Trusting Businesses One Online Community At A Time

Trusting Businesses One Online Community At A Time

Trust and loyalty are probably two of the greatest qualities a person can have.  And unfortunately, these days they are the least likely qualities to find.  The world is becoming much more cynical and a lot less welcoming.  I remember when I was a kid we use to leave our house unlocked, help out a stranger in need without feeling threaten and even leave the car running if we had to run into a shop real quick.  Now, granted, I do come from a small town. Population around 500 – if that.  So I understand if not everyone can relate to this idea of ‘trustworthiness’; however now I can’t understand where it went.

I miss the days where if a person said something then it was good as gold.  Nowadays we shrug everything off as if words are meaningless.  With this ideology, businesses have it pretty tough.  If it’s hard for me to trust an individual, then it is sure as heck going to be hard for me to trust a corporation.  With that being said, my cynicism is slowing slipping away.  I’m beginning to look at businesses differently and I’m more willing to try their product or service because I believe they really do want me (the consumer) to benefit from what they have to offer.

Online communities give me the trust that I need to become a loyal customer.  The best way to trust a brand or believe that a product works, is to hear about it from a regular Joe.  While cutesy commercials are entertaining and listening to a celebrity talk about something is inspiring, it’s not enough to make me trust a business.  Of course their commercial is going to praise them and of course the celebrity is going to swear by the product – if you pay me enough, I’ll convince you that grass isn’t green – but seriously hearing another regular everyday person talk about a product, makes me want to try it.

When businesses take advantage of online communities they are sending a message out to their consumers saying, “hey, we may not be perfect, but at least we are willing to listen to what you have to say about us.”  And to be honest, that’s really all I need.  I don’t want some flashy gimmick or some beautiful person telling me what I should do, I want to make my decision on my own.