them, contact the BBB right away. Remember, just because a business isn’t accredited doesn’t mean that it’s not rep- utable. BBB is the only platform that re- quires a fee for full online presence. BBB doesn’t host a star rating and review plat- form for consumers online. For this rea- son the complaints on file are generally of a more serious nature. I’ve come across a number of consumers who swear by the BBB, mostly due to its longstanding presence in the business world, so I rec- ommend including it in your priorities. What Comes Next Once you’ve located your presence on each of these websites and set up your owner/manager accounts, be sure that you adjust the settings so you receive email updates when a customer messag- es you or leaves a rating or review. This will help you maintain a fresh presence and stay on top of any conflicts. No Results? If the online search for your company leaves you empty-handed, your work isn’t complete. There is great benefit in culti- vating your company’s presence on these platforms. Consumers may not be willing to take a risk on an unrated company, and you could be sending business to your competition by not meeting your cus- tomers where they are: online! You Can Respond, But You Shouldn’t Always All the platforms I mention in this article allow for the business owner or manager to respond in a public way. If you only read one sentence in this entire article, this should be it: The only thing worse than a negative review on a public online platform is an unprofessional, sarcastic or lackluster response from a business representative. If you doubt your ability to respond eloquently to reviews, just say no and don’t respond at all. This is a fun area in which to do some research and witness firsthand what is perceived well and what is not. It’s an extremely common occurrence for busi- ness owners to respond poorly to nega- tive reviews. Take to the above-named platforms and search for some of your favorite stores and restaurants. The bigger the brand, the more reviews you’ll find, but go for a mix of mom-and-pop stores and big names. You can even look up your local competitors. It won’t be long until you find some conflict and low ratings, because no business is perfect. If there were such a thing, there would still be MAGNETIC CAM LOCK CYLINDER AND LATCH PROTECTOR Widely used on storefronts Resists wrenching Quick and easy installation Corrosion resistant Ask about our FREE engraving offer Keys cannot be copied Lock cannot be picked/bumped Resistant to glue, dirt, and other contaminants Retrofit from any standard cam lock Build new keys on-site 1.800.567.0451 #392 [email protected] capitolindustriesinc.com WWW.ALOA.ORG DECEMBER 2016 KEYNOTES 29 MAGNETIC CYLINDER SHIELDS Ideal for remote locations or harsh environments Deters vandalism, picking and bumping Resistant to glue, dirt, and other contaminants Prevent unauthorized key use
