9 ways To Earn a Customer’s Trust
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Online shopping is the norm today, rather than the exception, owing to the convenience and flexibility it offers. However, remember that before you can start to take payments online, you need to earn your customers’ trust. If you are an online merchant, those who wish to shop for your products, cannot see you or meet you physically. All they can see is how you present your online store, how securely you enable transactions and how transparent your processes are. Wondering if this is going to be difficult?
Contrary to what you might think, it is quite easy to build your customers’ trust in your business if you follow certain rules. Here are the rules if you want to win at earning the trust of your customers:
- Be yourself
Everyone living on this planet has had scenarios where they had undesirable experiences with sales people. Needless to say, many of us have also felt manipulated by salespersons and hence walked away. So, it is suggested that rather than acting like someone trying to sell, just try to act the way you would when you are meeting a colleague. In simpler terms, try to be yourself and you will be headed to a good start.
- Value the relationships
If you want the customers to trust you and value you, it is important that you first believe that building relationships with your customers is important. Try and understand what is it that they need or what their problems are, and come up with products that solve such problems accordingly. This way, you will be adding value to the association you have with the shopper.
- Be curious about your customers
Online shoppers in general are drawn to those who show a keen interest in knowing them more. So, if you are curious, you will be able to build a better relationship. A great way to go about this is by asking questions or requesting your customers to participate in polls. This will give you greater insight about their purchase behaviour too.
- Be consistent
A customer will trust you only when he/she know that your behaviour is not temporary. Building trust is not an overnight task, it takes time. So, it is important that you show consistency and persistence over time. When the customer is able to predict your behaviour, he/she is more likely to trust you and your product.
- Always choose to be true
Trust is built when you approach your selling as a means to help the customer – so, try to find out the real areas where you can work together. This makes it more important for you to spend time in actually knowing your customers. Also, never be shy of pointing out that your company or product may not be the right choice for a particular customer.
- Open-mindedness is important
If you are excessively convinced that the customer needs only your product and nothing else, you might come across as a close-minded business. So, avoid pushing your products too much on social media or blogs, and rather incorporate them subtly into the solutions that you present to your customers in answer to their problems. This way, they will know that you are open-minded and that you realise that the customer might shop from somewhere else if that suits them better. If your customers know that you have their best interests at heart, they will trust you more.
- Go for a real dialog
It is important that your meeting is not just a sales pitch but a real conversation. So spend more time listening rather than speaking. While you do that, also make sure than the conversation is not just chit chat but related to your business.
- Think and act professionally
People tend to trust people who are serious and professional in their attitude. So, take time to learn more about your company, your customers, their challenges and their respective industry.
- Express genuine integrity
It is important that you take a stand when required. You should have the ability to make decision based on your understanding of what is right. The stand may not be a common norm, but it’s ok. While we are at it, it is also important that you refrain from making false promises or committing something that you cannot deliver.
Always remember, gaining the trust of your customers is only a fraction of the entire equation. It is also important that you have a product that the customer wants and needs and you possess an ability to add value and solve problems.
