Please note: This is a contributed post. View full disclosure policy.

When you work for an established company, you benefit from the existing reputation that draws people to work with you. It’s different when you work for yourself, however. You’ve got a lot of work to do to show people what you do. Building up your online reputation is an important part of establishing a successful business. It can help build trust with clients and establish your authority in your field.

How, then, do you build an online reputation from scratch? Here are some suggestions to get you started.

Be present

First, you need to establish a presence. From setting up social media accounts to building a website, you need various platforms to promote yourself. You can use social media to grow your business and start putting yourself out there with potential clients and people in your industry.

Engage with others

Your online presence helps your expertise reach others. From writing a blog to sharing insights on LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social channels, it can be a great way for you to develop a reputation among your peers. Join in conversations and start following like-minded people.

Share testimonials

Asking clients for testimonials is a good way to build up your reputation with others. Testimonials give prospective clients insight into your work and help build trust. They’re your own personal reviews, and they count for a lot — especially for someone seeing you for the first time.

There are a lot of ways you can put testimonials to good use, including on your website, your social media channels, and more. 

Put effort into managing your online reputation

Your online reputation needs management to ensure it remains positive. Unsurprisingly, having an excessive amount of negative reviews can turn potential clients away. Using online reputation management services can make it easier for you to preserve your reputation, helping to boost your search engine rankings and making your business stand out from your competitors.

Building up your online reputation will help you land new clients and become better-known for what you do. It can take time to build a name for yourself. Once you do, hold onto it. A good reputation helps develop a trustworthy business that will impress both new and existing clients.