How Social Listening and Smart PR Drive Business Growth
People are talking about your brand, whether you’re listening or not.
From viral TikToks to Facebook group chats and casual tweets, every mention can shape how others see your business.
For small businesses in the Philippines, keeping track of these conversations isn’t just something big brands do. It’s a must if you want to protect your reputation, quickly address concerns, and spot new opportunities to grow.
Do You Need to Monitor Brand Mentions?
Yes!
Filipinos spend almost 4 hours a day on social media—and during that time, people could be talking about your brand anywhere. If you’re not paying attention, you might miss early signs of a potential PR issue, customer complaints that need a response, feedback or stories you can share, and genuine mentions from influencers or happy customers.
Free Tools to Monitor Your Brand
While there are paid platforms like Brandwatch or Meltwater, small businesses can start with these free tools:
1. Google Alerts
Set up alerts for your brand name, products, competitors, or key industry terms. Google will email you when these terms pop up in blogs, news sites, or forums.
2. Facebook Search and Groups
A lot of brand chatter in the Philippines happens in Facebook groups. Try using Facebook search with “Posts” or “Groups” filters, or monitor relevant public groups (like Buy & Sell or hobby communities)
Tip: You can search using common misspellings or local nicknames for your brand.
3. TikTok Search
Stay on top of what’s trending by searching hashtags related to your brand, monitoring user-generated content (UGC), and tracking viral sounds that your brand might be attached to.
4. Mention.com (Free Plan)
Mention.com lets you track limited keywords across blogs, news, and social media on its free plan.
5. YouTube Comment Search Tools
If creators are reviewing your niche, use tools like YouTube Comment Search to find mentions in their comment sections. It’s an underrated way to gauge reactions.
6. Manual Monitoring with Excel or Notion
If you’re a micro-business, start simple. Track mentions manually once or twice a week, note the source, sentiment, and key points, and use this for reputation management and content planning.
How to Respond to What You Find
It’s not enough to just monitor; you’ve got to take action. Turn positive mentions into testimonials or reposts, handle complaints quickly and respectfully, engage with UGC, and catch and address product issues early.
This is where a PR agency can really help, crafting the right tone, managing your response, and turning feedback and posts into opportunities.
Why Partnering With a PR Agency Helps
Gathering feedback is one thing—knowing what to do with it is another. That’s where a PR and IMC agency comes in. NGP IMC can help you respond to negative feedback professionally and calmly, turn small online mentions into big storytelling moments, spot trends in what customers are really feeling, and shape your brand message based on real conversations.
Listen Smarter, Not Harder
Even small businesses in the Philippines can start keeping an eye on what people are saying about them using free tools. But just having the data isn’t enough, you need a plan for what to do with it.
That’s where a PR agency that knows both digital and traditional media comes in. They can help you shape thoughtful, on-brand responses, turn insights into effective campaigns, and build lasting goodwill instead of just reacting to problems.
In a digital-first market like the Philippines, combining social listening with smart PR isn’t just nice to have; it’s your best way to protect your reputation and grow your business.
Work with NGP IMC today. We’ll monitor your brand so you can focus on building it.
Amy Ruth Valenzuela is a graduate of Far Eastern University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. With a strong passion for communications and media relations, Ruth has developed a diverse skill set that includes journalism, scriptwriting, events and production management, risk management, social media marketing, and layout and graphic design. Her experience in these areas has shaped her approach to storytelling and content creation, driving a commitment to excellence in every project. Ruth is dedicated to leveraging her expertise to create impactful narratives and foster meaningful connections in the industry.