Heyooo there’s been another shift in online marketing – I know you’re panicking about AI. But there’s no need to! We’ll talk about using AI in another post, but for now in the world of bots and content..

How can service-based businesses build trust with potential customers online for higher sales?

Let’s dive in one by oooone – but if you’re ready to dive in 100%, don’t forget that Calling All Brands is BACK for this month only. Our fan favorite course breaking down, step by step, how to build an intuitive and irresistible brand. Let’s go!

Protect Customer Data:

YES we’re starting out with the boring but important part! Prioritize data security and privacy to assure customers that their personal information is safe. You must. Implement secure payment gateways, SSL certificates, and privacy policies to build trust with anyone and everyone scrolling your site. This is actually a HUGE thing for me when scouting out websites, especially after Googles 2024 rule out of third party cookies. Seeing a privacy statement assures me that this business takes themselves and their clients data personally.

Be Accessible:

Make it easy for customers to find and interact with your business online. Provide multiple channels for communication, such as email, blog posts, or even a live chat if that’s something your business allows. Promptly respond to inquiries and address customer concerns OR make sure you have that automatic responder on so they know exactly when they can expect to hear back from you or your team! You don’t need to be accessible 24/7, but you need to be able to keep them updated.

Showcase Expertise:

Demonstrate your expertise and specialization in your field. Share relevant content, case studies, and success stories to establish credibility and build trust with potential customers. There’s a looooot of people trying to do what you do – so why are you the expert? Showcase your skills, your portfolio, how you continue to learn. You bring a special touch to what you do, so make it clear and easy for them to discover and digest! We love a good brand story. There’s a reason I’ve been talking to you about how I’ve transitioned from learning from within our industry echo chamber to learning from a wider source of education, the business and marketing greats, break throughs in technology, etc.

Provide Social Proof:

Utilize testimonials, reviews, and case studies to showcase positive experiences from satisfied customers. Social proof helps build trust and confidence in your services- you can talk all day about how great your business is, but what are your clients saying after working with you? Here’s a great article for navigating your social proof and UGC, and if you want to see an example of this on a sales page look at this one!

Be Transparent:

Be honest and transparent in your communication. Clearly communicate pricing, terms, and conditions. Avoid hidden fees or misleading information that could erode trust – no one likes feeling like they’ve been misled, so you need to lay alllll those cards out on the table.

Deliver Exceptional Customer Service:

Provide top-notch customer service to exceed customer expectations. Respond promptly, address concerns, and overdeliver! Your client experience is EVERYTHING and leads directly to number four. How are you taking care of your clients outside of your contracted obligations? Hellooooo freebies! This is why we have so many like Pinterest Possibilities or Brand Archetypes – I want you to know what it’s like to work with me for free.99.

Address Objections:

Anticipate and address potential objections or concerns that customers may have. Proactively provide information – aka don’t be afraid of building out an FAQ section or guide. There’s nothing that calms a mind more than a question being answered before it’s asked.

Establish a Strong Online Presence:

Maintain an active presence on social media platforms and engage with your audience. Share valuable content, respond to comments, respond to DM’s, and toss your name into industry conversations so you can start building natural relationships. Conversations are networking opportunities!

Build Relationships:

Focus on building long-term relationships with customers. Nurture ongoing communication, provide personalized experiences, and show genuine care for their needs. You cannot expect people to invest hundreds if not thousands of dollars into you, if you’re unwilling to help THEM as well! This should be a mutual investment with the people in your community.

Phew! That’s a lot, huh? Start with doing a brand audit of your own business. See where you could be doing better at building trust with your audience, then start chugging away! What are you working on first? xx

All images below are shot on digital and film for AMARA The Agency for Le Sel Jewelry.