7 Highly Cost-Effective Ways to Win Customers' Trust in Your Small Business

If you run a small business, customer trust can come in a trickle rather than a flood, and that’s not ideal if your ambition is to stimulate significant growth.

Luckily you don’t need to drain your budget dry if you want to build trust quickly, so here are some steps to take and strategies to try out which could make a big difference.

Embrace testimonials and reviews

Trust is crucial in businesses of all sizes, and prospective customers are far more likely to give your up-and-coming company the time of day if they can see evidence of good experiences had by others that have gone before them.

That’s why so many firms add testimonials from existing customers to their websites or even allow people to post reviews of the products and services they offer.

Prioritize customer service quality

If a customer decides to take a chance on your business, then you don’t want to let them down with a substandard experience.

Don’t just focus on what you’re selling, but also on how you’re selling it, and what support is available post-sale to keep people on-side. Using modern sales tactics will be part and parcel of this process.

Get a local phone number, e.g. in California, to use when phone clients in that state

Perception is important, and if a customer believes that you are local to them, they’ll automatically be more trusting than if they know that you are based elsewhere in the country.

The solution for small businesses that have a national reach is to procure local numbers in the states you target.

For example, having a California phone number that will kick in when you get in touch with customers in this region, and which they can also call to contact your company, will overcome potential qualms and keep customers happy.

Admit fault

The worst thing a small business can do is attempt to deflect blame when something goes awry and a customer lodges a complaint.

Even if it may be painful to do so, it’s far more appealing to the people you serve if you admit when you’ve got something wrong, and provide a way to remedy this situation and put things right.

Reward loyalty

Consumers like to feel that they are valued by the businesses they engage with, and you can go a step further than simply serving them successfully if you also offer benefits to those who stay loyal.

Incentives such as discounts for repeat purchases of a particular product are a tried and tested option in this context, and they don’t have to eat into your bottom line too much if you manage them carefully.

You might even consider going the whole hog with a loyalty scheme, complete with tiered levels and perks.

Increase brand visibility

Branding is another cornerstone of customer trust, and if people recognize your business even if they’ve never paid for any of your products or services before, you’re winning.

From adding your brand logo and messaging to any correspondence you send, to using signage and company vehicles to promote your presence locally, small steps can deliver tangible benefits.

Ask customers what you can do better

Finally, you can demonstrate to customers that you care about them and their experiences if you actively ask them for feedback and input, rather than only waiting passively for praise or criticism to arise.

As well as bolstering the levels of trust, this will potentially give you ideas on how to change your business for the better. Not all feedback will be relevant, of course, but it’s still worth soliciting it proactively.