Good Business Practices – Respect Your Customers

Trust is the essential element for business success. When customers trust you they will keep doing business with you, and they will send other customers to you.

If you are the only person handling your own business, you have complete control over the relationship with the consumer. When you hire others, you will need to train your employees to respond to customers in the way that you want.

Unhappy customers may file a formal complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The BBB would then work with your company to resolve the complaint. More often, unhappy customers will tell other people how badly your business treated them. Over time, your company’s reputation could suffer. Don’t let this happen. You can prevent most customer problems.

TIP: Develop a formal complaint-handling procedure and train your employees to use it.

It’s a good idea to develop a consistent complaint-handling program, including a written policy. Be sure your plan includes responses that comply with the law.

The key to good customer service is an honest and friendly attitude towards the customer. Pay attention to workplace stresses (conditions such as temperature, light, noise, access to adequate information, etc.) that affect your employees; do your best to make it easier for them to serve your customers politely.

TIP: Show that you’re willing to help solve the customer’s problem, even if you don’t agree with what the customer says.

These practices can help you and your employees have a positive attitude with benefits for you bottom line.

Baby Boom Your Business’ Branding Strategy

 When looking to create or update the branding strategy for your business, it’s always important to take every demographic into consideration. According to theInternational Council of Active Aging (ICAA), the majority of adults over the age of 55 feel that advertising does not reflect their current lifestyle, and they are turned off by marketing messages targeted to them. BBB is remindingbusiness owners to include our nation’s aging population in their branding and marketing.

For more information visit bbb.org.

What makes a business trustworthy?

The trust that's established between a customer and a business is not only the foundation for a successful business transaction, but makes for an overall healthy business relationship. When it comes to your customers, is trust earned or do you Start With Trust®?

We believe you Start With Trust® when you begin doing business with consumers. As they learn more about your business, they will see things like your commitment to standards, such as the BBB Code of Business Practices and your customer service skills. Their trust in your business is like a sliding scale; it can go up or down depending on the situation. If they are impressed with your product or service, hopefully their trust grows and will turn from consumers into your customers.

Do you agree?

Help Your Customers Trust Your Business

Customers expect that every business — large or small — that collects their sensitive personal information will protect it. Beyond customer expectations, there are legal requirements, as well. Depending on your type of business and the states in which your customers reside, you may be legally required to protect the personal information you collect.

For more tips on data security, visit BBB’s Data Security – Made Simpler, bbb.org/data-security.

Small Business Saturday Helps Make a Big Difference

Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on the busiest shopping weekend of the year. As a joining member, BBB is teaming up with American Express OPEN to spread the word on why small businesses are so awesome. 

For the third year in a row, American Express OPEN has declared November 24th, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, to be Small Business Saturday. Businesses can take advantage of free tools offered online at www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday: free signage, free ads on Twitter, and lots of ideas to help grow your business.