Top Features to Look for in Reputation Management Software

Looking for the best reputation management software? Here's what you need to know:

• Review monitoring: Track mentions across platforms
• Social media tracking: Keep tabs on social chatter
• Sentiment analysis: Gauge customer feelings
• Review generation: Encourage more feedback
• Multi-platform integration: Manage all in one place
• Automated responses: Reply quickly and consistently
• Competitor analysis: See how you stack up

Top tools include:

1. Sprout Social
2. Podium
3. Birdeye
4. Yext
5. Trustpilot
6. Brand24
7. Mention
8. Broadly
9. Qualtrics
10. Google Alerts

Quick Comparison:

Tool	Best For	Starting Price
Sprout Social	Social media focus	$199/month
Podium	Customer engagement	Contact Sales
Birdeye	All-in-one solution	Contact Sales
Yext	Multi-location businesses	Contact Sales
Trustpilot	Review collection	$259/month
Brand24	Affordable monitoring	$49/month
Mention	Real-time tracking	$29/month
Broadly	Local businesses	Contact Sales
Qualtrics	Enterprise-level analysis	Contact Sales
Google Alerts	Basic free tracking	Free

Choose based on your needs and budget. Free trials are available for most paid options.

Main features to look for

When picking reputation management software, focus on these key features:

1. Multi-platform monitoring: Track reviews across Yelp, Google, and social media.
2. Centralized dashboard: One hub for all your reviews.
3. Real-time alerts: Get notified about new reviews instantly.
4. Review response tools: Easy interfaces for quick replies.
5. Sentiment analysis: AI tools to gauge review tone.
6. Review generation: Ask happy customers for reviews.
7. Reporting and analytics: Get insights into review trends.
8. Integration capabilities: Connect with your existing tools.

Here's how some top tools compare:

Software	Key Features	Best For
Trustpilot	Review collection, monitoring, response tools	Brand image boosting
Sprout Social	Centralized platform, custom views	Social media focus
Broadly	Unified review platform, communication tools	All-in-one solution
Yext	Business listing sync, local SEO	Multi-location businesses
Podium	Webchat, review generation automation	Real-time customer engagement

Pick a tool based on your needs. Got multiple locations? Yext might be your best bet. All about social media? Consider Sprout Social.

Don't forget about price. Some tools are free (like Google Alerts), while others can cost $50 to $250+ per month. Balance features with your budget and expected ROI.

Keep an eye out for AI features in newer tools. They can save you time with advanced sentiment analysis and automated responses.

Sprout Social

Sprout Social is a powerhouse for social media management and reputation control. It's your one-stop shop for handling multiple social accounts and keeping tabs on what people are saying about you online.

Here's what makes Sprout Social stand out:

• Manages accounts across major platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, WhatsApp)
• Smart Inbox for quick responses to messages from all platforms
• AI-powered social listening to spot trends
• Content calendar for easy scheduling
• Google My Business integration for local SEO boost

Pricing? It's not cheap, but you get what you pay for:

Plan	Monthly Cost	Profiles	Cool Stuff
Standard	$249	5	Review management, social CRM
Professional	$399	No limit	Competitive reports, workflows
Advanced	$499	No limit	Content library, chatbots
Enterprise	Custom	No limit	Premium analytics, VIP support

No free version, but you can try it for 30 days without whipping out your credit card.

Sprout Social is a beast when it comes to handling messages:

• 50,000 messages processed per second
• Over 600 million messages dealt with daily

The Google My Business integration is a game-changer for reputation management. Why? Because 63.6% of people check Google reviews before buying. That's a lot of potential customers you can impress.

Sprout Social isn't just blowing hot air. They've got the accolades to back it up:

• #1 Best Software Product (G2's 2024 Software Awards)
• Over 200 badges in G2's Summer 2024 Reports
• Top dog in 88 reports

Users love how easy it is to use, scoring 8.8 for ease of use and 8.7 for setup on G2.

When you stack it up against the competition, Sprout Social often comes out on top. It beats out Zoho Social and Hootsuite in service, support, and integration ease. It also outshines Salesforce Social Studio (Legacy) and Sprinklr Social in several areas.

If you're serious about managing your online rep across social media, Sprout Social is a solid bet. It's got the features and support to help you keep your finger on the pulse of your online presence.

2. Podium

Podium is a customer interaction powerhouse. It's your one-stop shop for messaging, reviews, and payments.

