10 Ways To Build Trust and Build Your Business

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10 Ways To Build Trust and Build Your Business
By Charlie Cook

You wouldn't buy a car if you didn't think it could get you home. And you wouldn't purchase it from a dealer
you thought was robbing you blind on the price and might not stand behind it if the engine fell out as you drove
it off the lot.

Before making a purchase from you, buyers need to trust that your products and services will do what they are
supposed to. Does your marketing help establish the trust necessary to convince prospects to buy from you? If you're
struggling to attract clients and customers, use the following tactics to convert prospects to clients.

1. GET TESTIMONIALS

No matter how great your credentials are or how much experience you've had, people pay more attention to what
OTHERS have to say about you.

Pick up the phone and call your customers to ask what they thought of your product or service, what they liked
about it and how it was helpful. Edit their comments, get their permission to use the comments and then feature
these testimonials in your marketing materials.

2. USE ARTICLES INSTEAD OF ADS

We have come to distrust ads and to believe what we read in published articles. Invest your time in writing articles
to establish yourself as an expert. If you run ads, include testimonials in them.

3. GIVE SOMETHING AWAY

When you give something to people, regardless of the cost, they are more likely to trust you and return the favor by
buying something from you. Use an ebook, article, workshop or free demonstration to build trust.

4. GET REFERRALS

When you need a new doctor, lawyer, plumber, carpenter or a place to eat you ask a friend for a referral. You
trust the recommendations of people you know, and in fact, that's how the majority of people find jobs. Don't wait
for the occasional referral to come in spontaneously; implement a proactive system to generate referrals.

5. EXCHANGE ENDORSEMENTS

Team up with a business you trust that also targets your market. Get them to include an endorsement of your
products and services in their marketing and do the same for them. While a personal referral is ideal, an
endorsement is a close second. This tactic can double your marketing reach at zero cost.

6. GIVE EXAMPLES

Tell a story instead of making impersonal and dramatic claims of what you or your product does. Use case studies
to tell what you did for whom and the difference it made in their life or their business.

7. PERSONALIZE YOUR MARKETING

Its a common misperception that to sound credible your marketing should be dry and impersonal. People do
business with people. You need to help prospects get to know you and trust you. Let your passion and personality
come across in your marketing as well as your professionalism. Include a picture of yourself, with a
smile, in a prominent place on the first page of your marketing materials.

8. REDUCE PERCEIVED RISK

Buyers' biggest concern is how well your product or service will perform. Providing a guarantee may help, but in most
cases its not going to make the sale. Clarify the value you provide and state your commitment to seeing that your clients
are not only happy, but ecstatic about your product and services.

9. MAKE CONTACT EASY

If you want clients to get in touch with you, show them how. Put your phone number at the top of your marketing materials
and tell them to call. When you call them, give them your phone number again at the end of the conversation and tell
them to call. If you have a web site, put a contact form at the bottom of your home page.

10. STAY IN TOUCH

The people you see and talk to on a regular basis are usually the ones you trust the most. Communication isn't the only
ingredient for developing trust, but it is a critical one. If you sell services or high end products, a personal phone call
is one of the best ways to answer prospects questions, and to establish trust. Contact your prospects and clients regularly
and get feedback on what they are concerned about.

You want to convert prospects to clients and clients to repeat clients. Use these ten marketing tactics to build trust and
you'll find more prospects buying your products and services.
-
2003 © In Mind Communications, LLC. All rights reserved.

*****
The author, Charlie Cook, helps independent professionals
and small business owners who are struggling to attract
more clients and grow their businesses. To get the
free marketing guide, and sign up for the 'More Business'
ezine, full of practical marketing tips, visit www.charliecook.net

*****
Use the Following Contact Information in Print Publications
-
Charlie Cook is President of In Mind Communications in
Old Greenwich, CT and can be contacted at www.charliecook.net,
or at 203-637-1118. To get the free marketing guide, and sign up
for the 'More Business' ezine, full of practical marketing tips,
visit www.charliecook.net

NOTE: Follow this link to submit an article to Management In-Sight! newsletter@trainersdirect.com.

The Trainers Directory will not sell or otherwise distribute the information you share with us. By requesting information from us, we infer you grant us permission to stay in touch with you to advise you of similar services offered by the Trainers Directory. If at any time you decide not to receive correspondence from us, simply send us an e-mail, and we will remove you from future distributions.

For more detail, please read our "Privacy Policy".

