6 things your company needs to fix bad reviews

By Joshua Reynolds

A bad review on your business can be very damaging to your overall brand, especially if you don’t know how to properly fix it.

Some companies think that the best way to fix a bad review is to just ignore it altogether, but not responding to a negative review can be the most fatal mistake that companies make.

If you want to fix the bad reviews on your business, you’re going to need the following.

1. Claimed business pages

Visit all of the review sites that you can think of and make sure to claim your business page. By doing this, you will be able to not only edit the information that is shared on the sites about your business (plus add pictures and link to your website), but you will also be able to respond back to reviewers as your business. This is a great way to make the response seem more legitimate to your reviewers, and it can help you better alleviate any issues.

2. An apology

No matter what the reviewer is claiming, you need to make sure that you apologize for any wrongdoings of your business and for any poor experience they had with your company, products or services. By simply owning up to the unhappiness of your customer, you are showing them that you care about what they have to say and that you are willing to stand up to your mistakes.

3. A sincere tone

Some reviews are going to be so raunchy that they will make you wish you could cause harm to the reviewer, but it’s very important that you don’t let your emotions get the best of you. Instead, make sure that you are always using a very sincere tone every time you respond to a review. By being polite, you are making it harder for the reviewer to come back and continue attacking you. If you are sarcastic or rude in your response, you will only make the situation worse.

4. A way to make it better

A great way to fix a bad review is to have a way to make it right to the customer. Some companies prefer to give a discount to customers who left a bad review in order to get them to give their establishment another try. Some companies listen to the complaints of their customers and make the necessary changes to ensure that no other customer has the same unpleasant experience. You need to think about how your business will make the situations better, and then use this to right your bad reviews.

5. A manager

It has been found that a response that comes from a manager (or owner) is much more appreciated than a response that comes without a person’s name or title behind it or from a regular employee. If your response is coming from the username of the company, make sure that the manager writing the response shares their name with the reviewer. This will make the apology feel more personable.

6. Proof

Some bad reviews are fake, and most businesses don’t want fake negative reviews sitting on their page. If you believe that a review about your company was fake, then you will need to have proof of the fraud and give this to the review website. Most sites are willing to take down fake negative reviews as long as the fraud can be proved. Make sure to follow the guidelines given by each respective site if you plan on doing this.

Joshua Reynolds is a business manager and reviews tracker.  He enjoys blogging about anything related to business and recently gave advice for fixing bad reviews.

Avoid bankruptcy: Tips to grow your small business economically

By John Reiter

There are many more small businesses in the United States than large businesses, so it’s easy to understand why they are vital to the U.S. economy. Considering that even multi-million dollar corporations have had to file for bankruptcy protection or close their doors completely in recent years, many people mistakenly assume that small businesses are struggling in today’s economy.

Small businesses can be successful

Small businesses run the gamut from local law firms with 100 attorneys to Mom and Pop corner stores with 50 employees and even one-man operations that are run out of the owner’s home office. Although it’s inevitable that not every small business will ultimately be a success, many are flourishing. A recent study by Chicago-based SurePayroll surveyed 300 small businesses, and an impressive 30% of respondents had actually seen a sales increase over the past year.

However, if you are a small business owner who is experiencing tough times rather than watching your sales forecasts soar through the roof, it may be tempting to throw in the towel. A few of the top reasons that many small businesses fail include:

• Lack of experience
• Insufficient capital (lack of funds)
• Poor location
• Poor inventory management
• Poor credit arrangement management

Bankruptcy can be avoided

Whether your business has significant debt because it is just getting off the ground or you are keeping creditors at bay by juggling debt from one credit card or line of credit to another, therefore treading water while trying to stay afloat, it is possible to grow your small business and avoid bankruptcy.

Planning and preparing for the future, which will predictably include some bumps along the way, is one of the best ways to help your business grow economically. The Small Business Administration recommends the following:

1. Forecast for growth in the future even as you focus on the present. Strategic thinking and planning can help you achieve your ideal outcome.

2. Use technology to stay competitive. It’s vital for small business owners to understand current technologies and take advantage of them! Accounting software, planning software such as an online calendar, time tracking software to help determine which tasks are profitable, email management programs to keep things streamlined between multiple email accounts and mobile devices that can make life easier when you’re on the go are just a few suggestions.

3. Develop a marketing plan that will help you make a profit. A solid marketing plan should include everything from understanding your target audience and how you plan to reach it to how you will separate yourself from the competition and make more sales.

4. Consider franchising your business if you are interested in expanding without spending most of the money yourself.  Realistically speaking, few small businesses can be franchised, but it is possible if you offer superior products or services that are in high demand and your business model is easy to duplicate. Setting up the legal end of things will involve significant costs, but you could expand your business and earn franchise fees.

These are just a few suggestions to help your small business grow and avoid significant debt. If you honestly feel that bankruptcy may be your best option, it would be wise to meet with a legal professional for feedback and advice.

Jon Reiter is a marketing agent for http://www.jonbclarke.com/, experienced Denver bankruptcy lawyers.