well, some of the things you can look at are your
overall star rating on differentreview platforms.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Yeah, makes sense.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
How many reviews you're getting and the sentiment
of those reviews.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
What do you mean by sentiment?
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Basically, are they mostly positive, or are they
negative or neutral?
Speaker 1 (19:11):
So it's not just about the number of reviews.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Right.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
It's about what they're saying.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
It's about the quality of those reviews and the
overall impression they'recreating.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
And are there any tools that can help us with this
?
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Definitely, you can use social listening tools.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Oh yeah, I've heard of those.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
They're great for tracking mentions of your
business name on social mediaand other online platforms.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
So what does that tell us?
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Well, it gives you insights into what people are
saying about your brand.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
When they think you're not listening, it's like
a little window it's like alittle sneak peek Into what
people really think Exactly.
And by cracking these thingsover time you can start to see
trends and patterns.
Oh, that's smart.
That can really help informyour reputation management
strategy.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
So if we notice a bunch of negative reviews
suddenly, or like our starrating drops, that's a sign that
something needs attention.
It's a red flag.
Exactly that we need to figureout what's going on.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
It's all about being proactive and addressing
potential issues before they getout of hand.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I love it.
This has been such a goodconversation.
It has been fun We've coveredso much ground today.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
We really have.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
I feel like I have a whole new understanding.
That's great to hear Ofreputation marketing.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
You know, at the end of the day.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Your reputation is one of your most valuable assets
.
I agree.
It's the foundation of trust,and credibility, mm-hmm, and
that's what attracts customersand drives growth.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
And the best part is.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
What's up?
Speaker 1 (20:36):
No matter where you are in your journey, there are
tools and strategies out therethat can help you get to the
next level.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
It's never too late to start.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Exactly Whether you're just starting out or
you're already a pro, it's worthinvesting in your reputation.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
I couldn't agree more .
Speaker 1 (20:51):
And, of course, if you're ready to take your
reputation management to thenext level, you've got to check
out Rainmaker Reputation AI'sreputation genius.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
That's the one.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
It's an amazing tool.
It really is that automates somuch of this?
Speaker 2 (21:04):
It takes all the heavy lifting off your plate.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
And it frees you up to focus on.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
What matters most.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
Running your business .
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
Thank you so much for joining us today on the
Rainmaker's Edge Perspective.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
This was fun.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
We'll be back next week with another deep dive into
the world of local businesssuccess, looking forward to it.
Until then, keep those positivevibes flowing.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
And remember your reputation is your superpower.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Wield it wisely.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
See you next time.
Hey everybody and welcome back to the Rainmaker's
Edge Perspective.
We're diving into somethingtoday that's super important for
local businesses.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Like yours.
Yeah, Reputation marketing.
You know, in today's world it'snot enough to just have an
amazing product or service.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Right.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Your online reputation is so important.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
It really is.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
It can actually like determine whether a customer
even walks through your door.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
That's a great point.
You know, what's so fascinatingto me is how much power
potential customers have oh yeahthese days they can go online
and they can read reviewstotally.
They can check out your socialmedia and they form an opinion
about your business before theyeven pick up the phone, call you
exactly.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
No, I do the same thing yeah have you ever chosen
a restaurant all?
The time or a shop or anythingbased on reviews.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
I feel like we all have.
So let's really unpack this.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yeah, let's get into it.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
We have a ton of research and real world examples
Awesome and our mission todayis to give you actionable
strategies that you can use.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
To boost your online presence and get more customers.
Let's do it Walking throughthat door.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
All right.
So the first thing we need tounderstand is this idea of
social proof Okay.
It's this powerfulpsychological phenomenon where
people basically just followwhat everyone else is doing.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Oh, interesting.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Think about it this way If you see a huge line
outside a restaurant, you'reprobably going to think it's
good.
That place must be amazing.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Yeah, and get in line .
