No matter how long you have been in business or who you are, the number one attribute you want people to feel toward your business or you is trust. There is no greater spoken sentence than “I trust you.”

Now the question is – how do you create trust?

In its simplest form trust is doing what you say. For example, saying I will be in your office at 8:30, or I will have your order ready by 9:30, or we can get you our proposal by 10 this morning, all require execution within defined time parameters. By consistently meeting these defined expectations, you create comfort. That comfort builds trust.

Trust grows every time you do as you say. Now, if you go beyond expectations, i.e. beat the deadline and deliver early, you can create a situation where the customer looks forward to dealing with you. Their interactions with you are a reason for them to do business with you.

That confidence in you means they are unlikely to look elsewhere to do business with your competition. You become who they want to do business with. It becomes personal.

Trust is the beginning of a long term relationship. It is up to you to build that trust in everything you say and do.