Here's what Podium brings to the table:

• All your customer chats in one place
• Easy review collection via text
• AI tools for quick responses
• Text-based payments

But does it work? Just ask Jimmy Levine from Levine & Sons Plumbing:

We've added almost 800 new reviews (a 4x increase). We're also getting 60+ leads a month from Podium, converting like crazy.

Melissa Hill from Roof Life of Oregon loves how simple it is:

The online reputation tools were huge for us. With Podium, the review request is quick and to the point. It's not time consuming, it's simple.

Podium's AI features pack a punch:

Feature	What it does
AI Concierge	Handles customer chats
AI Marketer	Writes marketing copy
AI Salesperson	Helps convert leads
AI Reputation Specialist	Manages reviews
AI-Powered Phones	Boosts communication

Now, let's talk money. Podium starts at $399 per month. That might make some small businesses think twice. The 'Essentials' package caps dashboard access at 3 team members and 1000 contacts.

But for many, it's worth every penny. Hillary Smedley from Genesis Dental says:

In the last 12 months, we've generated $130,000 in revenue through the tool.

Podium's mobile app (4.7 stars from 23.3K reviews) lets you manage customer chats on the go. It's available for both Apple and Android.

If you want to boost your online rep and streamline customer chats, Podium's got you covered. Just make sure it fits your budget and needs before you jump in.

3. Birdeye

Birdeye is a powerhouse in reputation management. It's not just about managing reviews - it's a full-suite platform for boosting your online presence and keeping customers engaged.

What can Birdeye do for you? Here's the rundown:

• Monitor reviews across 200+ sites
• Use AI to respond to reviews (in any language!)
• Run customer surveys
• Keep tabs on social media
• Spy on your competitors

The AI review responses are a game-changer. It's like having a 24/7 customer service team that never sleeps.

But does it actually work? The numbers speak for themselves:

• 95% satisfaction rate (based on 1,945 reviews)
• 4.8/5 score on G2 (from 1,312 reviews)

Real users are loving it. One said:

"Birdeye allows us to aggregate our social media reviews in one spot, saving our team time as we communicate and triage consumer feedback."

Another user praised its all-in-one approach:

"The Birdeye platform makes it extremely easy to manage all our reviews in one platform, plus with the built-in automation, it can be a time-saver with auto responses."

And it's not just about managing reviews. It's about growing your business. Aaron Novello, a team leader, shared:

"Birdeye gives our company instant credibility and makes getting reviews easier. We've seen an increase in customers contacting us directly from online, which gets our foot in the door. Birdeye also helps us build trust with customers, which is invaluable."

Here's a quick look at what Birdeye offers:

Feature	What it does
Review generation	Gets you more online reviews
Review marketing	Shows off your best reviews
Social listening	Keeps you in the loop on social media
Business insights	Turns feedback into smart decisions

Is it perfect? Not quite. Some users say new features often cost extra, and it can be pricey. Setting up listings can be a bit tricky too.

But if you're serious about your online reputation, Birdeye is hard to beat. It's a solid choice for businesses looking to shine online and keep customers happy.

4. Yext

Yext is a powerhouse for managing your online presence. Here's why it's a top pick:

One Dashboard, Many Platforms

Yext pulls reviews from 200+ sites into one place. You can:

• See all your reviews at once
• Reply to customers quickly
• Spot trends in what people are saying

AI Helps You Respond

Yext's AI tools help you write personalized responses fast. It's like having a smart assistant for customer service.

Keep an Eye on Competitors

You can track up to 5 local competitors. It's like peeking over the fence to see how you stack up.

AI Reads Between the Lines

Yext's AI doesn't just count stars. It understands what customers are really saying, helping you make smarter choices.

Your Info, Everywhere

Yext makes sure your business details are correct across the web. It's like having a clone army updating your info everywhere at once.

Here's what one user had to say:

"Yext is a time-saver. It manages all your listings in one place, cutting down on manual work. The info it gathers is spot-on, helping businesses make the right calls."

Yext at a Glance

What It Does	How It Helps
Review Watching	See and respond to reviews from everywhere
Info Management	Keep your business details correct on 200+ sites
Competitor Check	Watch what 5 local rivals are up to
Feedback Analysis	AI figures out what customers really mean
Number Crunching	Get reports on reviews, searches, and customer feelings

Yext is great, but it's not perfect:

• It won't automatically ask for reviews
• You have to train the chatbot yourself
• No built-in survey tools

Even with these gaps, Yext is a solid choice. It's especially good for businesses with multiple locations that want to keep their online presence in check.