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Right, you're much more likely to want to try it
out.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
It's like that whole herd mentality thing.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Exactly.
We see a bunch of other peopledoing something.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
We think they must know something we don't Right,
and this is especially true inthe online world.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Positive reviews.
They're like that long lineoutside the restaurant.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
It's a signal to potential customers that your
business is trustworthy and thatyou're going to deliver on your
promises.
So important, really, is Okay.
So we know.
Positive reviews they're likethe Holy grail.
Yeah, where do we even start?
That's the question.
There's just so many platformsGoogle, yelp, facebook, all the
industry specific sites.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
So many options.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
It feels overwhelming .
Speaker 2 (02:10):
It can be, but if we can connect this back to the
listener, one simple thing youcan do is claim and optimize
your Google my Business profile.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
That's like your digital storefront.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Oh, I like that.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
On Google Maps.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
And in Google Search and, honestly, it's often the
first thing that people see.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Makes sense.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
When they're looking for a business like yours.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Right, so if someone is searching for, let's say,
best pizza near me, Perfectexample.
And their pizzeria pops up witha bunch of great reviews and
photos of delicious pizza.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Mouthwatering photos.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
That's going to make them want to go there.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Huge impact.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
For sure, and don't forget about those
industry-specific platforms.
If you're a plumber, angie'sList might be really important
for you.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
If you're a hairstylist style seat.
Oh yeah, could be key.
Yeah, it's all about figuringout.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Where your people are .
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Exactly when your target audience is searching for
businesses like yours.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Love it.
And here's a quick tip, okay,for everyone listening make sure
your business information.
Oh, this is a good one Isconsistent across all platforms.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Name, address, phone number, hours of operation.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
All the basics.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
You don't want to confuse anyone.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
No.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
With conflicting details.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
It's all about clarity, okay, okay.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
so once we've claimed those profiles and we've made
sure they're all matchingexactly, you got to get those
positive reviews that's the nextstep rolling in got to get that
social proof how do we do thatwithout being like bushy, yeah,
pushy yeah, I totally get it.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Nobody likes to feel pressured, I know, into leaving
a review right but there aresome really subtle and effective
ways to encourage reviews, forexample.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
When you're wrapping up a transaction with a happy
customer Right Just thank themfor their business.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Love it.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
And casually mention that you'd appreciate a review.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
That's good.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
If they have a minute .
Like hey, if you enjoyed thatpizza, Let us know We'd love to
hear about it Online.
Know, we'd love to hear aboutit online.
Yeah, and you can alsoincorporate a little nudge, okay
, into your online follow-up oh,into, like a thank you email or
something exactly after someonemakes a purchase or books an
appointment, send them a thankyou email yeah include a direct
link to your preferred reviewplatform.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Make it easy, super easy, for them to leave feedback
that's such a good point,because sometimes I know I'm
like.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
I'm going to leave a review.
I'm going to leave a review,yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
And then I just forget.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Life gets in the way.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Life gets in the way, so that little reminder is
great.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
It can make all the difference.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
And remember, every positive review adds to that
social proof we were talkingabout.
Yeah, it it makes your businesseven more irresistible.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Okay, so we've covered building a strong online
presence, getting those goodreviews Check.
Now let's talk about theelephant in the room.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Uh-oh.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
What's that?
Negative reviews?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Oh yes.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
No one likes to talk about them, but they happen.
They happen.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
It's part of being in business.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
So how do we handle those?
Speaker 2 (05:02):
You know what this actually raises.
A really important point.
Okay, how you respond tonegative reviews oh interesting.
Can be even more impactful thanhow you promote the positive
ones.
Wow, it shows potentialcustomers that you're engaged,
that you're responsive and thatyou're committed to providing
excellent customer service.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
That makes sense.
Yeah, I have seen businessesthat just ignore them.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
And that's never a good look.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
It's not a good look at all.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Like you don't care.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Exactly.
