News tends to highlight the ripoffs, cheating, and broken promises. It’s no surprise that the average consumer is wary of you if they have never dealt with you before. It’s one thing for you to have a lot of bold claims about your service, but how do you intend to back them up in a believable way?
EVERYBODY has the best widget right?
– What makes your widget so special?
– Why should they believe what YOU say?
How to be Believable in Your Marketplace
First step is to take the time to corral the credibility proof you already have. Next, take that proof and project it through various online platforms.
What is your existing reputation?
– What are your current customers saying about you?
Collect the support of current and past customers by getting their of testimonials written, audio or video recorded. These can be video testimonials posted to YouTube or Vimeo. Written testimonials posted on your website or your social media page. Maybe reach out to past customers to engage in a running commentary on your Facebook page. Yelp is another place that a customer can give you their five stars and raving review.
Useful Case Studies & Your Business
Positive reviews can also be presented as a “Case Study”. Perhaps you can interview someone who had benefited from your product or service. Turn it into a video, or a downloadable report. If it’s newsworthy you can put it out in a press release to the mainstream media. Interesting stuff can easily be picked up by your local news agency.
Try using your social media platforms to openly engage with your current and prospective customers. It isn’t just for posting baby pictures or sales pitches. You can use your business page in very similar fashion to the way you use your personal page. Be personable and interesting. People love to get involved.
Perhaps you can get involved in a local charity or do a presentation at the next town meeting or commerce group. Give something of value. This doesn’t mean you need to give away your product or service. Giving good and practical information connected to your business is all that is needed. For example; if you are a painter, you can do a presentation of the do’s and don’ts of painting a room. Most people will appreciate some of the hidden secrets but won’t want to do the work themselves.
These people aren’t just possible customers they are your neighbours. By getting out and mingling and passing on valuable service, you can get a huge leg up on the faceless MEGA store.
How People Buy
People like to buy from people they know and like. Familiarity plus liking someone quickly leads to trust.
Do your best to do your best. Be honest in business, sincere in your work ethic, and take care of your customer and the good word will spread.
If you do end up with some bad press, take care of it and be open about it. If someone complains on the internet about you, your business, or your service, don’t expect their written words to go unnoticed. Anything written in cyberspace is there forever so deal with it the same way you would if they were standing in front of you.
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