University admissions departments live and die by online reviews. And universities of all sizes need to follow online reputation management best practices at every stage of the recruiting process.

This includes matters of recruiting and retaining faculty, obtaining grants, and maintaining the brand of the institution. What’s more, online reputation management best practices become critically important when managing a PR crisis.

Your online college, private school or public university is in the spotlight. In this article, we’ll outline the top 5 online reputation management best practices for public universities, online degree programs, and other types of educational settings.

An Overview of ORM for Online Programs, Public Universities and More

Every university needs a dedicated reputation management team for crisis situations. But for managing day-to-day issues online, reputation management is even more important.

Going to college is a major decision in any person’s life. Moreover, students today face all types of uncertainty. Additionally, they’re particularly sensitive to social signals.

These signals influence their decisions on everything from how to invest their time in study to enrolling in online college in the first place.

The kinds of issues that universities and online degree programs need to manage often include:

Reopening After an Unexpected Closure

If your on-campus programs had to close down temporarily, you’ll need a reopening plan. Will online programs still be available? Will you decide to offer some classes on campus, along with a portion of online classes?

Changes in Student Life

What will student life look like in the coming year? What can students expect from clubs and athletic organizations?

Digital Resources

What digital resources will be available to support studies? Will more digital resources be needed for online students versus in-person students?

International Students

What are the incentives for international students to enroll at your school, either on campus or via online education?

Even More Considerations

Depending on whether you have a 100% online college or you also have campus life, additional questions to consider include:

• What will the campus experience be like?
• What can students expect as they move into dorms?
• Will students have the same opportunities to have fun as in the past?

Your university needs clear and consistent messaging across all digital channels. You’ll also need to manage misinformation and minor reputation issues to maintain a healthy online image among students, parents, donors, and faculty.

Best Online Reputation Tips for Education Settings

From controlling the content you share to keeping up with technology, here are 5 ways to manage the reputation of your online college, bachelor’s degree program, accredited institution, or other type of educational setting.

1. Make Sure Digital Experiences Are On Point

Even today, some university websites are still not optimized for mobile devices. That means that many aren’t creating content for students for whom digital life is second nature. They’re also not utilizing the digital pathways through which students get their information and opinions about schools online.

When students can’t find your content, they don’t get your message, either. Failing to optimize your website for students can undo your best reputation management efforts.

Pointing your branding in the right direction requires clean design and user-friendly navigation through your main website. End-to-end audits of online searches used by students are essential, too, helping you understand how students get information about your school.

The best ORM for universities requires attention to detail, particularly when it comes to the digital experience. From 24-hour monitoring to upscale content creation and promotion, our team of ORM experts can help you create the online presence you deserve. Contact us at (844) 458-6735 for more information.

2. Take Advantage of Advances in AI for Chatbots

Today, students perform the majority of their research into universities online. And if a student is after an online education, they may never step foot on your campus at all.

With administrators busy enough as it is, chatbots offer a great way to provide answers to common questions. Intuitive chatbots have the power to direct students to the resources they need. In turn, they take a considerable burden off those managing the university’s reputation.

For many students, chatbots are even more effective than search engines. What’s more, they stay under your control, letting you decide the chatbot’s replies based on the query.

3. Post Lots of Videos

To maintain your university’s or online programs’ reputation, video is the best type of content to capture the attention of students and parents. Also, when in-person tours of your campus are not possible, video is the next best thing.

What kinds of topics lend themselves to video for your various digital channels and ad campaigns? Campus tours are a must, of course, but you may also wish to consider the following ideas:

• Welcome Messages: Admissions officers, faculty, coaches, current students, and other persons associated with your university can post general and personalized welcome messages as prospective students progress through the admissions process. You can run a similar campaign aimed at student retention.
• Speakers: Create a digital collection that highlights speakers and invites discussion. This is a great way to get students interested in certain disciplines, from information technology and business administration programs to criminal justice degrees and even doctoral degrees. Plus, you’ll be able to note how students respond to your presenters to further guide your campaign.
• Day-In-The-Life: Create videos that give your students a taste of college life, both to entice them to enroll and to remind them of what is waiting for them when they return to campus. For online students, show them all of the online learning and social resources you offer.
• Departmental Content: Serious students want to know what their professors are researching. Departments can create videos that show their research and innovations. You can also post video content created by the financial aid and student services departments.

Do you need help with your school’s digital presence? Call us at (844) 458-6735 for an in-depth audit and valuable insights from an expert.

4. Ramp Up Social Media Marketing

Students spend a lot of time on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. This makes social media a primary tool of ORM for universities.

On average, users spend almost 2.5 hours on social media per day, and they use 7.5 platforms each month.

That means that this is the perfect time to increase your investment in social media marketing. Doing so allows you to stay ahead of reputation issues and build your university’s presence across the web.

What’s more, universities that invest in social media marketing create awareness that helps water down reputation crises online.

What are the features of a successful university social media marketing campaign? Consider these strategies?

• Flexible branding and content to appeal to users of a specific social platform.
• Highlight positive experiences of the students and faculty.
• Humanizing your traditional university or online learning program by creating content with a personal touch.
• Showcasing the best of what your specific university has to offer — what sets it apart from the rest?

Additionally, make sure to maintain an active presence on any social media platform you have a profile on.

5. Hire a Reputation Management Firm

One reason that universities outsource reputation management is to be ready for a crisis.