It makes it seem like you don'tcare about your customers or
their experiences.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Right.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Silence can be deafening in those situations.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Okay, so what should we do instead?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Instead you want to acknowledge the customer's
concerns, apologize for anyinconvenience that they
experienced and offer to takethe conversation offline.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Get out of that public forum.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Right out of that public forum, get more details
and try to resolve the issue.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
That makes a lot of sense, because you don't want to
get into a back-and-forth on areview site, but by
acknowledging it and offering asolution, you're showing
potential customers that you'retrying to make things right.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Absolutely, and sometimes that genuine effort to
address a negative situationcan actually turn a detractor
into a loyal customer.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
I love that Turning that frown upside down.
Exactly you know what Sometimesnegative reviews can be good
feedback in disguise.
That's a really good point.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Yeah, they can highlight areas where you can
actually improve your products,your services or your processes
Totally.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
It's all about reframing it.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
I love that word reframing.
It's an opportunity for growth.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Okay, so we've talked about responding to negative
reviews.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Let's not forget about the positive ones, yes,
the good stuff.
We worked hard to get them, sowe got to make them work for us.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Absolutely.
This is where it gets exciting.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Don't just let those glowing reviews sit on those
platforms.
Think of them as marketing gold.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
You can feature them on your website.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Sprinkle them throughout your homepage, your
landing pages, even your AboutUs section.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
You know what I love?
That when I'm browsing awebsite and I see a whole
section with customertestimonials.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
It's so powerful.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
It just makes me trust them.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Yeah, it builds instant credibility.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Totally.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
It's like those customers are vouching for the
business.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
What is that?
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Their own words.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
And you can also share them on social media.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Absolutely Right Turn those five star.
Share them on social media.
Absolutely Right Turn thosefive-star reviews into engaging
social media posts.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Love it.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Highlight a specific phrase or sentence.
Oh yeah, that really capturesthe essence of that positive
experience.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
It's like through many advertisements.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Exactly From happy customers.
Straight from the source.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Speaking of getting the word out, yes, let's shift
gears and talk about communityengagement.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Oh, this is a fun one .
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
It's so important yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
And it's not just about managing online reviews.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Right.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
It's about being part of your community.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Exactly, it's about becoming a valued member, so how
do we do?
That Well, sponsoring localevents is a great way to start.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
It gets your name out there.
It shows that you care.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
What kind of events are we talking about?
Speaker 2 (08:05):
All sorts of things.
Charity runs farmer's markets.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Oh fun.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Local festivals, school events.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Anything that resonates with your brand and
your values.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
I know a local bakery .
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Oh, I love that.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
That donates a portion of their sales to a
local charity.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Awesome.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Once a month.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
It's a great way to give back and build goodwill in
the community.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
And another good thing is partnering up with
other businesses.
Yes, right, absolutely thatcomplement yours, but aren't
direct competitors.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
That's key.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
So like a bookstore partnering with a coffee shop,
love that For a book club orsomething.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Perfect example.
Or a fitness studio teaming upwith a healthy meal delivery
service.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
For a joint promotion .
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Great idea.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
You expand your reach , you leverage each other's
reputations and it creates awin-win situation for everyone
involved.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Okay, so we've got all these great ideas, lots of
ideas For building ourreputation online and offline.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
How do we keep track of it all?
Speaker 2 (09:04):
That's where online reputation monitoring comes in.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
But it's not as daunting as it sounds.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Okay, good.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
A really simple starting point is to set aside
some time each week.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Or each month, whatever works best for you to
do a quick search.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
What am I searching?
Speaker 2 (09:22):
You're searching for your business name.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Maybe some variations of your business name.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Gotcha.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Any common misspellings and see what's
popping up.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
On Google.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
On Google, on Yelp, on Facebook, yep, any other
relevant sites.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Okay, so we're looking for any red flags or
anything.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
You want to catch any potential issues early on?
