Keep Tabs on Your Brand: A Complete Guide to Brand Monitoring and Tracking What People Say About Your Brand

Introduction

Branding is a key component of any business’s success, and while traditional advertising methods can be effective at building brand awareness, they don’t always give you a full picture of what people are saying about your brand. That’s where brand monitoring and tracking comes in. By keeping a close eye on your brand’s online reputation, you can quickly identify potential issues or negative trends and take action to address them. In this complete guide to brand monitoring and tracking, we’ll cover everything you need to know to keep tabs on your brand.

What is Brand Monitoring?

Brand monitoring is the process of tracking what people are saying about your brand online. This can include mentions on social media, blog posts, news articles, and other online channels. Brand monitoring tools use algorithms to search for specific keywords and phrases related to your brand and alert you when they are mentioned.

Why is Brand Monitoring Important?

Brand monitoring is important because it allows you to stay ahead of potential issues and negative trends that could harm your brand’s reputation. By monitoring what people are saying about your brand, you can quickly respond to customer complaints, address negative reviews, and monitor your competitors.

How to Monitor Your Brand?

There are several ways to monitor your brand online, including using social listening tools, conducting manual searches, and hiring a reputation management agency. Here are some steps you can take to monitor your brand:

1. Set up Google Alerts

One of the easiest ways to monitor your brand is to set up Google Alerts. This free tool allows you to monitor when your brand or related keywords are mentioned online. You can choose to receive alerts in real-time, once a day, or once a week, depending on your preference.

2. Use Social Listening Tools

Social listening tools, such as Hootsuite, Brandwatch, and Mention, allow you to track mentions of your brand on social media channels, blogs, forums, and other online sources. These tools use AI to analyze online conversations and identify trends.

3. Conduct Manual Searches

If you have the time, you can conduct manual searches on social media channels, review sites, and forums to see what people are saying about your brand. This can be time-consuming, but it allows you to get a more in-depth understanding of your brand’s reputation online.

What to Monitor?

When monitoring your brand, there are several key areas to focus on. These include:

1. Brand Mentions

Monitor mentions of your brand across all online channels, including social media, blogs, forums, review sites, and news articles. This will give you a complete picture of what people are saying about your brand.

2. Customer Reviews

Monitor customer reviews on sites such as Yelp, Google My Business, and TripAdvisor. Respond to negative reviews and use feedback to improve your products or services.

3. Competitor Mentions

Keep an eye on what your competitors are doing and how they are being perceived online. This can help you identify areas where you can improve and differentiate yourself from the competition.

What to Do When You Find Negative Comments?

When monitoring your brand, you may come across negative comments or complaints. Here are some steps you can take to address them:

1. Respond Quickly

When responding to negative comments or complaints, it’s important to do so quickly. This shows that you value your customers and are committed to addressing their concerns.

2. Be Professional

When responding to negative comments or complaints, be professional and polite. Avoid getting defensive or angry, as this can escalate the situation.

3. Offer a Solution

When responding to negative comments or complaints, offer a solution to the problem. This could be a refund, a replacement product or service, or simply an apology.

Conclusion

Brand monitoring and tracking is an essential part of building and maintaining a strong brand reputation online. By keeping tabs on your brand and responding quickly to negative comments or complaints, you can ensure that your brand remains strong and competitive. Use the tips and tools in this guide to get started with brand monitoring today.