When running a small business, attracting new customers may be challenging. Building trust and having credibility will not only draw new and potential clients but may also grow your business’ reputation amongst others in the market.
As a business owner, you have a whole playing field to play around with the different strategies that might increase your business credibility. This article will provide several tips for small business owners on practical ways to build trust and credibility with their customers to grow their companies.
1. Be Honest
Customers rely on the honesty that companies provide them with. This characteristic of a business may set the tone for the work you may be selling or communicating to customers, but it also might gain the loyalty of prospective clients.
Earning your customer’s trust may not be easy at first, but as you show the dedication and care you have for their wants and needs, may eventually be a reward in return as they grow loyal to your brand. When they see that companies are transparent with them in the process of growing their business, they will feel like family.
Your customers may not just be looking for a market that sells a product or service but also for a great relationship with a business that can show honesty in their business goals, intentions and assistance.
2. Staying Active on Social Media
The online space holds many benefits and opportunities for small businesses, and communication is a top one. Growing your brand’s presence online may make it easier for potential customers to find you, but it may also enable them to see what you offer.
Getting creative with social media has become easier for small businesses with platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Posting consistently with engaging content with your users may build trust with them as it may reassure them that your business is active and legitimate.
Another benefit of this may be that you can easily respond to your followers’ comments and queries that they might send to that account in hopes that they can get an answer from the business and owners directly. Building and growing your network on social media has made it easier to connect with other businesses and owners whom you may get a little inspiration from.
Recommended reading: Social media risks when running a small business
3. Create Credibility with your Website
A website is where your potential customers may first meet your business and make a purchase. While it is essential to note that your site has admirable design and navigation, you may want to ensure that your business’ message is clear to the users.
You could build trust with website visitors by making your brand’s intentions, offers, and messages available on the first page. Your website is like a store window where you may give customers a taste of what they may be investing in when they enter your website. Ensuring that your website avoids colloquial words and is written in plain English may make it easier for users to understand easily what you are offering.
4. Share Positive Testimonials
Getting customer feedback might improve your business by adjusting your goals, but it may also benefit other customers by viewing the opinions of others. Allowing your customers to view reviews from previous customers might entice them to look more into your brand, as they can see how others may have trusted in yours.
To establish customer trust, you may consider posting and sharing testimonials from past customers willing to leave feedback. You may also want to respond to these to display that your business is listening to their feedback and may consider using it to improve your plans and goals.
By sharing previous customers’ credibility, you may be able to gain the trust of prospective ones. This may give them an extra push into making the final step of putting a purchase in your business.
Listening to your customers who may have had similar intentions of buying a particular service or product from your company might be convinced by testimonials who share their positive feedback on different areas like customer service, the product/service itself, shipping, returns, etc.
5. Customer Service
Your customers may have questions about your offers or even feedback on a previous order. Listening to your customer’s positive or negative comments may help business owners realign their goals or business plan for the future.
With quick responses, customers may be impressed and show trust, as time is vital customers. Loyal customers who see the potential in your business may also help acquire new customers by convincing them to interact with your brand.
Direct communication with your customers can build credibility and trust as they know that your brand may be reliable in responding quickly and answering their questions so that they may purchase from your business.
There are various ways to build trust and credibility for small business owners, such as the above. Understanding that your customers are essential to your brand in terms of feedback, growing your business, and reaching new potential ones. As increasing the trust and credibility of your business may take time, you may want to consider taking on some of these tips as soon as you have your business plan so you may strategise your marketing and communication.
When running a small business, you may run into a number of risks and unfortunate problems that may impact your operations or even lead to the closure of your company. If you want to protect your company from possible scenarios and expensive lawsuits, you may want to purchase business insurance. BizCover can compare multiple quotes online in minutes, drama free! Want to find out how? Get in touch with our agents today.
