We all want to build a relationship with our audience that makes us number one on their list, right? It can be hard to stand out against millions of other users and businesses in this digital day and age. However, one thing that we believe is key to building this unbreakable bond is trust.
Most of us desire to be someone reliable and trustworthy. Whether you are building trust in your personal or professional relationships, at your workplace, or with your ideal audience, trust is the foundation that keeps customer relationships afloat.
But what exactly is trust?
“Trust is like a glass. Once it’s broken, it’ll never be the same.”
“Trust is like an eraser; it gets smaller and smaller with every mistake.”
“Trust starts and ends with truth.”
“To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved.” -George MacDonald.
With an easy Google search, it’s evident that trust is a powerful thing.
As a noun, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines trust as “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.” Trust is built on character, transparency, reliability, and consistency.
In a TedTalk from 2017, Anne Böckler-Raettig talks about how trust is dynamic, complex, and indispensable. Since we are humans that thrive off of shared commonalities and interpersonal connections, our instinct is to look for patterns of comfort within those we trust. Our human nature helps us decide when someone is trustworthy based on whether they appear to have authority, excellence, and competence.
Another main way we decide if someone is trustworthy is based on their reputation. Your reputation will precede you to build the proper trust of your business’s values to its customers – so don’t be afraid to flaunt your best reviews.
How can you build trust?
One of the first steps in establishing that you are worthy of long-term relational trust is to clearly demonstrate your values and the humanity behind your business.
When determining if your online presence seems trustworthy, ask yourself these questions:
- Do people know who you are online? What does your key audience need to know about your business?
- Is your digital presence easily visible and likable? Why should someone visit your site?
- Is there proof, such as testimonials and positive reviews, to back up who you say you are?
- Which aspect of your values should each customer know without a doubt?
Remember, for every new customer to fully trust your company, there is an element of risk involved. Help them make their leap of faith by providing honest information about your brand.
Take a look at one of our previous blogs on getting your targeted audience to like, know, and trust you.
Take Action!
Do Your Research
To accurately “give the people what they want,” it’s key to be aware of your target audience’s deepest needs. After doing the deep dive and researching your customer, come up with a strong strategy that allows you to speak to their pain points. Maybe you did this a while ago and need to take time to re-look at your market. Has anything changed? Have any new competitors come along? What do they do differently than you? Have any left the market? What trends or geo-political influences are impacting consumers? This information will help inform smart strategic decisions.
Provide What Your Customer Needs
Think about what do you offer that others don’t, and hone in on that. Your business can stand out if you accurately cater to your client’s pain points. You might’ve heard it said, “put yourself in their shoes.” Stay up to date with what they are saying, and speak directly to it. This may seem simple, but you’d be surprised how many business owners get wrapped up in their next big idea and forget to actually test and see if that is what their customer needs.
Be Available
Customer satisfaction goes far beyond your products and services. They need to know that they are your priority and that their needs matter. Can your customers rely on you? Even something like not answering the phone during business hours could be enough to make customers feel they can’t trust you.
Show that you are empathetic for your customers and let them know they are safe with you. If you’re not available when they need you, it can be bad for your reputation. Of course, no one expects you to be available 24/7, but they will be more likely to trust you if you’re easy to communicate with.
The humanity behind your brand will build long-term loyalty faster than any enticing email, good deal, or nice photo on Facebook could.
Maintain Connection
Never underestimate how a good follow-up strategy can save the day. Find a way to connect with your customers to maintain a healthy relationship. Putting in the effort to send follow-up emails, engage with them on social media, and respond to their messages can take you a long way. Showing that you are real and remembering them will exceed any streamlined system you could create – although investing in efficient CRM software won’t do you wrong!
If you take anything from this…
You need a game plan to build trust. It doesn’t just happen overnight.
If your business is being challenged to strengthen trust or if you need direct advice on how to do it, connect with the BLC team today. We can help you review your strategy, research your potential leads, and connect you back to your core values to enhance trust with your audience. Book your FREE consultation call today to learn how Boss Lady Consulting can help you reach your goals!
