Most of us have heard the old adage βpeople do business with people they know, like and trust.β A long time ago we did business in a more personal way. The way we do business today is very different and the old adage may not apply like it used to.
Millions of consumers purchase products and services online everyday, based solely on the online reviews. In many cases, these consumers never heard of the business before. They certainly could not βknowβ or βlikeβ the business if they never heard of it. Online reviews create a sense of trust. This trust is what motivated these consumers to make their purchase.
How many times have you purchased something from someone based on powerful testimonials from family or friends? You confidently retained a businessβ services without knowing them or liking them. You trusted the testimonials, which made your buying decision easy.
Imagine a really good friend of yours is an auto mechanic that you know and like very much. They are a terrible mechanic and everything they touch falls apart. Would you hire them to fix your brakes? Even though you know and like them, without the element of trust you probably would not purchase from them.
In every case we have considered, consumers want to do business with people they trust. It does not matter if they know you, or like you. If people trust you, most of them will do business with you.
To increase your trust factor, spend time developing systems and processes to deliver great service. Let your clients know how important recommendations are for you. Develop a referral reward program and join a professional referral group. Finally, take an active role in managing your online reviews. Ask for online reviews from everyone you do business with, and get the reviews posted on multiple sources.
The new adage is evolving into βpeople do business with people they trust.β
