How to Build Customer Trust
Mar 15th, 2010 by yolandi
By gaining and retaining their trust, you are creating loyal customers and clients that will support and promote your business year after year.
Implement these 6 techniques and watch as your clients become one of your greatest marketing assets.
Promise – And Then Deliver More
You should stick to your promises and deliver even more in terms of quality than what your customers expect from you. This will ensure that they are pleasantly surprised every time that they deal with you. Stick to delivery schedules, and in case of the odd slip-up, make sure that you inform your clients well in advance of the delay. This will at least convey the message that you are working hard to rectify the problem.
Be Honest In Quality and Quantity
Always be honest with your customers. Make sure that there is no ambiguity in the prices of your products and services. If you must use fine print, make sure they understand it. Do not show your customers a particular product sample and then deliver an inferior product. You should ensure that your clients get the quality that you promised them – at a reasonable rate. Cheating your clients might pay off in the short run, but will definitely not help your small business to last in the long run.
Provide Guarantees on Your Products and Services
You can provide an additional guarantee over and above that of the manufacturer. This is a sure way of increasing your clients’ trust in your small business, and will also serve as a magnet for attracting new clients. You can even provide a guarantee on product services such as repairs. This will increase your clients’ confidence in you and your capabilities.
Go Out-Of-The-Way To Solve Customer Problems
You should make an extra effort to solve your clients’ problems. They should be able to turn to you with any issue that may arise with your products and services with the certainty that you will be able to solve it for them. This will convey the message that you genuinely care for your customers and will take all the measures necessary to solve their problems.
Stay in Touch
Send out business cards or call your clients during special occasions and talk to them.
You can talk about many things other than your business – and this will result in your clients viewing you as a friend instead of just a business owner.
Hear Out Your Clients
It is very important to get feedback from your clients – but it is even more important to act on that feedback. If you feel that your client has a legitimate complaint or an excellent idea, then you can act upon it and incorporate it in your business. This will send the message that you are alert and open to new ideas for improvement.
