Every online business had to start from scratch on Day 1. It had to get customers through that virtual door, or launch its first successful marketing campaign. But what are the tricks for achieving this? How do you make your business seem credible when it’s online, and brand new? Here are 5 ways that you can make your new online business seem credible.
#1 Get A Phone Number
A phone number is an important marker for your business. It’s a way of telling customers that you are reachable by phone, and you do care about their call and their experience. An affordable 800 number is an excellent way to make your new online business seem credible, by sharing your number online on your contact us page. Every call you make is the chance to build a relationship with a customer.
An 800 number is also a great intermediary between your personal number and an office location. You don’t have to be on call 24-7, but you have a contact point for working hours in case a customer does need to reach you.
#2 Make Your Website Visually Appealing
A quality business website is essential for drawing those first few customers in. Your website should be visually appealing, have good, keyword enriched content and also quick load times. Seek the advice of a designer if you are not confident doing this yourself. You’ll make money in the long run with a credible and reputable looking website.
When creating your content for your site, it’s important to think of the value you can create for your audience. It’s not just about having a blog for a blog’s sake. The purpose is to create useful content that shows your audience you know what you’re talking about, and are confident in sharing it.
#3 Consider A Virtual Assistant
A Virtual Assistant is a great alternative when you can’t afford a PA. Many Virtual Assistants come from an agency, and handle phone calls for a number of businesses. This can lead to a friendly and professional service at a fraction of the cost. If you’re overworked and don’t have time to take calls, a VA can also provide that customer service for you and give you time to spend on business-critical tasks.
#4 Share Your Reviews And Engage Professionally
Share all your reviews, good and bad, and respond in a professional manner to any that grace your website or social media accounts. You’ll never completely avoid the risk of a bad review, whether it’s justified or not, but the important thing is how you respond to your customers’ concerns. A rude response will make your entire business look unprofessional, whereas a courteous and helpful response will show that 1) you aren’t afraid of a bad review and 2) you care about your customers.
The same goes for your social media too. When engaging with customers on social media, always do it in a professional and calm way. If the feedback is really negative, suggest they direct message you so you can resolve the query without it playing out on a public social media channel.
5# Consistently Deliver On What You Promise
Consistently delivering what you promise is key to repeat business and a good reputation. It also shows that you have good processes in place within the business to keep that high quality coming. If you can’t deliver what a potential client needs, be honest. If you manage to deliver it once by the skin of your teeth, it’s likely they’ll expect more next time and you might jeopardize the business relationship.
Be clear on what your products or services are online, so your client knows what to expect when they place an order. If something will take more money or time, be sure to relay that to the client at the start of the process before you sign anything, so you can still deliver what was promised.
Conclusion
There are some simple steps that you can use to put some physical roots to your online business, like a phone number and a Virtual Assistant to field those customer calls you may not have time for. However, there are some important fundamentals that can give your business a solid reputation – deliver what you promised your client, and make sure your website is well-designed, visually appealing and packed full of useful content.
Make sure your reviews are easily visible on your site and social media channels as well. If you do get bad feedback, engage in a professional way to show that you’re able to resolve issues for customers.
