Reputation is everything for small businesses. What people say about your brand online can either make or break your success.

Picture this: You've put your heart and soul into building your small business. You've got a fantastic product or service, and your customers love what you do. But one unhappy customer's negative review spreads like wildfire, and suddenly, your reputation is tarnished.

Thankfully, there's a solution. Online reputation management (ORM) software is a powerful tool that acts as a virtual guardian, watching over your brand's online presence, and ensuring that any potential threats are dealt with proactively.

It empowers small businesses to take charge of their reputation and maintain a favorable perception among customers, partners, and competitors.

In this blog, we’ll explore why ORM software is crucial for businesses, what to look for in great software, and, most importantly, a list of the best ORM software tools specially tailored for non-tech-savvy business owners.

With that said, let’s get right in.

Why you should consider an online reputation management software

At a time when information travels at the speed of light, the reputation of your small business can be both a potent asset and a precarious liability.

The way your brand is perceived online can significantly impact customer trust, purchase decisions, and overall success.

Here are three reasons why you should seriously consider incorporating ORM software into your business strategy.

1. Safeguard your brand image

Your brand's reputation is a fragile yet valuable asset that requires constant protection. With ORM software at your side, you can actively monitor and manage what people are saying about your business across various online platforms.

This proactive approach means you can promptly address any negative reviews, comments, or mentions, preventing them from spiraling out of control and damaging your brand's image.

2. Enhance customer trust and loyalty

Customers heavily rely on online reviews and feedback to make informed decisions about products and services.

According to a study by BrightLocal, 46% of buyers count online business reviews as trustworthy as personal recommendations from friends or family.

A single negative review or unfavorable mention can cast doubts on your business's credibility, leading potential customers to look elsewhere.

ORM software empowers you to respond promptly to customer feedback, showing that you genuinely care about their opinions and concerns.

This active engagement with your customers and resolving issues transparently means you can build trust, foster loyalty, and turn satisfied customers into brand advocates.

3. Stay ahead of the competition

Standing out from the crowd is essential for businesses, especially if you’re just starting out. ORM software provides valuable insights into your competitors' online reputation, allowing you to identify their strengths and weaknesses.

Armed with this knowledge, you can fine-tune your marketing strategies, improve your offerings, and capitalize on opportunities to outshine the competition.

Consistent monitoring and an optimized online reputation are chances for you to position your business as a reliable and preferred choice among customers.

What to look for when picking your reputation management software

When it comes to managing your business's online reputation, having the right tool at your disposal can make all the difference. But with a plethora of options out there, how do you choose the best one?

Let’s go through a few key features you should consider when selecting a reputation management software, ensuring you find the perfect fit for your business needs:

• Centralized review collection

• Accurate brand evaluation

• Organized review management

• Sentiment analysis capability

• Swift response capabilities

• Detailed performance reports

• Real-time competitor analysis

1. Centralized review collection

A top-notch reputation management software should gather all your online reviews from various platforms into one centralized dashboard.

From popular review sites like TripAdvisor to Google and your own website, consolidating your reviews in one place streamlines your review management process.

This centralized approach allows you to efficiently respond to customer feedback and stay on top of your online reputation.

2. Accurate brand evaluation

Look for a reputation management system that accurately evaluates your brand's performance across different products and services.

The software should help you identify which aspects of your business receive the most praise and which ones need improvement.

With this valuable insight, you can share reviews with relevant departments and enhance your overall customer experience.

3. Organized review management

An effective ORM software categorizes your reviews based on the necessary actions required. It should also highlight the platforms where your business garners the most attention.

Choose a software that offers easy access to your reviews, allowing you to navigate through them effortlessly and make well-informed decisions.

4. Sentiment analysis capability

A valuable feature to look for is sentiment analysis, which helps you gauge your customers' feelings while they leave reviews.

This analysis provides deeper insights into their perceptions of your products or services, allowing you to respond with empathy and address their concerns more effectively.

5. Swift response capabilities

A reputable ORM software brings all your reviews to one place, streamlining your response process.

Look for a tool that allows you to create pre-drafted response templates for commonly received reviews.

This feature saves you time and ensures faster responses, enhancing your customer interactions.

6. Detailed performance reports

Select an ORM software that provides detailed performance reports and graphs. These insights help you understand how your products and services are perceived over a specific time duration.

Armed with this data, you can pinpoint areas for improvement and optimize your offerings to meet customer demands effectively.

7. Real-time competitor analysis

Stay ahead of your competition by selecting software that provides real-time updates on your competitors' ratings and reviews.

Understanding your competitors' strengths and weaknesses enables you to fine-tune your own strategies and capitalize on untapped opportunities in the market.

