What is Corporate Reputation?

Corporate reputation is a term commonly used to define how a company is perceived by stakeholders which can include customers, employees, investors, and the general public

The corporate reputation of a business or organisation is built on a variety of factors such as a company's financial performance, quality of products or services, its treatment of employees and customers, and its commitment to social and environmental responsibility.

A great example of a company with a positive corporate reputation is Patagonia. Founded over 40 years ago this outdoor clothing is well known for its commitment to environmental sustainability, as well as its fair employment practices and donations to charity. This has led to the company being highly respected and valued by customers, employees, and the broader community.

Why is Corporate Reputation Important?

For businesses, having a strong corporate reputation helps to increase trust and loyalty among stakeholders which can in turn lead to increased sales and revenue. It can also make it easier to attract and retain top talent, as well as secure investment from stakeholders.

A positive reputation can also help companies weather challenging times and negative publicity, as stakeholders are more likely to give the company the benefit of the doubt if they have a generally positive view of it.

On the other hand, a poor corporate reputation can lead to lost sales, difficulty in recruiting and retaining employees, and difficulty in securing funding.

How is Corporate Reputation Measured

There are a variety of methods which can be used to measure corporate reputation, including surveys, interviews, and social media analysis. One commonly used method is to conduct surveys of stakeholders, such as customers, employees, and investors, to gather their perceptions of the company's reputation.

Additionally, companies can track their online reputation using tools such as social media monitoring and sentiment analysis. These methods can provide a comprehensive view of a company's reputation and help identify areas that require improvement.

When measuring corporate reputation some of the most common factors are:

Financial Performance
Quality of leadership team
Quality of product or Service
Safety standards
Company ethics & Values
Employee Satisfaction
Community relations
Environmental responsibility
Philanthropy & Charity support

Keeping track of all these variables is no easy task but there are scoring systems such as the Net Promoter score (NPS) which is a popular method for measuring how businesses are perceived by their customers as well as how they compare against competitors. To find out more about Net Promoter Score (NPS) check out Understanding NPS.

Corporate Reputation Index (CRI)

A Corporate Reputation Index (CRI) is a commonly used measurement tool that is used to assess the reputation of a company among stakeholders. The index takes into account a variety of factors that contribute to a company's overall reputation, these factors include financial performance, products or services, ethical and social responsibility, and communication with stakeholders.

Most Corporate Reputation Indexes are based on surveys or polls of different stakeholder groups, such as customers, employees, and investors. The results of these surveys are then compiled and analysed to create a numerical score or ranking for the company's reputation.

Some of the leading CRI providers globally include; Reputation Institute, Harris Interactive, Forbes, and Reputation Leaders.

Reputation Risk & How to Mitigate it

Since the emergence of the internet and social media, bad news and negative press now travel faster than ever. Anything which causes a threat to your company’s name and image is considered a reputation risk This can be caused by various factors, such as negative publicity, legal or regulatory issues, or product recalls. Managing reputation risk is an essential aspect of a risk management strategy for companies and organisations.

Reputation risk can be split into 2 categories, direct and Indirect:

Direct Reputation risk comes from an action or inaction of a company when it comes to its standards or governance.

For example Working Practices within the company, Tax avoidance, employment conditions or quality issues with products. One of the ways companies can mitigate Direct reputation risk is by ensuring that all public reporting and financial statements are accurate and transparent

Indirect Reputation risk is caused by negligence or deliberate action by employees

For example Mistakes by employees, breaches of security or data, and Social Media behaviour. To mitigate Indirect reputation risk companies can establish corporate values and procedures related to ethics and compliance.

Another key area to look at as part of a company’s reputation risk mitigation is Corporate Social Responsibility. CSR holds companies accountable for their impact on society and the environment and is more commonly used by large corporations. With so much attention in the public on climate change and environmental issues it is important for businesses to understand how consumers are adjusting their buying patterns to include consideration for the environment and issues which impact society such as the development of communities.

A great example of this can be seen with major supermarket chains that invest heavily in CSR. In countries such as the United Kingdom, leading supermarket brands now donate products which are close to their expiry date to local community food banks and charities as a way of giving back to the community.

Mitigating reputation risk effectively requires a group effort across all employees. Reputation risk strategies should be developed by the leadership team and included in the overall business strategy.

How to Develop an Effective Corporate Reputation Strategy

The development and successful implementation of an effective corporate reputation strategy involves the use of strategies to manage and enhance a company’s reputation among its stakeholders. Some Tips to consider when developing a corporate reputation strategy include :

Conduct an Audit: Ensure you have a clear understanding of your company’s current reputation and identify areas which can be improved.
Set Your Goals: Define the goals of where you want your corporate reputation to be and what you want to achieve from it.
Identify Your Stakeholders: Whether they are investors, customers, employees or the general public, identifying who they are and what they care about is essential.
Focus on Key Messages: Develop clear and consistent messages that align with your reputation goals and target audience.
Communication Channels: Select the right communication channels which allow you to reach your target audiences, such as social media, corporate website, or media features.
Execute and Monitor your Strategy: Once your strategy is defined, keep track through regular monitoring.
Be Prepared to make adjustments along the way: Effective monitoring and regular reviews of key indicators will make it easier to refine and make changes to your strategy when required.

During the process of developing and implementing a corporate reputation strategy, remember to consider your corporate reputation as a long-term asset that takes time to develop and maintain. It also requires consistent effort from all levels of the team.