5. Trustpilot

Trustpilot is a big deal in online reputation management. Here's why:

Review Magnet

It's a review-gathering machine. Nearly a million new reviews pop up every month. That's a lot of fresh feedback.

Trust Score

Trustpilot uses a 1-5 star system to create a "trust score" for businesses. This score updates often:

• Under 10,000 reviews? It changes after each new review.
• Over 10,000 reviews? It updates daily.

Keeping It Real

Trustpilot works hard to make sure reviews are legit:

• Verified reviews come from direct customer invites.
• Businesses can claim and manage their profiles.

Marketing Boost

Got good reviews? Use them:

• Show them off on your website and social media.
• Use Trustpilot widgets to display your ratings.
• It can help you show up better in search results.

Free vs. Paid

Feature	Free	Paid
Talk to customers	✓	✓
Basic reports	✓	✓
Advanced stuff	✗	✓

Customer Feedback Central

Trustpilot puts all your customer feedback in one place. This lets you:

• Respond to reviews quickly.
• Keep an eye on what customers are saying.
• Fix problems fast.

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6. Brand24

Brand24 is a tool that keeps tabs on what people are saying about you online. It's like having eyes and ears all over the internet.

Here's what it does:

It scans social media, blogs, news sites, forums, and even videos for mentions of your brand. You get alerts when someone talks about you, so you can jump in fast.

Brand24 doesn't just find mentions. It tells you if they're good, bad, or neutral. This helps you spot problems before they blow up.

Want to find influencers? Brand24 has you covered. It helps you discover people with clout in your industry.

You also get reports that show how your brand is doing online. These include charts, sentiment breakdowns, and comparisons with competitors.

Pricing? Brand24 has options:

Plan	Monthly Cost	Keywords	Mentions
Individual	$49	3	2,000
Team	$99	7	5,000
Pro	$149	12	25,000
Enterprise	$249	25	100,000

All plans come with a 14-day free trial.

Brand24 plays nice with other tools, too. It connects with Slack and lets you export data. Plus, it's easy to set up and use.

In short: Brand24 helps you keep a finger on the pulse of your online reputation.

7. Mention

Mention is your digital ear to the ground. It tracks what people say about your brand online across 100+ social sites, blogs, and news outlets.

Here's what you get:

• Real-time tracking
• Analytics on your online presence
• Competitor comparisons
• Multi-brand monitoring

Tom Lancaster from Minnesota State says:

"Mention is a great tool for our large system. We can track multiple brands with dozens of users. It's extremely cost-effective."

Mention's plans:

Plan	Monthly Cost	Features
Entry-level	$41	Basic monitoring, limited mentions
Higher tiers	Varies	More mentions, advanced analytics

All plans come with a 14-day free trial.

An IT industry user shared:

"It's well-designed. I can track everything I need - unique terms, usernames, hashtags, or companies."

Mention consolidates feedback from various sources, making it easier to respond quickly and manage your brand image. It's your one-stop shop for online reputation management.

8. Broadly

Broadly helps small service businesses manage their online reputation. It's a tool that makes it easier to get and handle customer feedback.

Here's what Broadly can do:

• Send review requests automatically by text or email
• Manage reviews from different sites in one place
• Use AI to talk to customers
• Boost local SEO on over 40 platforms

Does it work? Just ask Jay Levan from Yokley's Automotive:

"I saw a 32% increase in revenue from June 2019 to June 2020 and I directly attribute that growth to Broadly."

Wesley Bloeme, who owns WiseGuys Pro-Wash in Atlanta, agrees:

"In the first 60 days, we got 45 five-star, authentic reviews from our customers and it took me no extra time because Broadly was integrated with our (customer review management)."

Broadly's pricing is straightforward:

Plan Type	Cost	Notes
Average Subscription	$300/month	Approximate cost

Over 6,000 local businesses use Broadly. It's popular with contractors, salon owners, and lawyers. The AI helper takes care of repetitive tasks and responds quickly, making things run smoother.

Want more reviews? Broadly's "one-click process" makes it easy. It sends happy customers to review sites they already use.

What's next for Broadly? They're working on new ways for customers to talk directly with business employees on job sites. This could be a game-changer for local service providers.

9. Qualtrics

Qualtrics isn't just another reputation management tool. It's a powerhouse that combines reputation monitoring with a full suite of customer experience products.

Here's what makes Qualtrics stand out:

• It pulls in data from social media and review sites automatically
• It spots trends in your brand's reputation across different locations
• It helps you get more positive reviews
• You can respond to negative feedback right from the platform

But here's the kicker: Qualtrics doesn't just look at online reviews. It mixes that data with other customer experience info, giving you a full picture of how people see your brand.