Yeah, and if you want to takeit a step further, you can set
up Google Alerts for yourbusiness name.
Okay so you'll be notifiedwhenever your business is
mentioned online.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
It's like a little watchdog.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
I love that analogy.
It's like having a littlewatchdog monitoring your online
reputation.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
And alerting you to anything that needs your
attention.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
That's awesome, and this whole online reputation
management.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Yeah, it's an ongoing process.
It is.
It's not a one and done.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
It's like tending a garden.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
I love that analogy.
You have to, you got to keep atit.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Keep watering it and weeding and nurturing it.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Absolutely Consistent effort is key.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Speaking of nurturing , yes, let's talk about how to
address negative feedbackoffline.
Okay, because sometimes thoseonline reviews can highlight
things we can improve.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
That's a really great point, yeah.
So instead of getting defensiveabout negative feedback, try to
see it as valuable information.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
I like that.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Analyze those comments.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Look for any recurring themes.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
And try to identify any legitimate concerns.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
That need to be addressed Exactly.
So if a bunch of people arecomplaining about long wait
times, the perfect example.
Or a confusing checkout process.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Yeah, maybe we need to take a look at that,
absolutely.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
It's a signal that something needs to change and
sometimes you can even reach outdirectly.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Oh yeah, to the customer who left the review,
that personal touch can go along way yeah and say like hey,
we saw your review.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
We appreciate your feedback, we're working on it.
Can you tell us a little moreabout your experience?
Speaker 2 (11:12):
that's a great approach right it shows that
you're taking their feedbackseriously yeah.
Yeah, and you're committed toproviding a better experience.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Okay, this is all starting to come together.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
And they're connected Right.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
We're building a strong presence online.
We're getting positive reviews,responding to the negative ones
.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
We're engaging with our communities.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
It's all part of the bigger picture.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
It's a lot to juggle.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
It can be, but that's where Rainmaker Reputation AI
comes in.
Oh, tell me more.
We understand the challengesthat local businesses face.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
Yeah, and we've developed some amazing tools.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
I love a good tool To simplify and automate this
whole process.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Speaking of amazing tools, let's talk about
Reputation Genius.
This is part of the RainmakerReputation AI CRM.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
It is.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
And this is where things get really exciting.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
It's a game changer.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
So, instead of spending hours every week
manually managing yourreputation, reputation, genius
does a lot of it for you.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
One of my favorite features is how it makes
collecting reviews so mucheasier.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
You know how it can be awkward, like explaining to a
customer.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
I know exactly what you mean.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
How to leave a Google review.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Oh, it's like okay, go to Google, but not the
regular Google.
You have to click on the mapsthing.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Yeah, and then you have to scroll down and find the
thing.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
It can get really confusing.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
It gets so confusing.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Well with Reputation Genius?
Yeah, it's so's so simple.
You just give the customer apre-programmed NFC card they tap
it on their phone and boom,they're taken straight to your
Google business profile, readyto leave a review?
Speaker 1 (12:46):
It's like magic.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
It's so easy.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
And it gets even better.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Okay, lay it on me.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Reputation Genius uses AI to automatically respond
to your reviews, both positiveand negative.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Oh wait.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
So you save a ton of time.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
And you can be sure that those responses are
optimized for maximum impact.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
So it's like set it and forget it.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Pretty much, and these AI-powered responses are
super smart.
They're actually crafted in away that signals relevance to
Google oh interesting, which canhelp boost your visibility and
search results.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
So it's a double win.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
What else can this magical ai do?
Speaker 2 (13:21):
well, it can also automatically share screenshots
of your five-star reviews.
Oh nice, on social media whichamplifies their reach even
further.
That's awesome.
It's like having a dedicatedsocial media manager right
working around the clock topromote all those glowing
testimonials that's amazing, andhere's another thing that I
think is really cool.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Reputation Genius can help you build a VIP list of
all your most loyal customers.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
You know what so many businesses.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
They miss this opportunity.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
They miss this.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
They're so focused on attracting new customers that
they forget about the goldminethey already have.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Those loyal customers who love their business Right.
