3 Surefire Ways to Earn Customer Trust Online
Thanks to the Internet, the way the entire world works and does business has seen a drastic and fundamental shift in the last two decades. Recently, social media has taken over as Internet users' favorite activity. Consumer buying decisions are evolving to reflect this paradigm shift. More than 60% of all transactions worldwide now take place online.
Small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations alike have heard this news loud and clear. Business plans now reflect that integral need for a strong social media and/or blog presence. One of the main job trends for businesses for several years has been social media manager.
All right, all right. We get it. Digital marketing and social media are important.
So what changes do I have to make to my business to keep up?
Nothing. Other than starting an online presence if you don't already have one. You got your business to where you are today by being diligent and honest, which will never change. Adapting to evolving markets is what separates successful companies from unsuccessful ones.
Social media can promote your business just like old school word of mouth, only amplified to the worldwide masses. This makes you a thought leader in your field. Effective use of digital channels to engage with your customers and leads is key to online success.
But first, you need to build their trust. You do this in three crucial ways.
- Make yourself available - respond to comments, retweets, messages, emails, etc. ASAP. Customers who are happy with your response time are likely to return.
- Be helpful - if you cannot answer a customer question online, find someone in your network that can. This honesty and transparency will shine through in plain view of your audience.
- Pay it forward - discuss newsworthy topics, share information and recommend brands in your industry that can address other customer needs. This makes other businesses more likely to do the same for you.
It certainly will not happen overnight, but a strong social media presence can make or break any business in today's global economy.
Creating brand awareness offline is also a big part of creating trust with consumers. If they don't know your name, trust is harder to build. Promotional products are one of the most poweful advertising tools to do so. Contact Logotech today to learn about all of the products you can put your brand on.
