For most successful small businesses, networking and referrals are both the least expensive and most effective forms of marketing. Reputation is the currency of networking and referrals. Whether it’s reviews and recommendations on websites such as Yelp and LinkedIn or the more vague “Yeah, I’ve heard they’re great” of face-to-face conversation, a positive reputation is one of your most valuable business assets. Reputation is usually built from one thing: happy customers. Depending on your business, it may be the quality of your product, your low prices, or your friendly service. But the bottom line is that your reputation is constructed of exceptional customer experiences. But what if you’re new in business, or new to a given market? How do you build a reputation without customers? And how do you get customers without having a reputation? It’s the classic chicken and egg problem. Read More