So with Reputation Genius, youcan easily segment your customer
base and send targeted offersand upgrades.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Oh, that's smart.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
And exclusive promotions to your VIPs.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
This not only boosts customer loyalty.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
But it also increases their lifetime value.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
So important.
It's all about building thoselasting relationships?
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Yeah, not.
It also increases theirlifetime value, so important.
It's all about building thoselasting relationships, not just
one off transactions.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
This is incredible.
It sounds like reputation.
Genius is like the ultimatesecret weapon.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
It really is.
It's a game changer for localbusinesses.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
OK, I'm sold.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
If you're intrigued by what you're hearing.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
You can go check out the Rainmaker Reputation AI
website.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
We'll put a link in the show notes.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
To learn all about reputation genius.
And after a quick break, yes,we're going to dive even deeper
into the world of reputationmarketing.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
I can't wait.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
And uncover another little hidden gem.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Oh, this is going to be good that can supercharge
your growth.
This is where things get reallyinteresting, so.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Interesting, so don't go anywhere.
Stay tuned.
Okay, so we're back and readyto uncover that hidden gem.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
I was talking about before the break.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
I'm intrigued.
Let's hear it.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Okay, so we talked about the power of online
reviews and community engagementRight, but there's another
piece of the puzzle here.
Okay, that can really take yourreputation to the next level.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
All right, I'm all ears.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
It's all about turning your best customers okay
into brand advocates oh, I likethat right yeah we touched on
the VIP list earlier, right, butI want to go deeper okay, let's
dive in we've got these loyalcustomers who love what we do
yes they leave glowing reviews,they tell their friends they're
your biggest fans.
How do we really like?
Speaker 2 (15:37):
tap into that enthusiasm that's the
million-dollar question and turnthem into raving fans.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
They tell their friends they're your biggest
fans.
How do we really like tap intothat enthusiasm?
Speaker 2 (15:41):
That's the million dollar question, and turn them
into raving fans.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Who are actively out there.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Spreading the word.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Championing our brand .
Speaker 2 (15:50):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
To everyone they know .
Speaker 2 (15:52):
You know what's so fascinating about this?
Speaker 1 (15:54):
What.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Is that it's not about tricks or gimmicks.
It's about genuinely nurturingthose relationships oh, I like
that and giving your VIPs aplatform to share their passion.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Okay, so how do we do that?
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Well, one idea is to create exclusive communities or
groups.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Maybe on Facebook or through a dedicated email list.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
So it's like a little club.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Kind of like a little club.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Of super fans.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Who get to connect with each other Exactly and with
the brand on a deeper level.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
It's all about fostering that sense of
community.
I love it, but I'm wondering,yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Could that backfire?
Speaker 2 (16:28):
What do you mean?
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Like couldn't it make other customers feel left out?
Speaker 2 (16:32):
That's a great point.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
And it's definitely something to be mindful of you.
You don't want to create ahierarchy that makes people feel
excluded.
It's more about cultivating asense of shared passion and
appreciation.
Okay, I see so you can stilloffer perks and special access
Right, but make sure it's clearthat anyone can become a VIP by
engaging with your brand andbecoming a loyal customer.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
So it's not about like.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Shutting people out.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Yeah, being exclusive .
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
It's about recognizing.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
And people out.
Yeah, being exclusive yeah,exactly.
It's about recognizing andrewarding loyalty.
Love it Exactly.
And when you make people feelvalued and appreciated.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
They're much more likely to go above and beyond to
support your brand.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
They become those walking talking billboards.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
I love it that we were talking about earlier.
