Online Reputation management (ORM) is a vital part of running any business online. It is essential as a means for managing problems and preventing serious issues form escalating to the extent that they night harm or damage the band beyond recovery. Sadly, there are many tales of companies that have fallen prey to malicious attack from competitors or dissatisfied customers. Online, news can travel incredibly fast and this is especially true of bad news. If for any reason you think that you may need to implement strategies to prevent this type of damage from occurring to your business it is wise to engage a professional team to help you develop a Reputation management plan that can be delivered and used on an ongoing basis to prevent issues and to use in the event of a sudden problem or emergency. Problems can result in internet users spreading damaging information about a company. This can result in loss of customers, followers and revenue, all of which can be catastrophic for a company, especially a fairly new one that is trying to establish itself within a competitive market online. The best course of action is to develop and implement a reputation management plan before any problems occur, when everything is running smoothly and all is well. Doing it at this stage will allow you to be far more proactive and it will also let you put plans into place which could prevent any serious issues from escalating in the first place. Choose a reputable company that specialises in this type of service. They will not only understand the implications of these types of issues that can occur they will be armed with a set of tactics and ideas that will address any issue. They will have experience dealing with the most volatile situations and know exactly what will need to be done to prevent any serious damage from occurring. Reputation management is all about ensuring you are able to respond to customers properly in a timely and appropriate manner. It is also about ensuring that you provide the right information that is factual, correct and up to date. These two simple actions can help to address many issues that might occur. Customer service is another important area that is looked at in detail. This is the front line when it comes to dealing with customers, whether it is pre-sales, sales or post-sales. This is the area of the business that must be well organised and prepared to respond to customers at any given moment in an appropriate way. Having a good RM plan help you avoid unnecessary panic, something that could result in reactionary actions that may also be harmful in the long term. Many businesses believe that it is better to be prepared for any eventuality and for the worst case scenario in any given situation, rather than being shocked, surprised or having to deal with a sudden change with little to no notice. By staying came, staying one step ahead and being prepared, you will arm and protect your business from the damage that could occur online and instead you will be able to be proactive and protective of your brand and your income.