Reputation Management Cost A Breakdown of Rates and Services

Introduction

The cost of online reputation management can vary greatly depending on various factors and the specific details within each variable. It is important to find the best online reputation management company that specializes in your business size, reputation situation, and goals. Cheap reputation management services may offer temporary or ineffective results, while quality and legitimate reputation management requires investment in resource-heavy endeavors to achieve better results, repair, development, and management. Before investing, it is essential to understand the budget required and the level of repair, development, and protection that can be realistically expected.

What Does Online Reputation Management (ORM) Include?

The reputation services included in your online reputation management plan can vary greatly from provider to provider. Cheap ORM providers often use “spam” tactics that do not require the same quality or level of resources. These tactics are often automated and may include flooding Google with social media profiles to suppress negative search results. However, more experienced and dependable firms focus on legitimate tactics such as creating active, high-quality content resources with impeccable SEO. This is because Google has become smarter and can detect spam techniques.

Generally, a high-quality ORM service will include:

• Search engine optimization (SEO) services
• Content creation and management
• Strategy development
• Reporting

Do Online Reputation Management Services Work?

Yes, online reputation management services work when you choose a credible reputation management company. However, the effectiveness of the services depends on the firm you choose. A low-end reputation management provider may only bring temporary or no results at all. On the other hand, a skilled reputation management team can help bring your business back from the brink of collapse. It is important to understand that reputation management requires resources to execute successfully.

How Much Does Reputation Management Cost?

The cost of online reputation management services is determined by several factors, including the reputation management firm, your goals, the current state of your reputation, your budget, the size of your company, the number of locations requiring review management, and other factors such as language or active detractors. The pricing and engagement models vary among different firms.

Assuming you choose a reputable firm that follows Google’s guidelines and does not use black hat tactics, a rough estimate of the cost could range from $300 per month for a small company with no existing reputation issues to over $50,000 per month for customized solutions that address all aspects of a reputation for a sizable company or a company with a complex reputation problem in multiple countries.

Breakdown of Costs from Several Popular Firms

Here is a breakdown of the pricing and services offered by some of the popular online reputation management firms:

ReputationManagement.com

ReputationManagement.com caters to global corporations and their CEOs. They estimate their typical package price range to be between $30,000 and $80,000. Their services include SEO services, content services, strategy development, and reporting.

Defamation Defenders

Defamation Defenders offers personal reputation repair for executives and professionals, as well as company services for small businesses. Their prices range from $500 to $3,000 per month, making them one of the more affordable options. However, they may not be suitable for larger companies that require a higher volume of dedicated resources.

Hartzer

Hartzer is a consultant specializing in organic SEO, not a reputation management services firm. While prices cannot be clearly defined until an assessment is done, Hartzer has provided a pricing chart. It starts with $500 per month to alter search results for a small or medium company and goes up to $19,000 for deindexing a review. The actual amount charged depends on the complexity of the issue and the goals of the company.

OptimizeUp

Although primarily a digital marketing service, OptimizeUp offers online reputation management packages ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 per month. Their services include the development of a positive online presence, brand marketing, and the removal of negative search results. Digital marketers employ many of the skills used in reputation management, such as SEO, branding, content creation, and promotion.

Reputation X

Reputation X breaks down their pricing into categories to help clients estimate their budget. The pricing depends on the current state of the reputation and the client’s goals. Here is a breakdown of their pricing:

• Reputation repair: $4,000 to $10,000 per month
• Reputation branding and content removal: $3,000 to $15,000 per month
• Wikipedia pages: $1,000 for monitoring, $3,000 for editing, and $5,000 for creation
• Review management: Under 10 locations – $500 per month per location, 10 to 100 locations – $400 per month per location, over 100 locations – $225 per month per location

Reputation X also offers plan customization for larger brands that require a high level of resources.

Reputation Management Price List

Here is a general idea of the cost of online reputation management, compiled from individual service prices listed on the above websites:

• ReputationManagement.com: $30,000 to $80,000 per package
• Defamation Defenders: $500 to $3,000 per month
• Hartzer: $500 to $19,000 per month
• OptimizeUp: $1,000 to $4,000 per month
• Reputation X: Varies depending on the service, ranging from $1,000 to $15,000 per month

ORM Budget Allocation

Insights into the budget allocation of other companies are limited. However, based on our model and available information, we estimate that in the startup phase, reputation costs are allocated as follows:

• Campaign setup: 30%
• Research: 30%
• Strategy development: 40%

In the first month, the allocation changes to:

• Content planning, development, and promotion: 65%
• Web and schema development: 15%
• Promotion: 20%

In the following months, the allocation is:

• Strategy: 5%
• Content: 40%
• Development: 25%
• Promotion: 30%

Legitimate and long-lasting results require appropriate investment in each of these categories, as they represent resource-heavy endeavors. These endeavors increase the price for effective reputation repair, development, and management.

Reputation Management Costs FAQs

What is the Best Online Reputation Management Company?

The best online reputation management company for you depends on your business size, reputation situation, and goals. Find a service that specializes in your business size and contact them to discuss how they can help you achieve your reputation goals.

How Do Reputation Management Companies Work?

Online reputation management companies address various aspects of your digital footprint that affect your reputation. These include your website, social media profiles, self-published content, and content posted by others about your business. ORM firms offer development for those with little to no online presence, management for those with a good reputation, and repair for those who have suffered reputation damage.

How Much Does BrandYourself Cost?

BrandYourself is a DIY reputation management tool that also offers some custom services. The DIY tool costs $99 per year. The Headstart Service, which helps you get started with a brand and action plan, is $800 upfront and $20/month thereafter. The Concierge Service is a “white glove” service that costs about $400 per month.

Conclusion

The cost of online reputation management can vary widely based on various factors and the specific details within each variable. It is important to choose a reputable reputation management company that specializes in your business size, reputation situation, and goals. While cheap reputation management services may offer temporary or ineffective results, quality and legitimate reputation management require an investment in resource-heavy endeavors. Understanding the budget required and the level of repair, development, and protection that can be realistically achieved is crucial before making an investment in reputation management services.