How Business Feedback Can Make or Break Consumer Trust

Trust is one of the foundations of every human relationship or interaction in our society today.

Think about it for a second. When you step into a bus on your way home from work, you’re trusting the bus driver to know how to drive (no-brainer) and to also know the best route to your destination, all while observing important traffic and safety rules.

As a business owner, this is no different. Any serious business owner knows that consumer trust is essential to success. Without it, you’ll struggle to attract new customers and keep the ones you already have. 

Now the next question is…  how do you build consumer trust?

One of the most important factors is online business reviews. In this article, we’re going to take a look at the link between business reviews and consumer trust and give you some tips on how to use this to your advantage.

First off, let’s talk about why consumer trust is so important. When consumers trust a business, they’re more likely to buy from them, recommend them to others, and even pay more for its products or services.

How do businesses build consumer trust?

In times past, businesses built this with word of mouth. But in an age where almost everyone has a smartphone with access to the internet, smart businesses have turned to the closest thing to word of mouth…  Online reviews.

According to a recent survey nearly nine out of ten (88 percent) consumers worldwide make the effort to consult reviews when discovering a local business (Podium, 2021). This means that if you have a lot of positive reviews, you’re more likely to attract new customers and keep the ones you already have. 

And on the other hand, if you have a lot of negative reviews, you’re going to struggle.

But it’s not just about the number of reviews, it’s also about how you respond to them. When customers see that a business takes the time to respond to reviews, they’re more likely to trust them. It shows that the business cares about its customers and is willing to listen to their feedback.

So, how can you use this information to your advantage? Here are a few tips:

1. Encourage customers to leave reviews by making it super easy for them. Remember people do not like to be stressed unnecessarily, so ensure you include links to your review profiles on your website and in your email signature. This will help customers leave a review easily and you can also do this in a few seconds (depending on the strength of your internet connection) if you have a Workstedi account.
2. Respond to all reviews, whether they’re positive, negative, or neutral.
3. Address the customer’s concerns in a professional and empathetic way.
4. Show appreciation to customers who leave positive reviews. It will encourage them to do it again and also help to keep a positive image of your business.
5. Use reviews as a way to improve your business. Look for patterns in negative reviews and use that feedback to make changes that will improve your customers’ experiences.

By following these tips, you can use online reviews to build consumer trust and attract more customers. And remember, trust is like a delicate flower, it takes time and effort to cultivate, but once you have it, it will bloom for years to come. 

You can get a head start right now when you get a Workstedi Account.