Trust is something that is built over a period of time. And once your customers start trusting you, make sure you don’t break them. When you first adopt a dog, it takes time to trust you, but once it starts trusting, it trusts you blindly and feels safe around you. This is the same thing with your audience. If they start trusting your products, they will feel safe to buy from your store.
As I mentioned earlier, trust can be built one step at a time. What can you do from your end to establish the credibility of the eCommerce store? Is it an easy task to build trust among your audience? Will it work?
Here are the three “R”s that can help you increase your brand’s credibility and visibility twice the time. They are Reviews, Ratings, and Rewards. Let’s deal with each of these in detail.
Why Should You Win Over Your Audience?
There’s a reason why eCommerce stores and other businesses would want to win over their customers. Attracting new customers is equally as important as retaining one. Here are some reasons people want to interact and gain more customer attention.
- Customers are the backbone of your business
- To increase sales and revenue
- Build trust and credibility with user-generated content
- To bring new customers to the store (word of mouth)
- Get positive feedback about your products and services
Four Ways to Build Trust With Your Audience
These are the four ways to build trust among your customers and potentially build loyal customers for your business.
1. Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are a deciding factor for customers these days. Even one negative review can greatly impact the product’s authenticity. According to a survey, 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
Collecting customer feedback is not an easy task. People go with the hustle and skip these review forms and rating bars. Sometimes, your customers don’t reply to these right after purchasing. So, wait for the right moment to reach out to your customers (preferably after two weeks). So, if it has positively impacted them, they are more likely to review or rate a particular product.
But as a store owner, be ready to accept negative feedback as well. This can help you improvise your products, website, or customer service in a better way for your customers. Listening to your customers and bringing products based on their needs will also increase trust among your customers.
2. Star Ratings
Star Ratings are another main reason for people to buy from you. The displayed star rating talks louder than the promotions you do on other channels. So make sure you get to display them using a good customer review tool for your customers.
Star ratings are a powerful motivator in decision-making as these ratings stand as social proof for your customers. So, collecting mixed reviews (positive, negative, and neutral responses) is important. This can help customers build trust and evaluate a product based on star ratings.
When customers see that a product or service has a high star rating, they feel more assured that they are making a good decision. This is because they know that other people have had positive experiences with the product or service and are less likely to be disappointed.
3. Customer Testimonials
Testimonials are yet another way to build customers’ trust. When customers see that other people have had positive experiences with a product or service, they are more likely to trust that they will have a good experience as well. This is because they know other people have already “tested” the product or service and found it worthwhile.
Testimonials can also help customers make decisions faster. When customers are faced with a lot of information, it can be difficult to make a decision. Testimonials can help simplify the decision-making process by providing customers with real-world insights from other people who have used the product or service.
Try collecting more testimonials by sending them review request emails using email marketing software like BayEngage, where you can send review request emails to your customers and track the results of your campaigns. From BayEngage’s clients, I found that 15% to 25% of customers leave a review after the reminder emails and SMS text messages.
4. Rewards and Referrals
Organizing a reward program for your customers is equally important in building trust. Make sure the program adds more value to your customer. You can offer bonus points events, discounts, or free products or services as rewards, but make sure you offer something your customers will want.
Referrals are a form of social proof. When customers see that their friends and family are recommending your products or services, it is a form of social proof that can help to build trust. This is because people are more likely to trust the recommendations of people they know and trust.
Rewards and referrals can help you retain existing customers. Customers who feel appreciated and rewarded are likelier to stay loyal to your business. You can also have a VIP program exclusively designed for your loyal customers. This can be a way to retain your most loved customers.
4 Tips to Increase Credibility Among Customers
1. Narrate your brand story.
Stories have the power to elevate human emotions, and they play a vital role in engaging your customers. A heartwarming and encouraging story can improve a brand’s identity and visibility.
When you tell your brand story, you share your values, mission, and journey. This can help your audience to connect with you on a personal level and to understand why you do what you do.