7 best reputation management software to try out in 2023

Ready to take charge of your business's online reputation? We've curated a list of the seven best reputation management software tools designed to empower business owners like you to take complete control of your brand image.

• Momentum

• Podium

• Birdeye

• Reputation

• BrandMentions

• Reputology

• Yext

Let’s take a closer look at each software.

1. Momentum

Momentum is an easy choice for effective review management, providing an intuitive platform to acquire and manage customer reviews seamlessly.

At Momentum, we believe in giving you the tools to take control of your business's online reputation in a seamless and non-intrusive manner. Our software offers a comprehensive range of features, designed to elevate your brand's image and enhance customer trust.

Let's explore how you can leverage Momentum's core features.

• The Eight-in-One Inbox

With Momentum's centralized platform, you can effortlessly communicate with clients and customers through various channels, including calls, texts, emails, Google Chat, Facebook, Instagram DMs, Whatsapp, and web chat.

It's a comprehensive communication hub, streamlining your interactions and ensuring a prompt response to inquiries.

• Automated Google Reviews

You can enhance your Google Local Search rankings and increase inbound leads using Momentum's Automated Google review requests and reminders.

This feature helps you efficiently collect more reviews from satisfied clients, while 24/7 review monitoring and alerts keep you informed and in control of your online reputation.

• Google Business Profile Upgrade

Maximize your online presence with Momentum's Google Business Profile setup, audit, and optimizations. By enabling Google Chat, you can generate new leads that are directly delivered to your Momentum Inbox, making it easy to engage with potential customers.

• Missed-Call Text-Back

Never miss a valuable lead again with Momentum's Missed Call Text Back feature. Automatically text missed callers before they call your competitors, ensuring you stay connected with potential clients and never lose business due to missed calls.

• Automated Social Media

Effortlessly build your social media following and convert followers into leads using Momentum's Automated Social Media tools. Create engaging posts with ContentAI and choose from a wide selection of post templates.

With a social media post scheduler, you can schedule your content for optimal engagement.

• Website and Webchat

Create stunning websites, funnels, and blogs with Momentum's no-code builder, which offers a range of templates to choose from. Use ContentAI to craft compelling content for improved visibility on Google.

Engage with website leads through our Webchat feature, and easily manage conversations via SMS.

...and that’s just scraping the tip of the iceberg.

• Pricing

Momentum presents a $299/month plan which encompasses a comprehensive set of features as discussed earlier. For those with a longer-term outlook with the annual plan, you can use our software free for 2 months, providing extra value for your investment.

Momentum is your all-in-one solution to take control of your online reputation, climb Google Local Search rankings, and elevate your small business to new heights.

2. Podium

Leveraging text messaging, Podium encourages customers to leave reviews and allows for customized review requests. With detailed analytics on reviews, businesses can identify trends and improve operations.

Podium's consolidated inbox handles customer messaging from various channels, including Google, Facebook, SMS text, and more.

Gain valuable insights with comprehensive reporting and monitoring, and engage with customers via text, email, and social media.

Key Features:

• Encourages reviews on essential sites like Google, Facebook, TripAdvisor, and more.

• Consolidated inbox for managing customer messaging across multiple platforms.

• Interact with customers via text, email, and social media.

• Detailed reporting and monitoring for valuable insights into reviews.

• Text messaging marketing campaigns to send promotional messages.

• Webchat feature to generate leads from your website.

Pricing:

Podium's pricing starts at $249 per month, with custom plans based on selected features and the number of business locations.

3. Birdeye

Birdeye offers a comprehensive array of communication channels to reach out to customers for reviews.

Whether through personalized text messages, email, company websites, Facebook plugins, or mobile kiosks, Birdeye ensures a seamless and diverse review collection process.

You can manage and track reviews effortlessly with automatic alerts and updates, and gain valuable insights through detailed analytics.

Key Features:

• Multiple review request options: text messages, Facebook, email, in-store kiosks, website forms, or Birdeye microsites.

• Customizable messages for optimal response rates.

• Flexible timing to contact customers post-sale.

• Streamlined review monitoring across platforms.

• Integration with apps and programs for leveraging customer databases.

• Simplified review responses with customizable templates.

Pricing:

Birdeye offers preset and customized pricing based on the number of business locations and required features. Their Standard plan starts at $299 per month for one location, while the Professional plan begins at $399 per month.

4. Reputation

Reputation is a cloud-based tool designed to empower multi-location organizations with comprehensive reputation management.

From monitoring online ratings, reviews, and customer service to analyzing traffic and other crucial factors, Reputation provides a unified dashboard offering a 360-degree view of your brand's online and offline reputation.

