A survey by IPSOS Corporate Reputation revealed that 87% of consumers globally would consider a company’s reputation before patronizing them. This is enough reason to build credibility surrounding your brand, and one way is to create products and services that appeal to your customers’ needs. Not only will they offer their loyalty to your brand, but they will also effectively refer your business to others. However, how do you build your brand credibility as a small business? Here are some actionable ways to consider.
1. Establish a clear brand identity
Your brand identity is the visible thing that sets your business apart from the rest. Your logo, design, and color constitute your brand identity, as your customers can quickly identify your business with them. Building a good brand identity will influence more customers to align with you while increasing your sales. What’s more, you are sure to earn the trust and loyalty of your customers, as they are sure of what you can offer.
Consequently, research your target market to determine how to align your products and service to suit their needs. You can design a logo that works for your business but will easily appeal to your target audience. Your color palette, packaging, e-mail, business card, and letter template all contribute to excellent brand identity, so keep this in mind. It can often be a good idea to hire a graphic designer to ensure everything is cohesive and works together well.
2. Create a reliable product or service
Although your brand identity will attract your customers, it takes a quality product or service to keep them hooked to your brand. Research shows that product quality increases your business’s return on investment (ROI), as customers will likely pay more to acquire the best products and services. Moreover, you will get more minor customer complaints and product returns, which is excellent for establishing trust with your customers. In addition, a satisfied customer is a perfect marketing tool for your business.
It’s imperative to create a reliable product that will put you in the good books of your clients. First, you should determine what quality means; do you meet your consumer needs? Do you consider your customers’ satisfaction? Answering these questions will assist you in building an MVP (minimum viable product) that they can trust. Conduct thorough product and market testing to fix hidden errors and include features to meet your customers’ requirements.
3. Protect your customers’ personal information
Are you looking to build your brand credibility and grow your small business? Then you’d want to prioritize the safety of your customers’ personal information. Your clients will likely share some information with you if they trust you enough, but any breach of trust can reduce your credibility and sales. Moreover, things have become increasingly digital, that customers may likely purchase your products from your website. Each time a transaction takes place, their information is exposed to cyber-attacks, identity theft, and other fraudulent activities.
Therefore, it’s prudent to secure their information to prevent data breaches. For instance, you can leverage password management tools for all software related to your business and avoid storing data in different places with unsecured applications. If applicable, limit the access your employees have to data for the best results.