The Art of Startup: How to Build a Brand Your Customers Can Trust
Be Reachable
It’s important for your customers to be able to reach you whenever they have questions or problems that need resolving. Allowing them to interact with you or someone from your company in a convenient fashion can increase your brand’s trustworthiness. Customers will undoubtedly have questions or stumble upon technical issues. Not being able to assist them in a timely manner can drastically impact your credibility as a company. Set up a strong Contact page, with email, fax, and phone details where they can drop you a message. Most websites also feature a pop-up help-desk notification that can connect them to a customer representative instantaneously.
Get Reviewed
Reviews and testimonials are the primary information that customers will look at before buying your product or signing up for your service. Third-party reviews and legitimate testimonials can significantly boost your brand’s credibility. It’s a way to give people an unbiased look into what your company offers. Keep in mind, however, that not all reviews will shed a positive and flattering light on your company. Nevertheless, it’s worth asking for reviews as it also serves as a way to gauge your company’s performance and identify the inefficiencies that exist within your organization, such as poor customer service or costly product delivery fees. Last but not least, reviews can help clear up bad publicity. For instance, you can read the reviews on the supposed ACN scam and see that the company is actually legit.
Respond to Feedback
It’s one thing to make your company reachable and receptive to feedback and queries. It’s another thing to act on that feedback. Listening and responding with action tells your customer base that you care about their opinions and, at the very least, that you read them. When you genuinely listen to someone, you build trust and mutual respect with your customers. There is perhaps no one better to give you feedback and advice on what to change in your company than the customers who use your product/service.
Relationship before Conversion
Conversions should be a byproduct of a solid relationship with your customers. Trying to convert your leads without building a relationship with them first can result in weak and volatile sales. Repeat customers will be virtually nonexistent. Today, there are close to 90 billion business emails sent per week. Furthermore, there are 200 million plus hours spent on social media and entertainment sites, like YouTube. Customers are tired of receiving these unsolicited emails from companies, which make lead conversion difficult. By creating something of value first, you can easily motivate people to provide you with their contact information.
Be Honest
Honesty is what keeps people from leaving your brand. This is an especially important quality when your business faces tough times. It sound easier to hide the truth from the public out of fear that it can damage your brand. However, being straightforward with your customers and being able to bring the bad news to the table can actually minimize the potential damage to your brand’s credibility when the news eventually reaches the public. It’s better for them to hear it from you rather than a nosy journalist or a disgruntled employee.
There you have it—five ways to build a brand that people trust and respect. Using the five tips mentioned above can foster years of customer loyalty and consistent growth.
