Although external factors such as country image and sector image affect our overseas activities and customer trust, our main goal as a company should be to improve our company image and thus increase our business volume. There are simple but effective methods for this.
For example, publishing your collaborators and references on your website, specifying the certificates and warranty conditions related to your products, providing after-sales services, being reachable from landline phones, and making pre- and post-sale customer visits will increase the trust in your company.
Although these methods may seem small, they are very important methods to ensure company image and customer trust.
A company that does not have a professional website, unaware of the updates, does not provide after-sales support, references and collaborators are unknown, and makes constant phone and address changes will in no way display a quality and reliable image.
5 Effective Ways to Gain Customer credit
1. Website / Online Appearance
The most important point that I emphasize and repeat all over the place is a professional website. Unfortunately, many companies that want to expand abroad still do not have a proper website. It is crucial to have a multi-language website for businesses to expand in international trade.
Let’s make it clear,
With Hotmail or similar free e-mail addresses and websites prepared with flash, the last updated 4 years ago, playing music from 1999 in the background, it is almost impossible to trust the buyers abroad.
The first thing that a customer who is considering doing business with your company will probably do is to search for your company on Google and search for you on your website (and other resources that can be found). The first impression you make during this research will directly affect the willingness of the company to do business with you.
For this reason, definitely have an e-mail address with a company extension, a professional, clean interface and a constantly updated website. In addition, if possible, increase your visibility on the internet by doing (or having) search engine optimization (SEO) studies.
2. Having a Fixed Address
Let’s say you have a very stylish business card or website. However, if you do not have a fixed phone number and/or address written there, a question mark will arise in the minds of the buyers.
The company, which will receive goods and services and pay a certain price, wants to be able to find an address where it can reach you physically in any situation (even if it is thousands of kilometers away).
For this reason, if your business card includes a mobile phone number as a phone number and your website only the city/country instead of the address, your job is really difficult.
3. Publishing your certificates and collaborations
Publish documents/certificates such as patent registration, quality and inspection reports, which are documented by independent authorities, held by your company in print and online media.
Apart from this, announce your company’s collaborations, memberships and social projects with organizations such as foundations and universities in the same way.
Although not tangible or tangible, these intangible assets and activities are an important aid in gaining the trust of overseas buyers.
For example, the ISO quality certificate held by your company or a joint project with a university should definitely be included in publications such as catalogues, brochures, and websites.
4. Offer secure payment ways
It would be unfair to expect a company that will do business with you for the first time to make a cash payment. Work without risking yourself and with payment methods that guarantee the company in front of you. You can create a more secure financial environment with online systems such as Paypal for documents, letters of credit or software/services.
5. References
If your commercial activities are not carried out under a confidentiality agreement or if you do not have a problem with your competitors learning the name of your customers (this will vary according to the sector), specify the companies you work with, your customers, under your references.
Showing that there are other customers who prefer you will give the impression that you are a trusted company and therefore preferred.
summary
It is an undeniable fact that it takes time to satisfy your customers and turn them into loyal customers. There is no shortcut to gaining customer trust. If you organize the work and run it well, you will receive the returns you want in time, both in terms of customer satisfaction and trust, and financially.
You may want to look at our article about customer finding strategies in international trade.
