How do you share your values with customers and partners?

1 Identify your values

Before you can share your values, you need to know what they are. Think about what drives your business purpose, vision, and mission. What are the non-negotiable standards and expectations that you have for yourself and others? What are the positive impacts that you want to make on your stakeholders and society? Write down your values and prioritize them. Make sure they are clear, concise, and consistent.

2 Incorporate your values into your brand

Your brand is how you present your business to the world. It includes your name, logo, slogan, design, tone, and personality. Your brand should reflect your values and communicate them to your customers and partners. Use your values as the basis for your brand identity and messaging. For example, if one of your values is innovation, you can use a catchy slogan that showcases your creativity and originality.

3 Demonstrate your values through your actions

Actions speak louder than words. The best way to share your values with customers and partners is to show them through your behavior and performance. Make sure your actions align with your values and support your brand promise. For example, if one of your values is customer satisfaction, you can deliver high-quality products and services, provide excellent customer service, and solicit feedback and testimonials.

4 Engage your customers and partners in your values

Sharing your values is not a one-way communication. You also need to involve your customers and partners in your values and make them feel part of your business story. You can engage them in various ways, such as inviting them to join your social media platforms, sending them newsletters and updates, offering them rewards and incentives, asking them for referrals and reviews, and creating a community around your values.

5 Review and update your values

Values are not static. They may evolve over time as your business grows and changes. You need to review and update your values regularly to make sure they are still relevant and meaningful to you, your customers, and your partners. You also need to monitor and measure how well you are sharing your values and how they are perceived by your stakeholders. You can use surveys, analytics, and feedback tools to evaluate your value-sharing efforts and identify areas for improvement.

6 Be authentic and transparent

The most important tip for sharing your values with customers and partners is to be authentic and transparent. Don't claim or imply values that you don't have or don't practice. Don't exaggerate or manipulate your values to appeal to your audience. Don't hide or ignore any discrepancies or conflicts between your values and your actions. Be honest and open about your values and how they shape your business. This will help you build trust, credibility, and reputation with your customers and partners.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?