When a reputation crisis hits, you need experienced reputation crisis managers to look at your situation and provide the tools needed to limit the damage.

Another reason universities hire reputation management professionals is the level of expertise they offer. You need a consultant with experience and training to get you the maximum return on your investment.

Need Help Managing Your School’s Online Reputation?

You’ve come to the right place.

The best online reputation management practices for universities elevate online visibility. They establish trust and highlight your attributes.

Whether your school caters to students seeking an online degree, online courses to earn college credits, or a program at a reputable private school, ORM is a must. With a solid reputation management strategy, you can also correct misinformation about financial aid, student support and more.

Our reputation management solutions provide the tools and technology your university needs to thrive online. We work with universities and the best online programs to build online reputations that attract new students and ensure long-term success.

Contact us today at (844) 458-6735 to schedule your free consultation. 

The post University Online Reputation Management: 5 Things To Know appeared first on Reputation Sciences.

Consider these facts:

Your school’s reputation can affect funding and community morale.

Not only that, but a negative reputation will send prospective students looking elsewhere.

According to Eduventures Research, 80% of college students say they picked their school because of its reputation.

With so much at stake, schools shouldn’t leave their image to chance.

Do You Know Your School’s Reputation?

These days people learn what they need to know about an organization online. A quick Google search can bring up all kinds of information. It’s not only your website and social media profiles that show up in a search.

Other people talk about your school. There could be interviews, professional listings, and more that you don’t know about. All these things affect your school’s image.

You’ll find out quickly what people think about its programs, instructors, and community, by searching your school’s name online.

Monitor Your School’s Mentions

Next, expand your search and monitor school mentions. Make a search list including things such as:

• Keywords and topics relating to your school
• Its programs
• Instructor names
• School competitors
• Backlinks to your school’s website

Use this list to monitor your school’s mentions. Do people speak highly of your institution? Or are there things to address?

Either way, reputation management for schools will make your online presence more robust. Here’s how.

Reputation Management for Schools: Promote the Positive

It’s important to refine your keyword and mentions list to weed out the noise. Hone in on specifics that affect your organization. Then you can use social media, your website, and other online platforms to produce positive content.

First, ask a few questions. How can the school reach students? What about prospective students? What makes your community special?

Highlight things like scholarships, groups, and community events. Likewise, your school’s core beliefs and mission should guide your strategy.

Be proactive. Promote student achievements. Feature popular programs and instructors who stand out.

The bottom line is that everything the school does, from marketing to programming, is part of reputation management. That’s why it’s equally important to consider how to respond to negative feedback. And it’s crucial to make a plan.

Reputation Management for Schools: Address the Negative

The idea behind creating positive content is to educate, build authority, and highlight your school’s missions and goals. Another key point in reputation management for schools is to address negative comments and feedback.

Your school can suppress negative chatter with plenty of positive content. But the negative should never go unattended. Everyone is watching.

Think of it as a chance to build better relationships. To emphasize the point—over 53% of consumers expect an organization to respond to their concerns within a week. Most are disappointed. Over 63% say they never heard back.

A negative comment could be valid. It’s an opportunity to recognize and fix problems. Most times, you can turn the negative into a positive just by showing you care.

If you combine positive content creation and a plan to address the negative, you can build a robust online presence that puts your school in the driver’s seat.

Here’s How to Address Negative Comments

Administrators don’t have to be at the mercy of negative comments and poor reviews. Remember, reputation management for schools is about driving and directing online perception. Make a plan.

People often write reviews when they feel frustrated. Acknowledging their complaint and offering help goes a long way. If you don’t avoid them, it shows you want to help.

Publicly respond to the review and address the situation. Take it offline to work out the details.

Work together to find a solution. Then ask them to address the negative review. Research reveals that students who get help with their problems are more likely to recommend your school than those who never had an issue.

On the other hand, negative feedback holds more power if you ignore it. Openly replying will let your audience know the school cares about their concerns.

It’s Time to Make a Plan

Consider that auditing, monitoring, and producing new content is a full-time job. And a vital one as well. Who in your organization can head up this task?

You can train administrators to do the job. You’ll want to do the following to get started:

• See where you stand online
• Devise a plan to monitor what needs to change
• Develop a new content strategy
• Set up best practices for addressing negative content

By the same token, students judge a school based on their experience on its website. It’s often the first impression. Ensure that all of your pages are user-friendly. Additionally, check for broken links. Also, make sure to optimize all your pages so search engines can find you.

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Social Media

Social media is one of the best solutions for reputation management for schools. Produce great content that your audience wants to like, share, and comment on. It will increase your reach.

Likewise, highlight the good news. Join the conversation. Encourage students, staff, and others to share. They can post photos, talk about their accomplishments, and comment on their programs.

Students and staff are your school’s ambassadors.

Work with Professionals in Reputation Management

Does reputation management for schools seem daunting? You can hire professionals to get the job done. And they can maintain your school’s online image.

Reputation Sciences provides customized reputation management solutions. We start with an online audit. Then we offer insights regarding your school’s reputation.

Next, we customize a plan for creating content to get your school ranking higher on search engines. You also receive monitoring, 24 hours a day, to ensure you’re on track.

Do you need help managing your school’s online reputation?

Reputation Sciences is here to help. We’ve provided comprehensive reputation management services since 2015.

You can learn more about us online. Or schedule your free consultation by calling 844-458-6735 today! Call Us Today to learn more about our Online Reputation Management Solutions – ReputationSciences is owned by NetReputation.com

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