Companies face many new challenges in the age of social media. Managing reputation has become more complicated because of all the communications outlets available. But companies need to take measures to address the issue, because hits to a company reputation can have big impacts, not only to sales, but to hiring as well.

Studies have shown that many job seekers use online information to learn about a company, and that negative reviews of the company by employees will dramatically lower the chance that a job seeker will apply to that company.

So, companies need to take steps to prevent negative reviews and manage them when they occur. Here are a few tips on how to do it:

1. Be aware of what is out there

You cannot manage your reputation if you don’t know what information is circulating online. You have to be aware of what job seekers are looking at. A simple way to find out is to do a Google search and see what turns up. You should have an idea of what sources online job seekers turn to in order to get information.

If your company has the resources, it could also work with a marketing firm to push your brand online and to develop your online presence so that your websites attract the most traffic for information about your company.

2. Prepare a response.

Once you know what is there, you have to know how you will respond to it. What will you say to possible job candidates who ask you about a review they saw posted on social media? You have to fashion a statement that effectively addresses the issues raised.

3. Have a damage control operation in place.

You need to have a plan for continual monitoring of online traffic so that you are up to date on the information that is circulating. This could be something that would fall under the HR function. You should also have a strategy in place for quickly responding to reviews that appear online.

Just as important as a good defense is a good offense, that is, preventing issues from getting to the point where the person feels that he or she has no alternative but to gripe about things in public. That means establishing open, effective lines of communication. You need to establish a company culture where employees feel comfortable talking about problems and negative issues. Providing an open atmosphere for talking about issues and giving ongoing feedback is important.

If your company is looking for top-notch professionals in the New York City area, Winston Resources can help you find the talent you need. We can provide workers in a variety of areas. Give us a call today.