Boost your brand with a seal of trust

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/10/2023 (1045 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

What does your business name or logo mean to the community? What are the associations that customers attach to it after months or years of interacting with it? When they see it, do they recall fond memories of gathering with family around a restaurant table? Or the beautiful flooring that now fills their family room?

Is it possible that, for some, your name and logo triggers sour thoughts of sub-par products or unfulfilled promises?

Even without focusing, consumers’ brains automatically associate certain thoughts and emotions with certain businesses. The most important of those are related to trust. How much people feel they can trust a business goes a long way in determining whether or not they will spend their hard-earned money there.

In fact, 82 per cent of consumers agree that trust sets the foundation for the purchase of goods and services.

That’s why so many find themselves on bbb.org when looking for new places to shop. In 2022, the Better Business Bureau directory averaged 6.7 million page views per month. In a world of growing fraud and uncertainty, consumers used the free tool to quickly find companies that are independently reviewed and committed to maintaining high levels of integrity for their customers. In fact, 87 per cent of people on the BBB directory quickly flipped on the filter that only shows them BBB Accredited Businesses, easily narrowing their search to those who wear the blue seal.

The blue seal (the mark of a BBB accredited business) helped businesses stand out even for those who didn’t turn on a filter. It’s a highly effective way for businesses committed to ethical standards to garner new and repeat customers while helping consumers find businesses they’ll grow to love.

The BBB has bolstered ethical behaviour for so long, it has cultivated strong associations with trustworthiness and security. This is why the BBB seal adds that layer of assurance to any prospective consumer with just a quick glance. They may not even realize why they are suddenly more attracted to a particular business as this sometimes happens subconsciously. But the power of the seal cannot be denied.

While the benefits of accreditation are vast, these are perhaps the most important. The top-tier listings on a site that millions visit each month include a link to directly connect the customer to you, effectively marketing your product or services at all times. The BBB also works to optimize your business’s profile through up-to-date SEO practices (helping your business appear higher up on search engine results).

In a world where many companies appear trustworthy, BBB-accredited ones are much more likely to pass the time test. Sophisticated schemes appear like any other legitimate business at first, building trust with their victim before they swoop in for the kill. An effective way consumers put their minds (and wallets) at ease is by shopping with BBB-accredited businesses.

Consumers often feel even more connected to BBB-accredited businesses, knowing they’ve pledged to do right by their customers. This good will creates strong brands in competitive marketplaces.

So the next time consumers see your company or logo, strengthen its power with a BBB seal and join a network of businesses working to improve the marketplace while reaping the benefits of such. For more information on the many benefits and resources provided to accredited companies, visit www.bbb.org.