Have you ever wondered if you are gaining the right momentum providing the services for your brand, and also retaining the clients while acquiring new ones, or is that once you are done with a specific task or a project the client is gone for good, well this is not only the case with you, many marketers and service providers face the same wrath of the common entity we call client. With consumers having more choices available at their disposal it has now become important for businesses to increase brand awareness
Still on the fence? This post will deliver why brand trust is critical for every business, no matter the field you’re in. Plus, there are a few ways you can begin establishing trust sooner rather than later.

Brand awareness what is it and why is it important?

Brand awareness definition as given by Kotler and Keller is something that goes by a consumer’s ability to recognize or recall the brand in sufficient detail to make a purchase.
When surveyed around 70% of consumers believed that brand awareness is more important today than it has been in the past.
This awareness leads to building the trust factor, many even feel that after a brand’s pricing, trust is the second most important factor. A brand’s reputation and its messaging, the quality of its products and services, and most importantly, its satisfied customers are the key elements that build trust
When you successfully gain trust with your brand, people will see you as an authority in your field, and it just might convince someone to do business with you over a competitor.

Comes in the big question, what is brand trust

Brand trust is the belief that every customer or consumer has interacted with a brand, either once or multiple times by acquiring a company’s products or services. Customers base this trust on various factors, it can be the company’s reputation, transparency, fairness, or the value it brings to them. All of these factors work simultaneously to create a relationship of trust between customers and the organization. One should be well aware that brand trust isn’t built overnight – it takes a great amount of time, effort, and consistency to earn it.

How vital brand trust can be?

When customers trust a brand, they are more likely to do business with it. This means they are more likely to purchase items or services from the company, resulting in higher sales and revenue. Customers who trust a brand are more inclined to refer it to others. This word-of-mouth marketing is incredibly beneficial because it helps to attract new consumers and expand the business. Thus building customer loyalty. When clients trust a firm, they are more likely to continue with it, even when other options exist. This loyalty can result in repeat transactions and long-term connections.

A breakdown into how brand trust can help you gain an extra advantage over your competitors

• Establishes devout audience – Every brand wants repeat customers who continue to come back time and time again. This is possible because it’s cheaper and more efficient than marketing yourself to new people. Happy customers are willing to spend money with you and will want to support what you do.
• Bring in more sales – Again, people tend to buy from brands they trust. If someone was asked to choose between you and a competitor, they’re going to opt for the one they trust the most. That’s because they’ll feel confident spending money with you, knowing you deliver a quality product and have a high customer satisfaction rate.
• Creates brand ambassadors. Some of the loyal audience members you gain may support your brand so much that they level up to ambassador status. This customer base is your closest ally when it comes to word-of-mouth marketing because they’ll want to recommend you to their friends and family. It’s those genuine testimonials that will strengthen your brand’s reputation.A brand’s financial performance can be greatly impacted by trust, which is the cornerstone of consumer advocacy and loyalty. A valuable commodity that cannot be purchased is brand trust.
  Truly, research indicates that forty-six per cent of buyers are prepared to pay extra for products from a company they believe in.
  Now let us take a look into 5 strategies through which you can create authentic brand trust among your customers which in turn can lead to client retention.

Build your brand trust – 5 ways to do it

Now we know why brand trust is so important, let’s dive into the 5 ways how to build brand trust.

1. Build relationships with existing and new customers

Building a strong positive relationship with your customers is critical to building brand trust. These relationships help you to foster loyalty, promote positive word-of-mouth, and increase customer retention. And these all are key elements of brand trust, aren’t they?
Social media platforms are a great way to build positive customer relationships. Connect with your customers over the social platform, engage in conversation, and respond promptly to customer queries & feedback.
Building customer relationships should be the number one priority because loyal customers are the greatest assets for any brand. Remember, valued customers are more likely to trust your brand.

2. Build social proof

Social Proof is one of the most effective ways to build trust among loyal customers. It is a psychological phenomenon where people are influenced by the actions and opinions of other customers.
When people see that others had a positive experience with your brand, they are more likely to build trust and engage more. When customers find that other people have purchased from your brand and are satisfied, they are more likely to trust their choice.

Here are some ways to build trust using Social Proof-

• Collect and display user-generated content across your website,
• Use trust badges and Security symbols,
• Share product/service reviews,
• Get an expert endorsement,
• Display awards or accreditations.
  Remember, people tend to follow the examples of others when making decisions, so it’s important to showcase social proof of your products.

3. Aim for providing exceptional customer experience

Let me put it this way, 73% of customers love a brand that provides excellent customer experience, and it’s one of the best ways to build trust among potential buyers. Plan out every interaction or prepare a guideline so every customer feels the same about your brand.
To provide a mind-blowing customer experience, focus on understanding and anticipating your customer’s needs, exceeding their expectations, and consistently delivering an exceptional experience.
Here are some ways to provide a consistent customer experience-

• Build Rapport: Make sure you have friendly and professional interaction with your customers. It includes active listening, finding common interests, showing empathy, and being genuine.
• Provide personalized Interactions: Make sure your customer interactions feel tailored to each customer.
• Be Responsive: Respond to customers promptly and proactively address any problems.
  Remember, 81% of happy customers are more likely to become repeat customers and might recommend your business to others.

4. Be transparent

Consumers today are highly informed and expect transparency from brands they interact with. In the world of fake news, data breaches, and privacy concerns, gaining customer trust can help you win the game.
According to the insights shared by Sprout Social, 89% of people say a brand can regain trust by admitting its mistakes and sharing its steps to resolve the issue transparently.
Be open and honest about your products, pricing, and business operations. Share your company’s mission statement and core values. Being transparent can create a lasting impression in the minds of your customers, leading to long-term customer loyalty.

5. Encourage and respond to feedback

Your customer feedback is valuable and essential for building brand trust. Encourage your customers to provide feedback on their experiences with your brand. Thus making it easier to reach out through a variety of channels. Most importantly, respond to feedback quickly and sincerely.
Whether it’s negative or positive feedback, you can build trust by responding to it. This shows your customers that you value their opinions and are willing to make changes to improve their experiences.

When the aforementioned criteria are carefully taken into account, you will eventually see a pattern that demonstrates how to get the necessary traction or momentum. This is because the results will eventually become evident, demonstrating that sales will increase, customers will remain loyal, and the enterprise will thrive.

See more of our blogs to learn more about marketing services that may give your business a complete makeover.