Don't Just Share: The 5-Minute Reputation Audit Every Business Should Do

What does the internet say about your business right now?

Not what you say about your business.

Not what you hope people think about your business.

What would a potential customer actually find if they looked you up today?

You don't need a complicated reputation-management strategy (or even hire someone like me) to find out. You just need five minutes and a willingness to see your business the way a stranger does.

1. Google yourself.

Search your business name exactly as a customer would.

What comes up?

Look at the first page of results. Check your Google Business Profile, news stories, social media accounts and any directory listings.

Ask yourself: Does this accurately represent my business today?

If you have an old address, outdated information or a five-year-old announcement showing up prominently, that's worth fixing.

2. Check your social media.

You don't have to scroll through years of posts.

Look at your most recent 6–12 posts and ask: If this were my first impression of the business, what would I think?

Is it clear what you do? Does your personality come through? Does your page look active? Would someone understand why they should choose you?

3. Read your reviews.

Don't just look at your star rating. Actually read them. Look for patterns.

Are customers consistently mentioning something you do really well? That's something you should probably be talking about more. Are they repeatedly frustrated by the same issue? That's something you need to address.

4. Look at your website like a stranger.

Pretend you've never heard of your business before.

Can you figure out within a few seconds:

• What do you do?

• Who do you serve?

• Where are you located?

• How do I contact you?

• Why should I choose you?

If any of those answers are difficult to find, you've got an opportunity to make your communication clearer.

5. Ask yourself one final question.

If someone heard about my business today, would everything they find online reinforce the reputation I want to have?

If the answer is yes, fantastic.

If the answer is “Well...mostly,” that's useful information, too.

Reputation isn't something you fix only when there's a crisis. It's built every day through the messages you put out, the experiences you create and the way people talk about you when you're not in the room.

So take five minutes and Google yourself. See what people see. And if the picture doesn't match the story you want to tell, it's time to start changing the narrative.