How We Evaluate and Rank Companies

Reputationtrust, and the ability to deliver results are crucial when evaluating company applications for the MonetizeBetter providers directory.

We’re picky about who we accept, and even choosier about how we rank companies.

What is the company’s reputation score?

Internally, we assign a Reputation Score to every company that applies. Reputation Score is meant to reflect each company’s level of real-world trust, experience, and monetization performance. A company’s Reputation Score not only determines who we recommend on MonetizeBetter’s providers directory, but also how they are ranked in our search results.

The ideal MonetizeBetter Company:

  • Has positive client reviews
  • Is recognized by industry peers as one of the best in the field
  • Demonstrates deep technical and domain expertise
  • Is positively referenced in industry publications
  • Is transparent about process, pricing, and outcomes
  • Works to advance and elevate their field
  • Participates in their industry through writing, speaking, conferences, interviews, and other outlets
  • For companies, it is considered an excellent employer
  • Has achieved the highest levels of training and specialization in their respective field
  • Shares knowledge with others
  • Advocates work hard for their clients
  • Does much of their business through referrals and repeat business
  • Is positively involved in both their community and industry

Furthermore, we take a dim view of fake or highly manipulated user reviews. Any suspicion of fake or highly manipulated reviews on other platforms to make the company appear better than they are is grounds for exclusion.

It’s all about trust. One question we ask ourselves when evaluating companies is this: Would we feel confident sending a loved one or relative to this company for services?

How we evaluate a company

Below are some of the considerations we evaluate when considering a company’s Reputation Score. Keep in mind that no two companies are alike, and different companies can be assessed in various ways. A 200-person agency will look a lot different from a single-person consultancy boutique – yet they can both have terrific or bad reputations.

1. Overall Presence and Visibility

We examine the company’s website and overall presence online. A strong digital presence, supported by up-to-date content and visible brand mentions, often indicates credibility and openness.

2. Third-Party Mentions and Links

We know that what others say about the company matters much more than what the company says about itself. We examine what independent sources say, including discussions on Reddit, Quora, and other online platforms. We also look at interviews, podcast features, appearances in professional communities, and news mentions of both the company and its employees.

3. Customer Reviews

Customer reviews are incredibly important, but we treat reviews with skepticism if the company directly influences them. Other directories contain reviews that are often heavily manipulated or outright fake. We dig into third-party platforms—such as consumer forums and business directories—for a more nuanced perspective. We have a low, low tolerance for manipulated reviews. We also look at how companies respond to negative feedback or public criticism.

4. Social Media Presence

We assess both follower counts and engagement levels, focusing on likes, shares, comments, and how actively the audience interacts on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. We may also look at LinkedIn profiles and endorsements of both the company and key employees.

5. Employee Reviews

Feedback on sites like Glassdoor or Indeed can reveal a company’s internal culture. Consistently negative reports about management or workload may eventually affect the quality of work delivered to clients.

6. Awards and Accolades

We weigh awards by their credibility and freshness. Established and peer-reviewed industry honors carry far more weight than pay-to-play awards with minimal vetting processes.

7. Publications and Thought Leadership

We consider blog posts, videos, whitepapers, and social media content to gauge expertise. Substance and originality matter more than sheer volume. Appearances or articles in reputable outlets further highlight leadership.

8. Certifications and Specialized Training

Relevant credentials among leadership and staff demonstrate a commitment to industry best practices and ongoing professional development.

9. Industry Involvement & Community Impact

Participation in trade associations, local business groups, or philanthropic activities can enhance both a company’s reputation and the broader community’s perception of its values.

10. Regulatory Compliance

We check whether a company adheres to data protection regulations (GDPR, CCPA) and review any public records of legal disputes. Transparent privacy policies and ethical data handling can strongly influence a company’s standing.

How we rank companies

Within each service category and search performed on MonetizeBetter, we rank companies based on three primary criteria:

  1. Relevance, e.g., the service or location you searched for
  2. Reputation Score
  3. Positive Reviews and Endorsements given by the community members

Since multiple companies can share the same Reputation Score, we randomize companies with the same score every 24 hours. This means that different companies get to share the top spots as they are rotated in and out. That said, because we only randomize companies within the same scoring buckets, the companies at the top will always have the highest scores.

Importantly, companies cannot pay for rankings. Our rankings are not for sale. Companies with professional subscriptions on MonetizeBetter can access enhanced visibility – by appearing in multiple categories, for instance – but this does not change their Reputation Score or rankings. Additionally, MonetizeBetter may display sponsored listings where companies can pay for placement, but unlike other listing services, these are always clearly marked.