Whether you are starting a business or have been in business for years, you are no stranger to the amount of sites, platforms, organizations, and more that want you to join their listings for site rankings, customer reviews and business accreditations. When considering the many options, there is one you should really focus in on: the Better Business Bureau (BBB). In this post we will review the top 5 reasons why you should consider applying for BBB accreditation and how they can help your small business grow.
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Not everyone can join.
The BBB is not a social sign up site or built on a one-stop, register-and-done platform. You do not “join” their site. Instead, you apply to be accredited, and they verify the businesses they are listing. This enables your small business to uphold its credibility and showcase it to your customers. When customers see the BBB sign, sticker, or logo on a business, they see that your company is trusted and, therefore, can be trusted with a customer’s hard earned money.
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People trust the BBB.
The BBB is one of the most visited sites when it comes to people looking up businesses and information related to company practices. The BBB has been around for more than 100 years, and they have built a trusted name in protecting the public from bad business practices. Having BBB accreditation adds value to your small business’s brand because it shows you are trusted by one of the nation’s largest organizations dedicated to…well, trust.
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It allows you to handle claims and complaints.
With word of mouth and many online methods for customers to share their feedback about your business, a few bad reviews tanking your business and its future is a gamble many people do not want to take. With the BBB they give your business a fair chance when it comes to addressing claims or complaints. The BBB verifies claims are by real customers and give not only the customer a voice, but also the business owner a fair shot at addressing the claim. With the protection of BBB support your company can weather a few bad storms should rainy days head your way.
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It adds to your company’s visibility.
If nobody knows about you, you are not reaching any customers. The BBB offers businesses a blend of accreditation and visibility that no other site like it can promise. The BBB reports to get millions of visits a day to their site from customers looking to verify the legitimacy of businesses like yours. In addition, the BBB is known to be one of the top 350 websites in the United States (according to Alexa), adding visibility and even website search engine optimization to help your small business be seen.
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They want your business to do well.
The BBB does not exist to just place their stickers on storefront windows. They are in existence to help businesses grow and do well. With resources like webinars and training, the BBB is there to help you achieve your vision and goals.
When evaluating your options for listing sites, accreditations, and endorsements, the BBB should rise to the top of your list. They are there to not only protect the customer, but also to encourage your business to grow while adding legitimacy and standards to a market filled with many services that are below par. Consider the BBB and consider the benefits!