Check out these key features:

Feature	What it does
Sentiment Analysis	Figures out if customers are happy or not
Competitor Benchmarking	Shows how you stack up against the competition
Real-time Alerts	Tells you instantly when someone mentions your brand
AI-powered Insights	Uses fancy tech to find patterns you might miss

Now, Qualtrics isn't for everyone. It's best for:

• Big companies with complex needs
• Businesses with CX experts on staff
• Those with deep pockets for reputation management

It's not the easiest tool to use, so smaller teams or reputation management newbies might struggle.

Before you jump in, consider this:

The Good:

• Brings all your data together
• Offers top-notch analytics
• You can tailor it to your needs

The Not-So-Good:

• It's pricier than some other options
• You'll need training to use it well
• It might be overkill for smaller businesses

Bottom line: Qualtrics is a beast of a tool, but make sure it's the right fit for your business before you commit.

10. Google Alerts

Google Alerts is a free tool for basic online reputation tracking. It's not fancy, but it works.

Here's the gist:

1. Set up alerts for specific keywords
2. Google scans the web for those keywords
3. You get email updates for new matches

Simple, right? With Google Alerts, you can:

• Track brand mentions
• Monitor competitors
• Stay on top of industry news

But here's the catch: it doesn't cover social media. That's a BIG gap.

Let's look at the good and the bad:

Pros	Cons
Free	No social media tracking
Easy setup	Can miss mentions
Customizable	Basic analytics
Flexible updates	Limited to Google's index

To squeeze the most out of Google Alerts:

• Use quotes for exact matches
• Include common brand misspellings
• Set up competitor alerts

"Google Alerts is a smart first step for reputation management", says a digital marketing expert. "It's cost-effective and can boost visibility and backlinks."

The bottom line? Google Alerts is a good start. It's not the most powerful tool, but it's free and easy. For small businesses or newbies to online monitoring, it's a solid choice. Just remember, it's one piece of the puzzle - you might need other tools for full coverage.

Feature comparison

Let's compare the top reputation management software:

Feature	Sprout Social	Podium	Birdeye	Yext	Trustpilot	Brand24	Mention	Broadly	Qualtrics	Google Alerts
Review Monitoring	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Social Media Monitoring	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗
Review Generation	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗
Sentiment Analysis	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗
Multi-platform Integration	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗
Automated Responses	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗
Competitor Analysis	✓	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗	✓	✗
Starting Price (per month)	$199	Contact Sales	Contact Sales	Contact Sales	$259	$49	$29	Contact Sales	Contact Sales	Free

What's the deal with these tools? Here's the scoop:

1. Every single one of them can monitor reviews. Even Google Alerts does it (though it's pretty basic).

2. Most of them keep an eye on social media. Trustpilot and Google Alerts? Not so much.

3. Want to generate reviews? Podium, Birdeye, Yext, Trustpilot, Broadly, and Qualtrics have got your back.

4. Sentiment analysis is a big deal. Everyone except Google Alerts can tell if your customers are happy or not.

5. Prices? They're all over the place. Google Alerts is free (but limited), while Trustpilot starts at $259 a month. Many others? You'll need to call for a quote.

So, which one should you pick? It depends on what you need.

Running a small local business? Maybe check out Broadly or Podium.

Need to manage a ton of social media accounts? Sprout Social might be your jam.

The key is to figure out what YOU need and go from there.

Wrap-up

Picking the right reputation management software can make or break your online presence. Here's what you need to know:

Look for tools with review monitoring, social media tracking, and sentiment analysis. You want to know what people are saying about you, right?

Don't get stuck with a clunky interface. Choose a platform that's easy to use. Your time is better spent managing your reputation, not wrestling with software.

Think about your wallet. Google Alerts is free, but paid options like Trustpilot (starting at $259/month) pack more punch.

Some tools are industry superstars. Broadly and Podium? Great for local businesses. Sprout Social? A champ at handling multiple social accounts.

Want smooth operations? Pick software that plays nice with your existing systems.

Bottom line: The best tool fits YOUR needs. Take those free trials for a spin before you commit.

Related posts

• How Online Reputation Management Software Works: A Beginner’s Guide
• Online Reputation Management Software: Key Benefits for Businesses
• How Reputation Management Software Can Protect Your Brand Online
• Top Online Reputation Management Software to Enhance Your Brand’s Image