As you all know, the BBB provides a number of services and benefits to our Accredited Businesses. The BBB Marketing Program offers exclusive, low-cost options for our members in areas of advertising that include television, radio, newspaper, magazine and online. We also have a lead-generation program that pushes consumers directly to Accredited Businesses.
Of all of the BBB’s programs and services, however, it is the organization’s reputation that benefits our Accredited Businesses the most. The BBB Torch is synonymous in the community with ethics and integrity. By using our logo in your marketing, you are instantly aligning your business with our reputation.
At the BBB, we believe unequivocally in the power of trust and an untarnished reputation. By adhering to our Standards for Trust and using our logo, you are taking that important first step in creating your own reputation in the marketplace.
I urge you, though, don’t just stop there. Here are a few tips to strengthen your reputation in the San Diego marketplace:
· Make a voice heard in the community. You can attend mixers, offer your services as a speaker at local events, or sponsor a little league team. It doesn’t matter as much what you do, but that you are doing something about which you are passionate. Don’t offer to speak to a group unless you are a competent public speaker and passionate about the topic. The bottom line is that if your business can make a positive impression and impact on your community, consumers will feel connected to your brand.
· Take control of the information about your company that is already online. Whether you have a website or a social media presence, chances are that information about your business is online anyway. Check Google, Yahoo, Bing and the BBB website to verify that the information about your business is correct, and then, if allowed by the website, claim your place of business. Claiming your place allows you to enhance the page with photos and videos as well as gather information about the consumers who visit your page. Click here to learn how to enhance your BBB Business Review.
· Tackle social media head-on. Join the conversation online and I guarantee you won’t regret it. Start small by choosing just one site to join. Whether you choose Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or Google Plus, make sure that you stay engaged. Ask questions, post photos and ask your current customers (through email or otherwise) to like or follow you. In no time, you will be reaching more consumers, building your brand and strengthening your voice. You may even find that you have fun with it too.
· Make your voice heard in the online community. If you don’t have the capability to create your own website, the next best thing you can do for your company is get your name and information on the websites of others. Guest blogging is a great vehicle for a company that doesn’t have the ability to host their own blog, but still wants to be an authority in their industry in the online community. Your BBB has a guest blog that appears each Wednesday on the BBB website. Take advantage of the opportunity to advertise your business and expertise for free. If you are interested in guest blogging, contact Rachel Newman at rnewman@sandiego.bbb.org for more information.
So take these tips to the waves of the internet and the streets of our community, and you will surely find your company’s reputation heightened as a result. For more information about the benefits offered by the BBB to Accredited Businesses, visit www.sandiego.bbb.org/.
