Information is a critical aspect of any business. Customers rely on information to make informed decisions about their purchases, and businesses rely on information to better understand their customers and improve their products and services.

75% of consumers admit to making judgements on a company’s credibility based on the company’s website design!

In today’s fast-paced world, customers demand more information than ever before. They want to know everything about your business, from your products and services to your company values and culture.
The Importance of Information
In the age of the internet, customers have access to more information than ever before. They can easily research products and services, compare prices, and read reviews from other customers. This abundance of information has changed the way customers make purchasing decisions.
Your customers no longer rely solely on advertising and marketing materials to make their decisions. Instead, they seek out information from a variety of sources, including social media, online reviews, and word-of-mouth recommendations.
This increased access to information has also made customers more discerning. They expect businesses to provide them with all the information they need to make an informed decision. If businesses fail to provide this information, customers are likely to look elsewhere.
But providing information isn’t just important for attracting customers. It’s also essential for building trust and loyalty. Customers who feel informed and valued are more likely to become repeat customers and recommend your business to others.
5 Things Customers Need to Know About You
  1. Your Products and Services
This goes without saying. However, are you giving every single piece of information. e.g FAQ’s about the products, the idea behind them and do you provide detailed information about your products explaining what sets you apart from your competitors and why your customers should choose your business over others?
For example, let’s say you run a coffee shop and bakery. Customers need to know what types of baked goods you offer, what coffee beans you use, what roastery they came from, what bread you use in the sandwiches and again what makes your business unique.
Make it a habit of provide detailed descriptions of each item on your website, including the ingredients used and the baking process. You most likely have all of this information recorded for EHO purposes and dietary requirements, you might as well communicate it to everyone?
You can also offer photos and videos that show your products creation, do you think your customer wants to see how the coffee is made? Of course they do!
  1. Your Company Values and Culture
Customers want to know what your business stands for and what values it represents. This information helps customers determine whether your business aligns with their own values and beliefs.
Is your business committed to sustainability and reducing waste? Ensure this message is communicated front and centre on all your online platforms!
Maybe your business is committed to supporting local communities. If so, highlight your partnerships with local charities and organisations, have your partnered organisations share the reasons why they partner with you.
  1. Your Customer Service Policies
Customers need to know what to expect when they interact with your business. Providing information about your customer service policies helps customers understand how you’ll handle any issues that arise.
For example, you might provide information about your return and exchange policies, your response times for customer inquiries, and your process for resolving customer complaints. You might also provide information about your customer service team, including their training and experience.
  1. Your Payment and Shipping Options
How many times have you researched a product, added it to your online basket and then realised the shipping costs are more than the actual product itself. Pretty annoying eh? Customers need to know just as much about their item arrives on their doorstep as they do about the product itself.
Providing information about your payment and shipping options helps customers make an informed decision and trust you that you will deliver the goods, no pun intended.
For example, you might provide information about the types of payment methods you accept, such as credit cards, PayPal, or Apple Pay. You might also provide information about your shipping options, including the cost and estimated delivery times.
  1. Your Company History and Achievements
What have you done well? What is your experience? Tell your customers, clearly! Customers want to know the story behind your business and what sets you apart from others in your industry. Providing information about your company history and achievements helps customers understand what makes your business unique and why they should choose you over others.
For example, you might provide information about how your business was founded, the decisions you made to get there. Be open about your mission and vision statements, and any awards or recognition your business has received!
Oh and while we’re here, let’s talk about communicating your brand…
Whilst it might sound like marketing/sales lingo, it’s something that customers want to know! And if the customers want to know…then you better tell them!
Communicating your brand is an essential aspect of building a successful business. Your brand communicates your values, personality, and mission to your target audience. It’s what sets you apart from your competitors and helps customers understand what your business stands for.
3 ways to do this?
  1. Consistent Visual Identity: Consistency is key when it comes to communicating your brand visually. Your brand’s visual identity should be consistent across all marketing materials, including your website, social media profiles, and physical collateral such as business cards and packaging. Your logo, colors, fonts, and imagery should all reflect your brand’s personality and values. Let’s go back to our example of the coffee shop and bakery. If the logo is on the cups and a customer shares their picture of their coffee on a Saturday morning to their 700 followers on Instagram, what has happened? Beautiful and essentially free marketing for your product!
  2. Authentic Storytelling: Telling the story of your brand is a powerful way to connect with customers and create an emotional connection. Your brand story should highlight your values, mission, and unique selling proposition. It should be authentic, engaging, and memorable. Ask yourself, how willing are you to be open and honest with your customers. Are you willing to share how your business fits in with your family life? Would you consider sharing the pictures of the days and days of DIY you and your mates had to do to get your shop on its feet? By sharing your brand’s story, you build trust and establish a connection with your audience. You might, just might, inspire someone else to take the first step to opening their business too.
  3. Engaging Customer Experience: Your brand is not just what you say about yourself, it’s also how you interact with your customers. Providing an engaging customer experience is essential to communicating your brand effectively. This includes everything from friendly and helpful customer service to providing high-quality products and services. I recently signed up to a service with my local bookshop where they have a 30 minute call with you about what you read, dislikes and likes and for £40 deliver x4 books to your door based on what they think you should read. I’ve told at least 10 people about this experience and now sharing with the entire internet. If you can create positive word-of-mouth referrals, your customers can become ambassadors for your brand, sharing their experiences with others and helping to build your brand’s reputation.
In summary…
  • Tell your story
  • Inform your customers
  • Showcase your products

 

Still want to know more about how you can communicate with your customers and audience?
Contact us today to book in a free 30 minute call to help you start!