As a game developer, you’re passionate about the games you create. Unfortunately, not everyone will share your creativity or enthusiasm. Negative feedback can quickly spread online, hurting your game’s reputation and business.
That’s why it’s essential to have a solid online reputation management strategy in place. By nurturing a positive brand image and employing an online reputation service, you can maintain a connection with your audience and prevent potential damage to your digital identity and online presence.
In this article, we’ll explore some essential online reputation management tactics and provide tips on implementing them for your game development business.
Monitor Your Online Presence
A crucial first step to online reputation management is to monitor what is being said about your business online. Regularly keep up-to-date with your reviews, ratings, and social media mentions. Tools like Google Alerts and social media monitoring platforms can help you stay on top of what people say about your game.
If you find any negative feedback, it’s best to address them quickly and efficiently. Responding to character attacks with civility can turn a hostile reviewer into an ally.
You could also resolve the issues that led to the negative review. By doing this, you can show that you care about your customers and are willing to make things right.
Develop Positive Reputation Signals
Your online reputation is the summation of every piece of information about your company. Take action to promote the content that would contribute to your positive reputation.
Develop valuable content such as blog articles, infographics, and videos that add value to your audience. Use your social media presence to tell your brand’s story and connect genuinely with your audience.
Authenticity is a critical factor in building a positive online reputation. Don’t be afraid to inject personality into your content and show the human behind the brand.
Maintain a good line of communication and reply to messages and comments from your audience. By consistently creating valuable and engaging content, you can position your game development company as an authority in your niche.
Utilize Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing can be a powerful tool for building a positive brand image. Reach out to reputable social media influencers in the gaming industry with the audience reach and credibility to endorse your products to their followers.
Influencers are valuable as they can authentically endorse your products while providing value to their followers.
Look for influencers who align well with your vision and values beyond their audience reach. They should be a personification of your target market. Consider micro-influencers with smaller but more engaged followings to tap into a genuinely interested audience in your game.
Manage Your Online Reputation With Reviews
Reviews are crucial to any online reputation management strategy. Over 90% of potential customers read reviews before making a purchasing decision. Negative reviews damage your brand reputation, while positive reviews maintain and grow your brand reputation.
Encourage your players to leave reviews without being pushy. Platforms like G2, Trustpilot, and Google My Business reviews are great channels for getting genuine customer reviews.
Offering incentives like exclusive avatar skins and free in-game currencies for leaving reviews is also an effective way of boosting your chances of receiving positive feedback.
Implement Crisis Management Policies
It’s critical to have a crisis management plan in case of adverse PR incidents. Data breaches, technical issues, and controversial content can quickly snowball into a PR nightmare.
Be transparent regarding the situation and manage the incident professionally. Apologize genuinely for your missteps, and outline the steps you will take to rectify them. Follow up by following through with your promises and make amends that appease your audience.
Final Thoughts
Developing a positive online reputation is crucial to the success of your game development business. By monitoring your online presence, developing positive reputation signals, utilizing influencer marketing, managing your online reputation with reviews, and implementing a crisis management plan, you can take practical steps to nurture a positive brand image.
Remember, reputation damage can happen in the blink of an eye, but the impact can last much longer. So, stay on your game and be proactive with your online reputation management efforts.
