Build Trust with 9 Small Business Marketing Strategies
- Date: 2008-06-10 - Word Count: 675
Share This!
Marketing is all about creating and fostering relationships with your prospects and your clients. A big part of achieving this is that people need to know, like and trust you before they'll engage in a relationship with you or do any business with you.
Before a person will commit to making a purchase from you, they need to trust that your products and services will do what you say they are supposed to. Also, if you want to keep your profitable clients, they have to continue to trust that you'll deliver on your promises.
Trust is the basis of any relationship, be it personal or strictly business. Take a look at the following ways that you can build trust and credibility into your small business marketing strategies:
1. Provide examples
Give lots of case studies and examples that outline how you've helped clients and the difference it has made in their business and their life.
Real examples are much more powerful and credible than simply making claims about your service or products.
2. Seek out referrals
We all ask our friends and colleagues to recommend good places to eat or a reliable plumber, because we trust the opinions of people we know.
It's the same for your business; actively seek out referrals from satisfied customers. Implementing a marketing system to generate referrals is one of the most overlooked marketing tactics for small businesses.
3. Get testimonials People always pay more attention to what others have to say about you than any claims you make about yourself and your business. Make it easy for your customers to provide testimonials. Create some marketing systems to facilitate this and then use the testimonials in all your marketing tactics: website, sales pages, direct mail, email communications, brochures and so on.
4. Offer guarantees
None of us like "buyer's remorse" and providing a guarantee of service or results of your products and services will go a long way to help alleviate any concerns people have in handing over money to you.
Make sure you act promptly and with no hassles when you have to fulfill your guarantee. Keeping your word is a huge part of building trust with people.
5. Share your contact information
Nothing raises a red flag more with me than when I cannot find a business's contact details - address, phone number, fax, email address, website, name of their assistant, customer service number, etc.
By listing your contact information on all your marketing materials, you go a long way in showing people you exist, you are a real legitimate business and you're available if they have any concerns or questions.
6. Write articles
Write and submit articles to establish yourself as an expert and to help build a reputation that shows you know what you're talking about, you're willing to share your expertise, and you're "here to stay" - all components towards building trust.
7. Stay in touch
Regular and consistent contact with people helps facilitate trust - they know you're around and interested.
Contact your prospects and clients regularly (via email, phone call, card, etc.) to get feedback, follow up, and provide useful tips.
8. Be a resource
Provide information that is timely and helpful to your prospects and clients. Post articles on your website, send them an applicable, interesting report or magazine clipping, forward an email with details about a great teleseminar or workshop they might benefit from.
9. Let your personality come through
People do business with people, not companies. Help prospects trust you by letting them get to know you. Share your personality and passion in your marketing strategies and communications - for instance, have a picture of yourself on your website, share some tidbits about your personal life (hobbies, likes & dislikes, pets) and don't be afraid to express opinions in your writing.
Take a look at your day-to-day marketing tactic and determine if you are doing all you can to build trust with your prospective and current clients.
If not, try incorporating a couple of the suggestions above and once they're running smoothly and are part of your marketing system, then add a couple more. Keep doing this and you'll be rewarded with long lasting, rewarding and profitable relationships with many people.
Before a person will commit to making a purchase from you, they need to trust that your products and services will do what you say they are supposed to. Also, if you want to keep your profitable clients, they have to continue to trust that you'll deliver on your promises.
Trust is the basis of any relationship, be it personal or strictly business. Take a look at the following ways that you can build trust and credibility into your small business marketing strategies:
1. Provide examples
Give lots of case studies and examples that outline how you've helped clients and the difference it has made in their business and their life.
Real examples are much more powerful and credible than simply making claims about your service or products.
2. Seek out referrals
We all ask our friends and colleagues to recommend good places to eat or a reliable plumber, because we trust the opinions of people we know.
It's the same for your business; actively seek out referrals from satisfied customers. Implementing a marketing system to generate referrals is one of the most overlooked marketing tactics for small businesses.
3. Get testimonials People always pay more attention to what others have to say about you than any claims you make about yourself and your business. Make it easy for your customers to provide testimonials. Create some marketing systems to facilitate this and then use the testimonials in all your marketing tactics: website, sales pages, direct mail, email communications, brochures and so on.
4. Offer guarantees
None of us like "buyer's remorse" and providing a guarantee of service or results of your products and services will go a long way to help alleviate any concerns people have in handing over money to you.
Make sure you act promptly and with no hassles when you have to fulfill your guarantee. Keeping your word is a huge part of building trust with people.
