Tweet

The Truth About Why Clients Choose Your Business

Written by: Stephanie Ward

Article Overview: As a business owner you’ve probably heard about three criteria people use when deciding to do business with you. Consciously, or subconsciously, people do business with people they know, like, and trust.

The Truth About Why Clients Choose Your Business

As a business owner you’ve probably heard about three criteria people use when deciding to do business with you. Consciously, or subconsciously, people do business with people they know, like, and trust.

Of course you must deliver a quality product or service but that’s not enough. Options are abundant so when it comes down to making a choice, how a person feels about you can make the difference between choosing your company and choosing someone else.

So how do you become known, liked, and trusted? It’s all about being authentic and sincere. You can’t fake this stuff so don’t even try. Make it a habit to keep these three factors in mind as you work in, and on, your business.

If you’re a solopreneur then it’s all about you and who you are. If your business has employees then they are included as well and each employee can directly impact whether or not people know, like, and trust the company.

In addition to people, it is possible to know, like, and trust a brand. It isn’t always about an individual relationship. So whether it’s all about you, a group of employees, or a brand, this concept applies to all businesses.

Let’s take a closer look at each of the three reasons people choose your business.

KNOW

The way you get to know someone is to build a relationship over time. You exchange ideas and information and develop a connection. There are many ways your prospective clients can get to know you better. Here are few:

- Spend time together with you in person

- Talk with you on the phone

- Read your e-mails

- Read your articles or books

- Listen to an audio recording you created

LIKE

People have a choice of who they do business with, and it’s logical that they gravitate toward people they like. Think about it, when is the last time you invested in something from someone you didn’t like?

Find out how likable you are by taking the L-Factor Self Assessment from Tim Sander’s book, The Likability Factor. Here is the link to download your free assessment and find out how likable you are: http://www.timsanders.com/images-downloads/l-factor-self-assessment.pdf.

TRUST

Trust is built between people when you are open, honest, and keep your promises. It’s about doing what you say you are going to do. So it’s quite simple. It’s about being impeccable with your word (which is the first agreement in the book The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz). This is about showing up on time, delivering when you promise, and keeping your commitments just to name a few. Make the choice to be true to your word you will create trust.

You can’t make people know, like, and trust you. They either will or they won’t. What you can control is who you are and how you act as the owner of your business.

Are you starting to see how building the ‘know, like, and trust’ factor can help you attract more clients and increase profits? Ask yourself often if you are creating a business that invites people to get to know you, see what you stand for, and builds trust. Do this and you will ignite your business!

© Stephanie Ward, 2008

Related Articles
  To Tell the Truth
  Pay Attention To Your Top Ten
  Set Us Free
  Seven Steps to Cold Calling Follow-up
  Have You Found Any New Marketing Truths

Article Tags: business owner, closer look, exchange ideas, habit, last time, likability factor, prospective clients, quality product, relationship, self assessment, tim sander



Related Forum Posts
Re: Who Did You Learn Most From and Why? - Hi Martin, You missed out on the most essential community that helps you grow - Your Clients. Well, I believe that my Initial Clients have been the ones who have given me the moments of 'aha' in my business. They have stood by me even when I was a starter and that has helped me shape and build my stand. They have helped me grow as an entrepreneur, learn to have loads of patience and make the most of what comes across. They have also helped me to strengthen me as a person. btw, personally speaking, my Grandfather always kept me on track and lent me emotional support when I was down in any matter - be it business or otherwise.
My entry - 1. The Best Business Books Ever: The 100 Most Influential Business Books You'll Never Have Time to Read - this is a fascinating book about the history of Business theory, and I'd recommend it to anybody. 2. The Big Book of Small Business: You Don't Have to Run Your Business by the Seat of Your Pants, by Tom Gegax. Ditto. 3. PADI: The Business of Diving Book Okay, so this book won't be of use to anyone who doesn't want to start a scuba store, but I did, and this book was of course invaluable to me in reaching that goal.
Coaching Women vs. Males - Tami, Do you have any clients from Eastern Canada? I was wondering if Coaching Clients from either Coast was any different. Also is it different coaching women entrepreneurs vs. males?
Internet Marketing is the best business in the world - I have 7 reasons for saying this 1. You develop it once an sell it many times 2. You have no inventory. 3. Clients pay you before they download your product 4. You earn money 24/7 5. No face to face selling 6. You can outsource the production 7. You can do it in your room
Me Too - So.... - I write. Its a form of 'pull' marketing that suits me, though I'm quite an outgoing person. I know all the stuff about it not being me, 'they're just not ready yet'. Truth is I'm not good with rejection and will walk if I get too much of it - so I do it differently. Each to his own I guess. Still, I wish I had the guts to do those 500, just to say 'I did it'! Will read that article!


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Life is a Balancing Act!

Five keys to business success

Clues to Increase Sales -- Listen to the Buyer

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.