4 Ways Your Virtual Business Can Build Customer Confidence and Credibility

By David and Carrie McKeegan edited by Dan Bova Nov 11, 2014

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

While being a virtual company may work seamlessly for you and your employees, it isn’t always the case for your customers. How do you prove you are still real, valuable and credible when you remove the location factor? It can be tricky.

While doing business online is far more common now than when we started in 2008, most customers still have a “show me who you are” mentality when evaluating a business. So, if your business doesn’t have a well-known physical address, will it fall to the wayside? Absolutely not. You just need to find more creative ways to earn your prospective customers’ trust.

After five years of running a virtual business, here is what we have learned: Credibility must be earned and the best way is by delivering top-notch customer service while reinforcing your company brand, albeit virtually.

Related: The One Question Successful Business Owners Always Ask Themselves

Here are a few of the things we have done to attract and retain our customers:

1. Think of your website as your storefront.

2. Ask and instruct your customers on how to do the talking for you.

Word of mouth matters in every industry, but as a virtual business, it’s even more critical. Once you have served your customers well, ask them to share their experience on their social media. Do you post to social media on a regular basis? This is a perfect place to share testimonials to not only gain credibility but also expand your reach as people like and share your post with their friends.

Related: Earn Customer Trust and the Rest Will Follow

At our company, we email our customers asking them if they will follow us, retweet us and post on Facebook, as well as provide us with testimonials that we often use on our website and in our own social posts. We also have a “Refer a Friend” program that rewards customers for sharing the good word about Greenback and bringing new customers to our “door.”

3. Seek out opportunities to share how wonderful you are.

4. Publicly remind your customers they made a smart choice.

As a virtual company, you will need more publicity than simply getting a pickup of your press release announcement.It is important for new and current customers to see your executives quoted in media coverage, because you are reminding them that working with your company was the right thing to do. Whether it is a major publication or a niche blog, being quoted with other major players (or instead of them), your leadership role cannot be denied. If you have a prospect who is concerned about your virtual business model, sharing link after link of press quotes showcasing your expertise or company features citing your virtual status is a terrific way to break down the wall.

Related: 7 Steps to Becoming an Expert in Your Field

While being a virtual company may work seamlessly for you and your employees, it isn’t always the case for your customers. How do you prove you are still real, valuable and credible when you remove the location factor? It can be tricky.

While doing business online is far more common now than when we started in 2008, most customers still have a “show me who you are” mentality when evaluating a business. So, if your business doesn’t have a well-known physical address, will it fall to the wayside? Absolutely not. You just need to find more creative ways to earn your prospective customers’ trust.

After five years of running a virtual business, here is what we have learned: Credibility must be earned and the best way is by delivering top-notch customer service while reinforcing your company brand, albeit virtually.

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David and Carrie McKeegan

Co-Founders of Greenback Expat Tax Services at Greenback Expat Tax Services
David and Carrie McKeegan are co-founders of Greenback Expat Tax Services, a global, virtual business which prepares U.S. federal tax returns for American expats living all over the world.

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