Having an online business is much more convenient and much simpler for the customer. It can break the boundaries of time and space that brick and mortar businesses can’t. However, you can run into one problem. It can be harder for you to build a rapport and personal connection with your customers. This can, in turn, make it harder to generate trust and loyalty. But that doesn’t have to be the case.
Here are a few ways to add a little heart to your internet presence.
Tell your story
Writing from both your own personal perspective and your brand perspective is a great way to show there is a real, living person behind your business. You should go further than the about section, too. Writing a business blog is more than a way to show off some personality, it’s also a way to create and deliver content that can attract, educate, inform, and engage potential customers. This serves as a bridge for them to learn more about your business and to convert to a buyer.
Be available offline
Having some kind of contact details that aren’t tied to the online world is essential if you want to build real trust. If you’re running your business from your home or a temporary office, you don’t want to give out those details. However, a virtual office like Australia based, Virtual HQ, can serve just as well. You can create a real business address and phone number, with a receptionist to handle all your incoming calls. You will create a point of contact that offers a real human voice and actual real-world location to your digital business.
Get social
Social media marketing has become a huge factor in the success of many online businesses. Finding the platform best suited to your business is crucial. From there you can build the rapport you need with your customers. It can serve well as a support channel, as a place to post updates, a place to disseminate the content from your blog once you start it, or simply a place to chat with happy customers. Also, sharing trustworthy links to other legitimate online businesses that are relevant to you can create the sense of legitimacy you want your own online setup to have.
Get the community involved
If you’re on social media or running a blog that’s getting some traction, encouraging user-generated content can be another way to gain a real connection with your customers. Contests and giveaways that encourage your customers to write content, to take photos, or to otherwise get involved, shows positive social proof that your business is worth supporting since it already has so much support. Take the time to encourage customers to leave user reviews, as well. Building that personal touch and the trust you need is much easier when others are vouching for you, too.
Fostering that personal connection is important for an online business. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. The loyalty and retention you build as a result can be enough to foster real growth for your brand. Here’s to YOUR success!
Carolyn R. Owens has over 25 years of proven experience and serves as a Career Strategist, Leadership and Life Coach. She is the Chairwoman and CEO of Infinity Coaching, Inc. where they help you up-level your skills so you can up-level your income. Infinity Coaching, Inc. provides one-on-one and group coaching, organizational training, and personality assessments. Carolyn is certified to give both The Energy Leadership Index Assessment and Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Assessment. You can find out more about both assessments and other products and services athttps://infinitycoaching.net.
