The good news – a small business owner does need to invest a huge amount in advertising and public relations to create a credible image of their business and brand. The not-so-good news – you have to work really hard to build a credible image.
Today’s world has become transparent. And it has given small business owners a level-field to play. But you need to have credibility to make things work to your advantage. You have to invest a lot of time and effort to do it the right way.
Here are the things you need to focus on to ensure credibility in the online world.
The First Impression – Your Website
A first impression may also be the last one. You need to make sure that your website conveys the appropriate image of your business and brand. After all, this is what your visitors will come across in the first place.
Moreover, your website is often what they will use to evaluate you and your business. If it comes across as credible, you have a better chance to convert a casual visitor into a loyal customer. How do you do it? There are quite a few ways.
People rely on businesses that have an organization behind the website. And one they can contact with ease. It is also important that your website is effortless and intuitive. You can also add associations and certifications from third-parties to enhance credibility.
The website design and whether it is responsive also matter. But they come in only after the primary point – which is whether your website sends the right impression about your business and brand to visitors.
People at Rope-Barriers.com have learnt this the hard way. The previous design of their website was a complete mess and it did not look and feel like a website of a credible organization. But things change for the good when they redesigned the
The Everlasting Impact – Your Products and Services
Remember, you don’t really sell a product or service, you sell yourself. If you sell everything, without any concern about its quality or reputation, it’s not going to build a credible business image. Urban Original is one such website that focuses solely on selling only extremely high quality products and this is what has helped it earned respect and trust of its customers.
Before you decide to back something, make sure it is worth your effort and association. If it is, you can enhance trustworthiness. If it isn’t, you risk losing the reliability you have build with your previous efforts.
Once you have decided what you want to sell, you can entice people to this with the right tactics. A good one is to offer a free version of a product to impress them and urge them to get an upgraded, and paid, version of it.
The Continuous Effect – Your Involvement
Your online reputation and credibility depends a lot on your words and actions. You can create a positive effect with a few simple steps. But keep in mind, the key to being trustworthy is being consistent.
Your first task is to build your network. And the social media can be a practical choice to do this. Don’t go into promotional mode. Instead, interact on a personal level. Have real conversations, offer tips and ideas, ask questions, and answer the ones others ask.
Another great way to add credibility to your profile is by blogging. Create a blogging schedule, offer engaging content for your blog, and invite guest contributors, comment on posts and reply to comments. You can use guest blogging platforms like MyBlogguest, Postrunner etc for the same.
Reach out to the community. Contribute to relevant publications, attend seminars and meets, accept opportunities to speak at conferences and take every necessary step to establish yourself as a reliable voice in your niche.
It’s not difficult to create a credible business and brand if you know how to do it.
Stay away from anything that may mar the image of your business and brand. And stay involved in your endeavours to be a trustworthy business that sells quality products and delivers superb services to build a successful brand.