One of the key missions when starting a new business is not only explaining why customers should buy from you but why they should trust you in the first place. Customer trust is a hugely important factor in running a successful company, of course.
According to a recent survey, around 71% of consumers are unlikely to purchase from a company that they don’t trust. Additionally, 61% of consumers have recommended a trusted company to friends or family, so the importance of building that trust is significant from both a starting standpoint and a growth perspective.
But if you’re running a new business, how exactly do you convey trustworthiness to customers without being able to prove it? Trust, surely, is only provable once customers have interacted with your company for a period of time – enough to understand how you operate and protect them.
Well, while this might be the case in some instances, there are a few key ways you can establish trust right off the bat. We’re going to look into these ways below, giving you five tips for conveying trustworthiness to customers quickly.
Business Insurance for Reliability
Business insurance is not only crucial for protecting you from liabilities, but demonstrating to customers that your business is reliable and professional.
Having the right insurance coverage shows that you take your responsibilities seriously, and are prepared to handle potential risks. Essentially, it reassures them that in the event of an issue – whether it’s a product malfunction, service error, or property damage – they can count on your business to address it efficiently.
Complete Transparency for Loyalty
Your customers will only know about your insurance policies, however, if you are open and transparent with them from the get-go, and this is another key point to address. Being transparent in a business shows customers that the company is a trustworthy brand, increasing customer loyalty and improving retention across the board.
Customer Reviews for Confidence
In another study, it was revealed that 88% of consumers trust business reviews, with over 99% consulting them before choosing a business. With this in mind, customer reviews could make or break your business, so you need to make sure you display them authentically – with positive reviews displayed prominently on your website and social media.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve only got five sales, three sales, or even one sale. If you have a review – and more importantly, a positive review – you have the opportunity to social proof, signaling to potential customers that others have already had positive experiences with your brand.
Return Policies for Clarity
Hopefully, no customer will have to make a return. But the thing about running a business is that you have to be prepared for the unexpected – even if the reason they’re returning your product isn’t necessarily your customer’s fault. With this in mind, it’s crucial to provide easily accessible and straightforward return and refund policies – once again, detailed on your website and social media, if applicable.
What you need to remember is that this is the first time these people are buying from you. They don’t know much about your company, your product, and – in the absence of various reviews – your reliability. They’re far more likely to trust your business and make that purchase if they know they can get their money back if something goes wrong – therefore removing the perceived risk of doing business with you.
Consistent Branding for Professionalism
One last thing to note is that, in order for customers to trust you, they need to know that you’re a professional company. This can be done simply through consistent branding – ensuring you maintain a professional appearance and consistent tone of voice across all of your outlets.
High-quality design and a well-maintained online presence can convey this, demonstrating your business to be serious, credible, and trustworthy before they even look at buying anything. The first interaction is the most important one, of course. So make sure your first impression is as good as it can be.