5. Share your contact information
Nothing raises a red flag more with me than when I cannot find a business's contact details - address, phone number, fax, email address, website, name of their assistant, customer service number, etc.
By listing your contact information on all your marketing materials, you go a long way in showing people you exist, you are a real legitimate business and you're available if they have any concerns or questions.
6. Write articles
Write and submit articles to establish yourself as an expert and to help build a reputation that shows you know what you're talking about, you're willing to share your expertise, and you're "here to stay" - all components towards building trust.
7. Stay in touch
Regular and consistent contact with people helps facilitate trust - they know you're around and interested.
Contact your prospects and clients regularly (via email, phone call, card, etc.) to get feedback, follow up, and provide useful tips.
8. Be a resource
Provide information that is timely and helpful to your prospects and clients. Post articles on your website, send them an applicable, interesting report or magazine clipping, forward an email with details about a great teleseminar or workshop they might benefit from.
9. Let your personality come through
People do business with people, not companies. Help prospects trust you by letting them get to know you. Share your personality and passion in your marketing strategies and communications - for instance, have a picture of yourself on your website, share some tidbits about your personal life (hobbies, likes & dislikes, pets) and don't be afraid to express opinions in your writing.
Take a look at your day-to-day marketing tactic and determine if you are doing all you can to build trust with your prospective and current clients.
If not, try incorporating a couple of the suggestions above and once they're running smoothly and are part of your marketing system, then add a couple more. Keep doing this and you'll be rewarded with long lasting, rewarding and profitable relationships with many people.
Related Tags: small business, marketing, communication, marketing system, trust, marketing strategies, prospect, testimonial, referral, marketing tips, credibility, marketing tactic, marketing solutions, marketing basics, profitable client
Jody Gabourie, The Small Business Marketing Coach, delivers simple, innovative and powerful marketing strategies to help business owners find and keep their most profitable clients. To learn more about how she can help you take your business to the next level, and to sign up for her FREE special report, ezine and articles, visit her site at http://www.JodyGabourieMarketingCoach.com Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- The No. 1 Rule For Projecting Confidence - Speak With Authority
One of the most important characteristics a person can project in a business setting - or any situat - After the Autumn Checkout European Debt Crisis and U.S. Brewing Rebound
In the commotion caused by the Fed on interest rates come to an end, the "disastrous" for the euro a - Advantages Of Arcade Game Rentals
There are many different advantages to arcade game rentals. Most people need something to release th - A General Primer on Truck Cargo Nets
In modern highways it is quite rare to see truck cargo nets in action, this is because they are usua - The United States Will Burst More Severe Financial Crisis
Not long ago, suddenly announced that the central bank to raise interest rates, the interest rate hi - Niche Marketing Profits - 3 Easy Steps to Finding a Profitable Niche Market Income in 10 Minutes
Like most beginners I was having a very difficult time trying to find a niche market to earn extra m - The Importance of Hospitality Management Consulting Firms Toronto
Businesses and the managers that help guide any business are in a constant state of improvement and - New Keynesian Theory Label
2010 winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics three theories have been labeled as "New Keynesian" labe - Federal Reserve Pouring Money QE2 Unpredictable Fortune
U.S. economist Milton Friedman proposed a "throw the cash from a helicopter" view, while the practic - Fiscal Consolidation Should no Longer Delay
British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne today announced fiscal consolidation policy, shoc
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Common Financial Problems to Avoid
One must first change their habits and not procrastinate. American Consultants Inc at offers key fi - How a Bad Hire Can Hurt Your Business
What's worse - hiring the wrong person or not hiring anyone at all? Companies can become almost des - Joel Comm Is Dr. Adsense
What is Adsense? If you are new to making money online and net marketing, you may not know what Ads - 5 Steps For A Dynamic Wealth System Online
Recipe: Opportunity + knowledge + Dynamic Wealth System + Your Action = Massive Success!!! Step 1 - How To Stop Foreclosure
Losing your house to a foreclosure can be very scary. There are times when circumstances are ou - How to Always Pitch A Strike
As business owners, we are always working on new ways to convince people to become customers, client - Membrane Diffuser Solutions for Wastewater Treatment Systems
In the aeration basin of a typical wastewater treatment plant there are both organic and inorganic m - Another Year Hating Your Job or Loving Life?
Copyright © 2007 Mary Foley I've come to the conclusion that to be successful - really successf - Dyestuff Industry In India And China
World demand for dyes and organic pigments to touch $10.6 billion in 2008According to a study on dye - Cma-cgm Case : the Series of Lawsuits Continues in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, France, England and the United States
Damietta company case : The series of lawsuits continues in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, France, England a