425. Online Reputation Management › how it works › step 3: managing – dealing with opportunities and threatsCriticism need not necessarily come from customers, but it is important to beaware of it. If a criticism involves false information, it should be corrected. Andif the criticism is true, then it should be dealt with as such.RespondingResponding involves recognising that consumers hold the upperhand in therelationship. They are better trusted, there are more of them and in most cases,the barriers to exit from a brand are relatively low. As such they dictate thechannels of communication. An organisation needs to go to the consumer, notthe other way around. Ignoring this will result in the business losing customersbecause they not willing to truly engage.In South Africa, MWEB Guy is the name of a MWEB representative who monitors tipFacebook and Twitter and resolves complaints and queries as well as offering Visit http://www.facebook.assistance. Instead of directing customers to an FAQ section on a MWEB site, com/FreeTheWebSA to seeMWEB has followed their consumers to the channel that the consumers prefer. how MWEB is using the channel to interact with customers.Not only does MWEB resolve questions online, but they also use it to providekey information that consumers desire.Figure 17.5 Responding to comments is an important part of communitymanagement. 42