From Clicks to Conversions: 5 Ways to Earn Customer Trust and Boost Sales
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The Challenge of Earning Customer Trust Online?
Imagine this: You’ve launched your online jersey business, invested time and effort into a professional website, and hired PPC experts to create eye-catching ads. The ads are working—people are clicking on them and visiting your site. But when it comes to making a purchase, something’s holding them back, just like in the case of this small business owner.??
This isn’t an isolated issue. In fact, trust is a major challenge in today’s world. A survey of 10,000 U.S. consumers revealed that only 50% trusted the brands they did business with in 2023. Moreover, only 28% of Gen Z customers trust the brands they purchase from. But why is trust so important???
Importance of Trust?
We live in the information age, where consumers can access multiple sources of information before making decisions. This is particularly true for purchases, as customers know that businesses are competing for their dollars.?
In fact, 81% of consumers consider trust a deciding factor before making a purchase. In the highly competitive online marketplace, if customers don’t feel confident in a brand, some might take the risk, but most will simply switch to a competitor. For the brands they do trust, consumers are willing to go the extra mile—61% recommend them to friends, 46% make repeat purchases, and 28% are even willing to pay a premium.?
The Trust Gap?
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However, many businesses are unaware of the trust deficit they face. A survey by PwC reveals a growing gap in perception: while 90% of U.S. business executives believe their brand is highly trusted, only 30% of customers actually feel that way. So, before attempting to resolve trust issues, the first step is understanding if a trust gap exists and where it lies.???
While identifying the trust gap is a long-term process, in this article we will share five practical tips you can implement right away to build trust. So, let’s begin.??
Tip 1: Brand Name and Social Media Presence?
The first step in building trust for your business is creating and establishing a strong brand identity. When it comes to naming, Barbara Corcoran says, “It is easy to start a business, but it ain’t so easy to name one.” When choosing a name, make sure it’s short, easy to remember, and easy to pronounce. Ideally, the brand name should also give some insight into what your business is about.?
Secondly, make sure you have a professional website for your brand and a solid social media presence across multiple platforms. Most importantly, focus on being active where your customers are. For example, B2C brands should be present on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.??
Tip 2: Maintaining a Consistent Brand Image?
Maintaining a consistent brand image across different platforms is essential. Imagine visiting a website that looks completely different from the brand’s Instagram page—confusing, right? A consistent logo, color scheme, and tone make your brand feel reliable. In fact, a study by Lucidpress found that consistent branding across all platforms can increase revenue by 33%.?
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When choosing brand colors or fonts, consider the audience or type of consumer you’re trying to reach. For example, purple is associated with luxury, nobility, and regality. If you’re establishing a luxury brand, including a shade of purple in your color palette can reinforce that image.?
As a brand owner, it can be challenging to manage everything on your own. Many businesses only hire a PPC specialist to run ads and bring in customers. But if your digital presence isn’t optimized, ads won’t give the desired ROI. The best strategy is often to hire remote employees to manage your brand’s digital presence. For instance, you could hire a social media marketer to strengthen your social media presence and a graphic designer to handle your brand’s visuals.??
Tip 3. Make Customers Your Brand Ambassadors?
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It’s natural for customers to hesitate when buying from a new brand. Seeing that others have had a good experience can provide the confidence boost they need to make a purchase. Reviews and testimonials create "social proof." It’s like seeing a restaurant full of diners—it feels like a safe choice. In fact, studies show that 92% of consumers trust recommendations from other people, even strangers.?
You can leverage social proof by encouraging customers to leave reviews, perhaps by offering discount coupons or additional benefits. You might also ask them to post videos showcasing your product or service, which you can then use in high-converting ads.?
For example, if a customer shares an Instagram post about how much they love your jersey, that’s content worth sharing! It shows potential customers that others have purchased and enjoyed your products. Additionally, you can connect with micro-influencers to promote your brand and build trust among their followers.??
Tip 4. Engage With Customers on Social Media Platforms?
Social media platforms are an excellent way to connect with customers, build engagement and trust, and increase sales. Here’s how you can leverage your social media more effectively.??
Tip 5. Work on Negative Customer Feedback?
During business, receiving negative feedback is sometimes unavoidable. While it can be unsettling for a new business, it’s important not to worry too much if it happens. Instead, acknowledge the feedback and offer a resolution.?
More importantly, follow through on your commitment and make sure the issue is resolved within the promised timeframe. By addressing negative feedback quickly and effectively, you can turn a negative experience into a positive one, gaining customer trust in the process.??
Bonus Tip. Practice Transparency??
Transparency is essential to building trust. Key policies like shipping, returns, and refunds shouldn’t be hidden in tiny text. When customers see clear, fair policies upfront, they’re more likely to trust your brand.?
Imagine you’re buying from a site for the first time and are unsure what happens if the product doesn’t work out. Knowing you can return it easily makes a big difference. In fact, UPS found that 68% of shoppers check the return policy before making a purchase.?
Therefore, to improve trust, feature your policies prominently on your site, especially on your product and checkout pages, so customers can easily find them when considering a purchase.?
Wrapping up?
Building customer trust is more than just converting clicks—it’s about creating loyal relationships. By establishing a strong brand presence, maintaining a consistent brand image, sharing customer stories, engaging on social media, and practicing transparency, you’re laying the foundation for long-term success.?
Start by implementing one or two of these tips and notice the difference they can make. It’s also important to keep checking the pulse of your customer base. Understand their sentiments about your brand and product or service and make necessary adjustments. Remember, trust takes time to build, but the payoff is worth it: a steady stream of loyal customers and growing sales.?
Moreover, if you find it difficult to handle all these aspects by yourself hire remote employees. Remote Resource offers the best talents at a fraction of local hiring costs. And to keep receiving such actionable insights keep following us.??