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10 Ways To Build Trust and Build Your Business By Charlie Cook You wouldn't buy a car if you didn't think it could get you home. And you wouldn't purchase it from a dealer you thought was robbing you blind on the price and might not stand behind it if the engine fell out as you drove it off the lot. Before making a purchase from you, buyers need to trust that your products and services will do what they are supposed to. Does your marketing help establish the trust necessary to convince prospects to buy from you? If you're struggling to attract clients and customers, use the following tactics to convert prospects to clients. 1. GET TESTIMONIALS No matter how great your credentials are or how much experience you've had, people pay more attention to what OTHERS have to say about you. Pick up the phone and call your customers to ask what they thought of your product or service, what they liked about it and how it was helpful. Edit their comments, get their permission to use the comments and then feature these testimonials in your marketing materials. 2. USE ARTICLES INSTEAD OF ADS We have come to distrust ads and to believe what we read in published articles. Invest your time in writing articles to establish yourself as an expert. If you run ads, include testimonials in them. 3. GIVE SOMETHING AWAY When you give something to people, regardless of the cost, they are more likely to trust you and return the favor by buying something from you. Use an ebook, article, workshop or free demonstration to build trust. 4. GET REFERRALS When you need a new doctor, lawyer, plumber, carpenter or a place to eat you ask a friend for a referral. You trust the recommendations of people you know, and in fact, that's how the majority of people find jobs. Don't wait for the occasional referral to come in spontaneously; implement a proactive system to generate referrals. 5. EXCHANGE ENDORSEMENTS Team up with a business you trust that also targets your market. Get them to include an endorsement of your products and services in their marketing and do the same for them. While a personal referral is ideal, an endorsement is a close second. This tactic can double your marketing reach at zero cost. 6. GIVE EXAMPLES Tell a story instead of making impersonal and dramatic claims of what you or your product does. Use case studies to tell what you did for whom and the difference it made in their life or their business. 7. PERSONALIZE YOUR MARKETING Its a common misperception that to sound credible your marketing should be dry and impersonal. People do business with people. You need to help prospects get to know you and trust you. Let your passion and personality come across in your marketing as well as your professionalism. Include a picture of yourself, with a smile, in a prominent place on the first page of your marketing materials. 8. REDUCE PERCEIVED RISK Buyers' biggest concern is how well your product or service will perform. Providing a guarantee may help, but in most cases its not going to make the sale. Clarify the value you provide and state your commitment to seeing that your clients are not only happy, but ecstatic about your product and services. 9. MAKE CONTACT EASY If you want clients to get in touch with you, show them how. Put your phone number at the top of your marketing materials and tell them to call. When you call them, give them your phone number again at the end of the conversation and tell them to call. If you have a web site, put a contact form at the bottom of your home page. 10. STAY IN TOUCH The people you see and talk to on a regular basis are usually the ones you trust the most. Communication isn't the only ingredient for developing trust, but it is a critical one. If you sell services or high end products, a personal phone call is one of the best ways to answer prospects questions, and to establish trust. Contact your prospects and clients regularly and get feedback on what they are concerned about. You want to convert prospects to clients and clients to repeat clients. Use these ten marketing tactics to build trust and you'll find more prospects buying your products and services. - 2003 © In Mind Communications, LLC. All rights reserved. *** The author, Charlie Cook, helps independent professionals and small business owners who are struggling to attract more clients and grow their businesses. To get the free marketing guide, and sign up for the 'More Business' ezine, full of practical marketing tips, visit www.charliecook.net * Use the Following Contact Information in Print Publications - Charlie Cook is President of In Mind Communications in Old Greenwich, CT and can be contacted at www.charliecook.net, or at 203-637-1118. To get the free marketing guide, and sign up for the 'More Business' ezine, full of practical marketing tips, visit www.charliecook.net NOTE:** Follow this link to submit an article to Management In-Sight! newsletter@trainersdirect.com.
The Trainers Directory will not sell or otherwise distribute the information you share with us. By requesting information from us, we infer you grant us permission to stay in touch with you to advise you of similar services offered by the Trainers Directory. If at any time you decide not to receive correspondence from us, simply send us an e-mail, and we will remove you from future distributions. For more detail, please read our "Privacy Policy".
About Us \| Meet our clients \| Meet our Trainers \| Privacy Policy \| Investment Information
Email: CustomerService@trainersdirect.com Phone: Toll Free (US) 800-250-1570 or 518-563-3250