7 Tips for Earning the Trust of New Customers

As an entrepreneur launching a new business, one of your fiercest opponents is distrust…more specifically, the distrust held by your target customers. Today's customers are savvier than ever before. They know the internet is full of fly-by-night companies that are just waiting for an opportunity to rip them off. And since your company is new and has no name recognition, it's your job to prove to your customers that they can trust you.

Make no mistake. This takes time and commitment on your part, but you can do it. You can start earning the trust of your target audience by following these 7 helpful tips.

1. Publish your contact information on every page of your website. By posting your phone number, email address, or whatever other contact info you have, you let customers know that you're here and they can get in touch with you whenever they want. In short, it legitimizes your company and helps put your customer's mind at ease. Of course, just make sure you actually respond to emails and pick up the phone when customers try to get in touch.
2. Have a detail-rich about page. The "About Us" page gives you an opportunity to share your credentials and experience with interested customers. It's a page where you can build trust with your customers, and you can use it to add a human, personal element your company.
3. Post any testimonials you have from your customers. Did you know customers place more stock in what their peers (fellow customers) say than what you (the company) say? Customers trust other customers, and by posting testimonials on your website, you let your visitors hear positive things about your company from their peers. Tip: Post the customer's picture or use video toenhance the credibility of these testimonials.
4. Eliminate risk by offering a money-back guarantee. You want customers to feel like they have nothing to lose when they do business with you. The best way to convince them of this is to offer a money-back guarantee on their purchase. Zappos built an entire company around their industry-leading 365 day return policy. You don't have to extend your money-back guarantee for that long, but just make sure you don't bog the policy down with too many rules and restrictions.
5. Start a blog to highlight your expertise. Blogging is a great way to position yourself as an expert in your industry. It lets your customers and colleagues see that you know what you're talking about, helping you earn their trust. Just make sure you don't come across as a blogging noob.
6. Have a well-designed website with quality content. We like to think people "don't judge a book by its cover", but that's just not the case. If you have a poorly designed website with incoherent, typo-riddled content, no customer is going to take you seriously. Design and content often create the first impression a customer gets of your company, so make the most of this opportunity.
7. Post your privacy policy. There's a reason services like LifeLock have become so popular. Customers are still wary of giving out their personal information online because they don't know who all will have access to it. By posting your privacy policy in clear terms, you reassure customers their information is totally safe with you.