When trying to pivot your business towards success, it's clear that your relationship with your customers is crucial. In fact, your customers are the secret to your success, as, without them, you’d have nobody to market your products or services towards in the first place.
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While there are many different factors that contribute to an effective customer/company relationship, trust is perhaps the most integral factor. After all, if the customer is unable to put their trust in your brand, they are unlikely to spend any money on your services. Conversely, the more they trust you, the easier it will be for you to retain their custom in the future, given that trust and loyalty are closely linked. Furthermore, a recent study found that “44% of global consumers will spend at least $500 or more each year with the brands they trust.”
This kind of trust does not appear overnight - but you can start to build the foundations now so that you can reap the benefits in the near future. With that in mind, here are some simple ways in which you can encourage your customers to trust you.
Show them who you are.
Building trust often requires you to find a way to relate to your customers. This is because it will allow you to develop a relationship that is more personable, and less transactional. One way in which you can achieve this goal is by showing your customers the face (or faces) behind your business. For example, you could use your social media to introduce employees or showcase what work you are doing behind the scenes. This generates a sense of familiarity between yourself and your customers, which makes them more inclined to trust you.
Take cybersecurity seriously.
Many small business owners mistakenly believe that they are less vulnerable to cyberattacks due to the fact that they are a much smaller target than corporate giants. However, this could actually mean that you are more vulnerable than larger companies, as hackers are aware you will not put the same levels of security in place to protect yourself. As a result, it's crucial that you take cybersecurity seriously and ensure that you’re doing everything you can to protect sensitive data. One way in which you can do this is by carrying out regular security audits. To find out more, head to https://www.atwix.com/services/security-audit/
Hold yourself accountable.
Whenever you receive a negative review, it's easy to want to go into defence mode. However, this is often not the best response, as it shows customers that you are combative and care more about your company than your clients. Holding yourself accountable is far better, especially if you're responding with a plan of action to resolve the issue. In doing so, you could turn a bad review into something that allows you to develop a better relationship with your customers, as it shows you are actively trying to improve - as opposed to sweeping problems and issues under the rug in the hope that they will go away.