It's the best kind of marketing.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Yeah, because we all know that people are more likely
to trust a friend'srecommendation than like a
traditional ad.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
It's word of mouth marketing on steroids.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
It's the holy grail of reputation marketing.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
It really is.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
Turning your customers into your advocates.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Exactly, and it all starts with building those
genuine relationships, fosteringa sense of community and making
people feel like they're partof something special.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
I love it.
Okay, so we've covered a lot ofground today.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
We have.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Building a strong online presence.
Encouraging positive reviews,handling negative feedback.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Getting involved in our communities, even
cultivating brand advocates.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
It's a holistic approach.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
It's a lot.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
It is.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
But I hope you're feeling inspired and empowered.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
I hope so too.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
To take your reputation to the next level.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Yeah, Remember even small, consistent efforts can
make a huge difference over time.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Absolutely, and if you're looking for a tool to
help you manage all of this, yes, check out Rainmaker Reputation
AI's Reputation Genius.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
It's an amazing resource.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
It's a game changer.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
For local businesses.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
All right.
So that brings us to the end ofour deep dive.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Already.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
No time flies when you're having fun.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
It does.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
But before we sign off, I want to leave you with
one final thought.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Okay, I'm ready.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
Okay, so we're back.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Let's jump back in.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
And you were about to tell us how we can track
something as intangible asreputation.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Yeah, it's a good question.
It's not always superstraightforward to put a number
on something like that, butthere are definitely some key
metrics you can track to get asense of how your business is
perceived online.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
All right, so what are those?
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Well, some of the things you can look at are your
overall star rating on differentreview platforms.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Yeah, makes sense.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
How many reviews you're getting and the sentiment
of those reviews.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
What do you mean by sentiment?
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Basically, are they mostly positive, or are they
negative or neutral?
Speaker 1 (19:11):
So it's not just about the number of reviews.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Right.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
It's about what they're saying.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
It's about the quality of those reviews and the
overall impression they'recreating.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
And are there any tools that can help us with this
?
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Definitely, you can use social listening tools.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Oh yeah, I've heard of those.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
They're great for tracking mentions of your
business name on social mediaand other online platforms.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
So what does that tell us?
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Well, it gives you insights into what people are
saying about your brand.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
When they think you're not listening, it's like
a little window it's like alittle sneak peek Into what
people really think Exactly.
And by cracking these thingsover time you can start to see
trends and patterns.
Oh, that's smart.
That can really help informyour reputation management
strategy.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
So if we notice a bunch of negative reviews
suddenly, or like our starrating drops, that's a sign that
something needs attention.
It's a red flag.
Exactly that we need to figureout what's going on.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
It's all about being proactive and addressing
potential issues before they getout of hand.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I love it.
This has been such a goodconversation.
It has been fun We've coveredso much ground today.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
We really have.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
I feel like I have a whole new understanding.
That's great to hear Ofreputation marketing.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
You know, at the end of the day.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Your reputation is one of your most valuable assets
.
I agree.
It's the foundation of trust,and credibility, mm-hmm, and
that's what attracts customersand drives growth.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
And the best part is.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
What's up?
Speaker 1 (20:36):
No matter where you are in your journey, there are
tools and strategies out therethat can help you get to the
next level.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
It's never too late to start.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Exactly Whether you're just starting out or
you're already a pro, it's worthinvesting in your reputation.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
I couldn't agree more .
Speaker 1 (20:51):
And, of course, if you're ready to take your
reputation management to thenext level, you've got to check
out Rainmaker Reputation AI'sreputation genius.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
That's the one.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
It's an amazing tool.
It really is that automates somuch of this?
Speaker 2 (21:04):
It takes all the heavy lifting off your plate.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
And it frees you up to focus on.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
What matters most.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
Running your business .
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
Thank you so much for joining us today on the
Rainmaker's Edge Perspective.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
This was fun.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
We'll be back next week with another deep dive into
the world of local businesssuccess, looking forward to it.
Until then, keep those positivevibes flowing.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
And remember your reputation is your superpower.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Wield it wisely.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
See you next time.
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