Building Trust in Business: How to Show Customers You're the Real Deal

Can you blame them? 

So many people have got horror stories. The builder who took a £5,000 deposit and vanished.

The accountant who messed up their tax return.

The garage that "fixed" their car three times, and it still doesn't work.

Your customers have been burned. Multiple times.

So when they find your business, they're not excited about working with you - they're scared you'll be another disaster.

Forget What You Say, Show What You've Done 📱

Stop putting "trusted local business" on your website. Everyone says that. It means nothing.

Want to know what actually works? Proof.

Real customers talking about real jobs you've done. Not "excellent service" reviews either - the proper detailed ones. Like when a man writes three paragraphs about how you saved his wedding day when his suit didn't fit.

Photos work too. Lots of them. Before your work, during your work, after your work. Customers can spot stock photos a mile off, so use your actual work.

And drop some names. Get permission first, but "we work with local businesses" sounds made up. "We handle the books for three restaurants on the high street" sounds real.

Stop Hiding Behind Your Company Name 👋

I see so many websites with no faces anywhere. Just logos and corporate speak.

People don't trust companies. They trust people.`

Stick your photo on your website. Tell them why you started your business. 

Maybe you were fed up with cowboys in your industry. Maybe your dad was a plumber, and you grew up around tools. Whatever it is, share it - people buy off people.

There's a tree surgeon I know who puts a photo of his breakfast on Instagram every morning before work. Sounds odd, but customers love it. They feel like they know him.

When You Mess Up (You Will) 🤦‍♂️

Here's something that'll surprise you - customers don't expect you to be perfect. They expect you to be honest when you're not.

The best reputation builder I ever saw was a decorator who painted someone's front door the wrong colour. Bright yellow instead of cream. Massive mistake.

Instead of making excuses, he:

• Rang them straight away

• Came back the same day to fix it

• Didn't charge them a penny extra



• Brought flowers for his wife because he felt so bad

They now recommend him to everyone they meet. One mistake became his best marketing tool.

The Boring Stuff That Actually Matters 📞

Trust isn't built with grand gestures. It's built with boring reliability:

• Pick up your phone. Seriously. Half your competitors don't bother.



• Turn up when you say you will. If you're going to be late, call ahead. Takes two seconds.

• Do what you promised. Said you'd email a quote by Tuesday? Send it Monday.

• Look professional. Clean van, decent clothes, proper business cards. You don't need to spend a fortune, just don't look like you live in your van.

Getting Reviews Without Being Annoying 🌟

Everyone knows reviews matter now. But most businesses are terrible at getting them.

Here's what works:

• Ask when the job's finished and they're happy. Not three weeks later, when they've forgotten you exist.

• Make it easy. Send an email/text with the direct link. Don't make them search for it on Google.
  

• Ask for honest feedback, not five stars. It sounds counterintuitive, but people trust businesses with some 4-star reviews more than ones with all 5s.
  

• Reply to every review. Even the odd ones. Shows you're paying attention.

Building Your Reputation One Job at a Time 🔨

Every customer interaction either builds trust or destroys it. There's no neutral.

The painter and decorator who cleans up after himself gets recommended. The one who leaves a mess gets slated online.

The accountant who explains things in plain English gets referrals. The one who talks in jargon gets replaced.

Small things add up. Big time.

What to Do Right Now ✅

Stop reading and do this:

• Ask your last three customers for reviews. Today.

• Put a proper photo of yourself on your website.

• Write down the biggest complaint customers have about your industry. Then figure out how to be different.



• Check your Google listing. Is it complete? Are the photos recent? Does it actually represent your business?
  

The Truth About Trust 💯

Building trust takes ages. Losing it takes seconds.

But here's the thing - most of your competitors can't be bothered. They think having a website and a Facebook page is enough.

While they're cutting corners and wondering why customers don't trust them, you can be the business that actually gives a damn.

That's not just good for your reputation. That's how you dominate your local area.

Your choice.

Make Building Trust on Autopilot 🚀

Look, we know managing all this feedback and reputation stuff can feel overwhelming when you're trying to run a business. That's exactly why we created the Customer Feedback Centre - to take the hassle out of building trust with your customers.

Our platform does the heavy lifting for you. It automatically collects feedback from your customers, helps you showcase your glowing reviews on your website, and manages your reviews across over 100 sites including Google, Facebook, etc. No more chasing customers for reviews or wondering what people are saying about you online.

The best part? Everything sits under your brand, so you're building your reputation, not ours. We've helped hundreds of UK service businesses transform their online presence and attract more customers through authentic customer voices. 

With our 30-day risk-free guarantee and no contracts, you can see the difference it makes without any commitment. Because building trust shouldn't be another job on your endless to-do list.