Also, by sharing your brand story, you are being transparent about who you are and what you stand for. This can help to build trust with your audience and make them more likely to believe in your brand.
Ben & Jerry’s: Ben & Jerry’s is a brand that has benefited from narrating its brand story. The company’s story is one of social responsibility and environmental sustainability, and it has helped to create a sense of authenticity and transparency among its consumers.
Ben & Jerry’s mission is to “make the best damn ice cream in the world, using the best ingredients and sourcing them in the most sustainable way possible.”
Its vision is to “create linked prosperity for everyone who’s connected to our business.” These values have resonated with consumers and helped make Ben & Jerry’s one of the world’s most popular ice cream brands.
Nike: Nike is another brand that has benefited from narrating its brand story. The company’s story is one of inspiration and motivation, and it has helped to create a sense of empowerment among its consumers.
Nike’s mission is to “bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world.” Its vision is to “democratize sport and inspire the human spirit.” These values have resonated with consumers and helped make Nike one of the most popular brands in the world.
These are just a few examples of brands that have benefited from narrating their brand story, mission, and vision. By sharing their stories, these brands have been able to connect with their consumers on a deeper level and build trust and loyalty.
2. Be a problem solver
A product gets extra attention when it genuinely solves a particular problem. If that product or service adds more value to your customers, it is easy to make people trust you! To do that, you need to take the time to understand a customer’s problem and develop a solution.
Moreover, be empathetic towards your customers. Put yourself in the customer’s shoes and try to understand their feelings. This will help you to come up with a solution that can build much more credibility for your products and services.
Many popular brands have solved people’s problems and have gained much credibility in the market. Here are a few examples:
Amazon: Amazon solves the problem of shopping by providing a convenient and affordable way to buy a wide variety of products. It has gained much credibility in the market because it has a wide selection of products, competitive prices, and fast shipping.
Apple: Apple solves the problem of computing by providing stylish and user-friendly devices. It has gained much credibility in the market because its products are known for their high quality and innovative design.
Netflix: Netflix solves the problem of entertainment by providing a streaming service that offers a wide variety of movies and TV shows. It has gained much credibility in the market because it has a large library of content, affordable subscription plans, and a user-friendly interface.
3. Transparency- Offer them proof
Transparency is very important to build any relationship. So, always be transparent about anything related to your business. This can
Here are some examples of businesses that are transparent and show proof of their product’s quality:
Amazon: Amazon publishes product reviews and testimonials on its website and provides detailed product descriptions, high-quality images, and videos.
Walmart: It offers a money-back guarantee on most of its products and is also responsive to customer feedback.
Best Buy: Best Buy has a team of experts who can answer customer questions about products, and it also offers a money-back guarantee on most of its products.
Tesla: Tesla is known for its transparency and open approach to product development and offers a money-back guarantee on its vehicles.
4. Reward them for the best
Everybody likes getting gifts for the best things they do. When you reward your customers for their business, it shows that you appreciate them and that you value their loyalty. This can help to build trust and a sense of community among your customers.
Also, when customers feel appreciated and rewarded, they are more likely to do business with you again in the future. This can help to increase your sales and grow your business. Here are examples of brands using this strategy to retain their customers.
Airbnb: Airbnb’s referral program gives users $25 for every friend who signs up and books a stay. The program has been very successful, and it has helped Airbnb to acquire millions of new users.
Starbucks: Starbucks’ rewards program, Starbucks Rewards, gives users stars for every dollar they spend. These stars can be redeemed for free drinks, food, or merchandise. The program has been very successful, and it has helped Starbucks to build a loyal customer base.
These brands have been able to build loyalty among their customers and acquire new customers at a low cost.
That’s A Wrap!
Trust is essential for any business or organization. Without trust, attracting and retaining customers, partners, and employees is difficult. Reviews, ratings, and rewards are powerful tools that can help you build trust with your audience.
By using reviews, ratings, and rewards, you can build trust with your audience and create a loyal customer base for your business!
