How do I check my online reputation?
Search your business name in a private browser window, then your name plus reviews, then your name plus your town, and read the first two pages of each. Check your star rating and newest reviews on Google, Facebook and any trade directories you are listed on. Then set a free Google Alert for your name so you hear about new mentions without having to remember to look.
Use a private or incognito window so your own browsing history does not tint the results, and search the way a customer would: the business name on its own, the name with reviews, the name with the town, and the owner's name if customers know it. Note everything that appears, including images and the Google Business Profile panel on the right.
Then check the review platforms directly rather than through search. Google, Facebook, Checkatrade, Trustpilot and whichever industry directories apply. Look at the rating, the number of reviews, how recent the newest one is, and whether the negative ones have a reply. A profile with no reviews in eighteen months tells a customer the business may have stopped trading.
Do the same on social media: search the business name on Facebook and Instagram, and look in the local community groups for the areas you cover. That is where recommendations and complaints actually happen for local trades.
Finally set up monitoring so this is a one-off, not a monthly chore. A Google Alert for your business name is free and takes a minute. Most review platforms will email you when a review lands. Between them you will hear about most new mentions within a day.
Useful next steps
Want answers specific to your business?
Book a free call. No jargon, no obligation, real numbers.