Killer Ways To Boost A Business’s Street Cred

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People say you shouldn’t worry about what others think, but be wary of that advice. While some individuals make rash judgments, consumers are generally on the money. Better yet, even if they aren’t, their opinions are the reason you won’t secure their custom. Quite simply, lots of times, a single person will decide your fate.

Reputation is everything in the world of business. If your street cred is low, customers will avoid you like the plague. If it’s high, they will flock to you like migrating birds in the wintertime. The good news is that a reputation is never set in stone. Like the majority of things in business, it’s open to change and can do so like the weather.

This post is not here to teach you about the basics, such as tweeting offensive things past midnight. Drunken social media posts are never helpful, and, hopefully, you already know it to be true. Below are the tips which will help the business make an impressive first and lasting impression.

 

Keep Your Promises

It’s such a simple piece of advice, yet companies renege on their promises on a daily basis. Some people think situations and circumstances change, which means a promise isn’t possible to uphold. And, this is true to a degree. However, the argument is never to make a commitment you can’t keep. Plenty of businesses make empty promises as a means to appease or please customers. Then, when it all goes wrong, the situation escalates out of control. As a rule, it’s never wise to promise anything unless a consumer pushes you to say the words. Frankly, it’s a sure-fire way to back the company into a corner. If you do utter those two little words, be sure it’s an iron-clad deal. Otherwise, the customer will come back to you with angry words, and rightly so.

 

Go The Extra Mile

Customer service 101: Page 1: Sentence 1: Thou shalt go the extra mile. What does this mean? In simple terms, it tells companies to do more than the bare minimum. Yes, offering a tried and tested solution to a problem is all the firm has to do within its mandate. After all, there are other customers to satisfy. And, it’s easy to fob people off to other departments just to get them off your hands. However, consumers aren’t stupid and know when they are being played. In the end, they are left with a feeling of disappointment as well as inadequacy (on your behalf). Being a reputable firm goes past helping others for your own sake. The businesses with stellar reputation make it their mission to find a fix regardless. It may take an extra half an hour to make calls, but it’s a smart thirty minutes in the customer’s eyes.

 

Be Selfless

Everyone remembers the last time they went under a bus, metaphorically speaking. It’s a traumatic experience which lasts a lifetime. From a customer’s point of view, it’s often enough to cut ties with the organisation in question. Let’s face it – who wants to shop with an untrustworthy business? Therefore, it’s essential to make other people look as good as possible. Consider marketing for a moment. A savvy company will consider hosting an event, especially one for a charitable organisation. The fact that you fund the occasion and shoulder the responsibility doesn’t go amiss. Not only will your partner for the day thank you, but so will the guests. Even if it doesn’t generate leads, it will encourage them to choose the firm in the future. Plus, the general public likes to spread the good word to their friends, family and peers. Look at that – offline marketing still has its benefits.

 

Renovate Interior & Exterior

Often, bosses and managers see a renovation as a waste of money. In the digital era, it seems like an even bigger waste of money than ever before. However, sprucing up the inside and outside of the building is as relevant now as twenty years ago. Why? It’s because clients come into the office for meetings, while foot traffic goes past the headquarters. Think about how a potential partner will judge the company if the workplace is a mess. Rather than encourage them to do a deal, it will make them think twice. Remember that businessmen and women equate cleanliness to high-quality work. A weekly tidy-up should be enough to remove any clutter, while dedicated cleaners can do the rest. On the outside, it’s best to invest in industrial cleaning equipment because dirt can be stubborn. A quick blast of a high-powered jet and the building will look as good as new.

 

Logo Isn’t A No-Go

Don’t let amateur psychology get into your head. For some reason, businesses and customers believe logos are a badge of honor. Because of Nike, Adidas, etc. everyone thinks logos are only for reputable companies. Sorry to burst your bubble, but it isn’t the case. Anyone with the money and contacts can develop a logo which they use for marketing purposes. In fact, creating a symbol is a must because of the reason above. You know different now, but the majority of people are still naïve to the point. By exploiting a logo, it isn’t difficult to make people think you’re a professional outfit. Sure, SMEs may not be on par with the most prominent corporations on earth, but it doesn’t matter. As long as the quality is high, your base will treat the purchase as a useful one. Creating a physical logo to advertise on the premises is an excellent way to reinforce the brand, too.


Avoid Bad PR

Any news is good news, right? Not for small and medium-sized businesses. An enterprise such as Volkswagen can survive a scandal because of its size and history. As a result, it has the resources to fight back. Plus, all of the solid PR it has put out in the past acts as a barrier. To this day, motorists buy VW cars because they are a practical example of German engineering. Unfortunately, an SME doesn’t have the same luxury because it’s trying to come up in the world. Indeed, one discretion can be enough to destroy a startup. At the least, an error puts the firm on the back foot and in a vulnerable position. Bad publicity can seem impossible to stop, but there are ways to limit your exposure. Although it sounds cynical, some businesses never comment on controversial topics. Then, they can avoid saying something taboo. Others pick and choose the establishments they trust so their words don’t get twisted. However, the best way to prevent bad PR is to put out good PR. A tip: try not to be self-righteous or smug. Customers hate it when companies pat themselves on the back because it’s a massive turn-off.

 

Be Consistent

Have you ever heard the phrase “firm but fair?” In short, it means a person always does the right thing. The outcome may not be the one you wanted, but you can trust them to be neutral. Often, the fact that a person’s reputation precedes them is enough to keep things under control. Yes, a person may vent to a colleague, but deep down they will accept the decision. Businesses have to act the same way if they want people to make positive judgments. An organisation which treats certain customers differently than others is inconsistent. It may seem difficult to do, yet companies do it on a daily basis with “new customer offers.” As you know, these deals discriminate the people who already show the firm loyalty. You may not be able to give them the same deal, but a complimentary promotion is a fantastic reward. Businesses often put too much emphasis on generating new leads and ignoring current customers. Should you do the same, then the base of people who make you money will rebel and bounce. Try and think of customers like children: you have no favorites.

 

And Likable

The above are not useful unless consumers like the company. And, this doesn’t relate to the products or services. Sure, they have to be as good as the competitor’s to secure people’s custom. But, in this case, being likable refers to the brand. When people see the business in the street or on TV, they shouldn’t respond negatively. For example, no one should think “I hate those guys!” Hate is a strong word, yet consumers have deep-seated opinions. Avoiding bad press is a great way to be liked, but being friendly is the best option. Smiling at people and making contact are small details which make all of the difference. The same goes for thanking people for their custom and speaking with a genial tone. Remember that anyone who works for the company reflects the brand. Therefore, employees need to know how to act in public and around potential customers.

The streets are full of people who can make or break your company. As a result, you need to do everything possible to get them onside.

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About Dequiana Jackson

Dequiana Jackson, Founder of Inspired Marketing, Inc., helps overachieving women entrepreneurs conquer limiting beliefs and create marketing plans that grow their businesses. This includes one-on-one marketing plan development, digital product creation, web design and content marketing. Dequiana is the author of Know Your Business: How to Attract Ideal Clients & Sell More and runs the award-winning blog, Entrepreneur-Resources.net.

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