“Please drop your suggestion in the box”, remember those
days? Businesses of all types and sorts would have some sort of wooden,
metal, or cardboard box on the wall or counter that invited consumers
to make a notation or suggestion for their business.
Now imagine if the suggestion box was full, overflowing even with
suggestions, comments, and ideas regarding the business, but the owner
never opened the box.
IMAGINE how absurd that would
be! Truth be told, it would be a complete waste of an opportunity to
engage with and consider the advice and opinions of the consumers….the
exact consumers who are supporting the establishment.
This sad scenario is occurring every day and in most cases….business
owners aren’t even aware that their Suggestion Boxes are overflowing.
Social Media forums like Facebook, Yelp, Foursquare, Manta, Google
Places, Yahoo Local, Urban Spoon and so many more are compiled with
consumer reviews, feedback, comments and suggestions that owners simply
aren’t paying attention too. This new age of “social” technology and
consumer access to businesses online establishes a phenomenal FREE
“link” between business owners and their customers, but it also provides
a “chain” of reaction if consumers are posing questions, opinions, and
reviews which are being ignored. Reputation Management, as it is
commonly referred to today, is crucial for business owners and an
essential task if businesses want to genuinely serve their customers.
It’s an added duty no doubt, but that’s looking at the glass half
empty. Look at it this way, never before has the opportunity been so
great to hear from consumers on a voluntary, regular basis through
forums that drive information related to your business, directly into
your inbox, and even more conveniently, into your mobile!
Embrace…Engage….and get Excited…..Your business reputation is counting
on it!