Key Features:

• Cloud-based reputation management for seamless accessibility.

• Unified dashboard to monitor and enhance both online and offline reputation.

• Real-time reputation score calculation using star ratings, reviews, company listings, and social activity.

• Social network interaction for engaging with customers across platforms.

• Sentiment analysis to understand customer emotions and feedback.

• Competitive benchmarking to measure your performance against rivals.

• Natural language processing for deeper insights into customer feedback.

• Machine learning-based AI program offering tailored recommendations to enhance the consumer experience.

Pricing:

Reputation's pricing details are available through a demo call, where you can explore the tool's functionalities and tailor a plan that best suits your multi-location organization's needs.

5. BrandMentions

Stay ahead of the game with BrandMentions, a powerful tool that keeps you updated in real-time on all keywords related to your business. From social media platforms to websites and blogs, never miss a single mention of your brand with this comprehensive monitoring solution.

Key Features:

• Real-time social mentions, search and analysis to stay on top of your brand's online presence.

• Hashtag tracking tools for monitoring hashtag performance and engagement.

• Brand tracking tools to monitor your brand's performance and reputation.

• Social media analytics tools for keeping an eye on your brand and your competitors.

• Perform sentiment analysis to categorize mentions into positive and negative feedback.

• 24/7 customer feedback collection for continuous improvement.

• Engage with your audience by actively participating in conversations about your brand.

Pricing:

Choose from three flexible pricing plans:

• Growing Business: $79 per month

• Company: $249 per month

• Enterprise/Agency: $449 per month

6. Reputology

Reputology is a powerful platform that allows businesses to monitor, respond to, and analyze online reviews with ease.

Tailored especially for businesses relying on Yelp, TripAdvisor, Facebook, and other major review sites, Reputology provides location-specific tracking for firms catering to local markets.

From collecting all your reviews in one dashboard to receiving automated email notifications of new reviews, Reputology offers a range of features to streamline your review management process.

Key Features:

• Review monitoring and management for multiple online review platforms.

• Location-specific tracking to focus on your target market.

• Semantic analysis to transform unstructured review content into actionable data.

• Automated email notifications for prompt review responses.

• Direct reply functionality from the Reputology platform.

• Decision tree for guiding appropriate responses to negative reviews.

• Tools to track team follow-up and responses to reviews.

Pricing:

They have four tiers of pricing:

• Solo plan at $110 per seat per month - 1 seat included

• Professional plan at $60 per seat per month - 3 seats included

• Agency plan at $40 per seat per month - 10 seats included

• Partner plan at $25 per seat per month - 100 seats included

For a comprehensive understanding, do check out their website.

7. Yext

Yext sets itself apart with its exceptional customization capabilities, allowing users to personalize every aspect of their reputation management experience.

With Yext, you can build and tailor tools to your preferences, from review invitations to in-depth analysis. Take your customizations to a whole new level using APIs and programming skills.

While Yext excels in customization, it lacks a dedicated tool for tracking customers and generating repeat business.

Key Features:

• Your Knowledge Graph serves as the ultimate source of truth for public facts about your brand, enabling actionable answers to customers' queries.

• Direct integrations with global digital services such as Amazon Alexa, Google, Apple, Bing, Facebook, Yahoo, and Yelp.

• Yext Pages empower your marketing team to maintain control over brand landing pages, ensuring accurate and consistent information.

• Yext Reviews builds a customer-centric reviews management system, monitoring and analyzing reviews across the Knowledge Network. Generate authentic customer reviews and engage with responses to enhance the customer experience.

Pricing:

Yext offers an Emerging starter package at $4 per week, with a limited number of listings and basic optimization. Pricing varies based on the top sites you choose to list your company on and the analytics provided.

Take charge of your online reputation effortlessly with Momentum

Managing your online reputation is paramount for small businesses seeking to thrive in the digital landscape. A positive online image can significantly impact customer trust and loyalty, leading to increased sales and growth opportunities.

With the plethora of reputation management software available, finding the right fit for your business is essential.

If you’re unsure of where to begin, consider Momentum. With our intuitive platform and user-friendly features like the Eight-in-One Inbox and automated Google reviews, we empower you to take control of your brand's image effortlessly.

But our commitment to your success doesn't stop there. At Momentum, we have an incredible support team ready to stand by your side every step of the way. From setup to ongoing usage, we'll be there to ensure everything is seamless and optimized for your business.

You can count on us to provide the guidance and assistance you need to make the most of your reputation management journey.

Get in touch with us today to see how you can streamline your online reputation management.