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BBB HOT TOPICS
Better Business Bureau® Serving Metropolitan New York, Long Island, and Mid-Hudson Region
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Fall 2020 Accredited Business Newsletter |
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New BBB Business Tips Provide Guidance for Rebuilding Customer Trust
Report Finds Transparency & Communication Drive Better Business Outcomes
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According to over 1,000 BBB Accredited Businesses surveyed, maintaining transparency and thoughtful communication with customers has been a key factor in ensuring better business outcomes.
A new report by the International Association of Better Business Bureaus compiles seven key strategies for businesses to adopt as they work to build relationships with their customers in the wake of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Click the thumbnail displayed here to view the full infographic or click here to read the report.
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82 Percent of Consumers Report Checking Customer Reviews Before Buying
New Better Business Briefing Highlights Importance of Displaying Vetted Reviews
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The International Association of Better Business Bureaus released an updated issue of Better Business Briefing this month, which provides key insights concerning the importance of customer reviews and their effect on consumer behavior.
Survey data collected in a study by Bright Local shows that 82 percent of consumers read online reviews of local businesses before making a purchase, while 47 percent report they would not work with a business with less than four stars on major review websites.
However, falsified positive reviews, as well as phony negative reviews left by competitors, have the potential to severely damage trust. Luckily, BBB.org provides a useful platform for collecting and displaying vetted customer reviews for your business.
According to the report - which you can view by clicking here or by clicking the thumbnail accompanying this article - over four million business reviews have been submitted to BBB.org, and of those reviews, BBB's careful vetting process only allows 62 percent to be published on the website.
To learn more about the benefits of customer reviews and how BBB's reviews can help your business, read the full article here.
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Dear Accredited Business Leader,
I hope that you, your colleagues, your families, and loved ones are well and safe. At this time, many companies are looking to maintain and strengthen the relationships they have with their customers. Now more than ever, an emphasis on transparency, honesty and integrity is vital for your business to build customer trust.
Your Better Business Bureau is always looking for ways to support businesses in the journey to build deeper marketplace trust, especially during times as uncertain and difficult as these. Recent BBB reports show that business responses to the pandemic will be more effective if they are open and transparent, with a focus on genuine communication and a commitment to robust health and safety measures.
As we continue to work through these times together, keep an eye out for more BBB business reports like the ones above. Please contact us if we may be of assistance.
Sincerely,
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Claire Rosenzweig, CAE
President & CEO
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UPCOMING WEBINARS & RECORDINGS |
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BBB Webinar: Diversity 2.0 & Leadership
Tuesday, October 27
10:00AM - 11:00AM EDT
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Your Better Business Bureau is excited to welcome Gwen Webber-McLeod and the team at Gwen, Inc. (a BBB Accredited Business) for this informative, free webinar.
During this interactive webinar, you will:
- Discuss recruitment & retention strategies with a focus on hiring & retaining the Unexpected Leader®.
- Examine the impact of implicit bias & micro-aggression in creating company cultures that support Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) initiatives.
- Discuss methods of integrating new learning into ongoing D&I efforts in your company.
To learn more and register, click here.
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BBB Webinar: Cybersecurity During Challenging Times
Thursday, November 5
1:00PM - 3:00PM EST
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Increased social isolation, financial vulnerability and time spent online have created a perfect storm for cyber scammers – impacting both consumers and businesses such as yours. When is the last time you took an educated look at your security, privacy and data retention practices? Consider potential business ramifications of a data breach. Take steps to lower your risk level!
Join Brian Rauer, Esq., Executive Director, Mid-Hudson Better Business Bureau, for a non-technical discussion on critical cyber security issues facing the small business community in today’s climate. To learn more and register, click here.
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Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Certification - Informational Webinar
Tuesday, December 1
11:00AM - 12:30PM EST
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Join the New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council (NYNJMSDC) to learn about how to apply for Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification. You'll learn how to use the online portal, the documents required for submission and the timeline of certification with the NY & NJ Council, as well as the benefits of being certified and upcoming events for certified suppliers. Click here to register for this free online webinar.
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BBB Webinar - The Three Pillars Behind Successful Digital Marketing |
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BBB and Hubbard Interactive discuss industry best practices on getting your brand noticed, promoting it and generating sales leads. Hubbard Interactive’s talented team of Sam O’Byrne, Missy Young and Ruth Tambornino present a quick overview of the following: Pay-Per-Click (PPC), Social Media, and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). During each 15-minute segment, you’ll learn about the basics of each of these pillars: what they are, why you should be there, and how to use them. Click here to view the free webinar recording.
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New BBB.org "Get a Quote" Feature Drives More Customer Traffic
BBB.org Rolls Out Tested, Updated Messaging to Replace "Request a Quote"
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BBB.org's updated "Get a Quote" feature allows businesses to receive and review consumer leads directly through the BBB.org search page. The new name for this valuable service replaces the former "Request a Quote" terminology. During consumer testing, the tweaked language resulted in a 12.1 percent increase in click-through traffic, delivering a higher volume of leads to participating businesses.
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Businesses that are already utilizing the original "Request a Quote" feature will see this change to "Get a Quote" reflected on their search page listings. BBB invites all Accredited Businesses to enroll in this feature, as appropriate for your company, to start driving customer leads through your BBB.org Business Profile! |
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New York City Offers Free Legal Services Through Commercial Lease Assistance Program |
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Small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible to receive free legal assistance for issues regarding commercial leases. Businesses that need help understanding the terms of a new commercial lease or amending, renewing or terminating an existing lease are invited to apply for this assistance here.
Small businesses that have been hurt by the pandemic may also be eligible for free assistance through the COVID-19 Small Business Remote Legal Clinic. Pro bono consultations can provide businesses with limited-scope legal advice regarding loans and grants, contracts and force majeure clauses, employment law and insurance matters, and real estate and commercial leasing issues. Apply for a free legal consultation here.
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BBB Provides Valuable Industry-Specific Insights through Better Business Briefings - a New BBB Benefit
Latest Briefing Spotlights Auto Industry
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The latest BBB Industry Report uncovers consumers' attitudes during the car-buying process. The report finds that friendliness, accommodation to repair and maintenance needs, and special attention to cleanliness and presentation are top factors for building loyalty and ensuring positive buying experiences. Click here or on the thumbnail accompanying this article to view the full report.
Recent industry-specific reports offering key insights for specific business categories are listed below (click on each item to view):
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How Can I Enhance My BBB Business Profile? |
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One easy and effective way is to upload your business logo. Your logo will appear next to your business’ name in the BBB Business Directory listings and at the top of your Profile page. Only Accredited Businesses are able to upload their logo to the BBB website, so please take advantage and help make your business and brand stand out even further!
To upload your logo, please go to the Accredited Business Only section here and click “Upload Photos/Images” and follow the instructions. Please feel free to contact Hailey Reczka at hreczka@newyork.bbb.org or 212-358-2816 if you have any questions. |
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This BBB Accredited Business newsletter is sponsored by
EY
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