Anyone who wanted to be on the A-list in junior high knows the importance of having a good “rep.” Now that you’re a small business owner, reputation is still a big deal. But today it’s because you want to be part of the “in-crowd” with online customers. Learn from these common mistakes to keep your online reputation favorable.

Today’s online consumers have more information than ever. With one click, they move on to another business if they see something they don’t like. And it’s not just what you say that counts. It’s what others say about you on social media channels too.

That’s why it’s important to avoid mistakes like these so you can keep a solid rep for your small business:

Don’t Talk Back

People want to know they’ve been heard. So if someone mentions you in a post, a tweet or a review, acknowledge it. It might be as simple as a “like” or retweeting it for others to see. If it’s a complaint or concern, address it by responding to the person. That tells the person you heard them. And they’ll spread that word to others.

Check Your Website Every Once In a While

Visitors to your website want answers now. So check the content regularly. Is the information still correct? Are you still promoting your Labor Day sale? Do you have a helpful hint that might help them solve a problem? Give them a reason to return to your site by changing up your content regularly. That’ll give you a reputation for always having something relevant to say.

Don’t Monitor Blog Comments

Pay attention to the comments made to your post and respond to them. You can facilitate that by having the comments go directly to your inbox, making it easier to monitor them in real time. Consider ending a post by posing a question that encourages a discussion. For example, a post about New Year’s resolutions might ask readers to post theirs. Imagine being known as a business that’s interested in their customers.

Ignore the Competition’s Reputation

It can be just as important to monitor what people are saying about your competitors. It can help you learn what topics people are interested in, what problems they may be having, and who the influencers are that others follow. That’s valuable information, especially if you can offer an alternative. Google Alerts lets you set up alerts that identify when a competitor is mentioned in a tweet or post. While you’re at it, be sure you set up an alert on your business too.

Your online reputation is a valuable part of your brand. So it’s important to protect that asset by avoiding these common mistakes. And you’ll get to hang out with the cool customers.