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BBB
HOT TOPICS
Better Business Bureau® Serving Metropolitan New York, Long Island, and Mid-Hudson Region
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Winter 2020 Accredited Business Newsletter
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90% of Accredited Businesses Say Yes!
The BBB Seal Provides Value
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Across North America, a grand total of 13,928 BBB Accredited business leaders like you responded to the Fall 2019 BBB survey about the Value of BBB Accreditation.
We’re delighted to report that
90% said the BBB Accredited Business Seal provides their business with good or outstanding value
(12,535 Accredited Business leaders said so – Experience on Demand, 2019).
According to the survey results, business leaders report applying for accreditation for three main reasons: to increase their businesses' credibility; to show integrity in business practices; and to build customer trust. Accredited Business leaders cited increased credibility as a top reason to recommend BBB Accreditation to others.
The Value of Accreditation Survey is an important tool for seeking your input about how BBB might better serve you, our Accredited Businesses, in the coming year. We are grateful to all those business leaders who took the time to provide thoughtful responses. Thank you!
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"Holiday Shop With Trust" Ads on Social Media:
Thousands Urged to Find Trustworthy Businesses on BBB.org
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During the holiday season, BBB Serving Metropolitan New York ran a special social media campaign encouraging shoppers to check BBB.org and find businesses they can trust, before buying.
Ads like this one drove consumers to the bbb.org search page, where they could check on businesses before finishing their holiday shopping. In total, the ad series reached over 148,000 people on Facebook and Instagram, with 1,500 people clicking through to the search page!
BBB of Metro New York will continue to target consumers with messages encouraging them to find and support trustworthy businesses like yours. Keep an eye out for our next social campaign in 2020 – “Buy With Trust”!
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Dear Accredited Business Leader,
Thank you so much for your continued commitment to upholding high BBB standards. Accredited Business leaders like you are helping to build customer trust every day by demonstrating integrity and honesty in all you do.
In the recent Value of Accreditation Survey,
90%
of responding Accredited Business leaders said the BBB Seal provides their business with good or outstanding value (Experience on Demand, 2019). We’re delighted to have heard from thousands of leaders like you that the BBB Accredited Seal is so valuable to you!
We encourage you to maximize this value by taking full advantage of your BBB Accredited benefits. The New Year offers the perfect opportunity to optimize your BBB Business Profile and ensure you are using the BBB Accredited Seal everywhere.
To learn more and get help, please call the Accredited Business hotline at 212-533-8050 or contact your BBB representative:
Susan Cohen
(Westchester),
Wendy Fade
(Long Island), or
Hailey Reczka
(New York City).
We wish you great success in the New Year.
Sincerely,
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Claire Rosenzweig, CAE
President & CEO
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ACCREDITED BUSINESS FAQs
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How Can I Help Consumers Find My BBB Profile?
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As an Accredited Business, you can easily make updates to your Business Profile page through accessing your online portal. We recommend that you regularly review and update the Type of Business section of your BBB Profile. That section indicates the Type of Business areas where your company offers products or services. This is an important way for consumers to find your Business Profile. Consumers come to the BBB website to search for trustworthy businesses, and often search by category. To show up in as many searches as possible, put yourself in as many categories as appropriate to help consumers find you.
Please take a look at what categories your business is currently listed under and ask: does this current list of Business Categories represent the full scope of our products and services? Can broader and/or more specific categories can be added? What products or services are most important for potential consumers to know about?
To edit your Type of Business Categories, please go to the Accredited Business Only section of our website
here
, click “Update Your Business” and click through the tabs. 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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How Can I Generate Business Using My BBB Accreditation?
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One of the most powerful and effective ways to generate real business from your BBB Accreditation is to engage potential customers with BBB's Request a Quote feature. Request a Quote offers consumers the opportunity to obtain quotes for services, estimates, proposals, or general information directly through your BBB Business Profile or a Request a Quote seal on your website. This feature is only available to BBB Accredited Businesses, so please take advantage of your BBB benefits!
Request a Quote is available to all BBB Accredited Businesses that provide a valid email address where inquiry requests can be sent. You also have the option to be notified via text message.
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Promoting Your Accreditation at Trade Shows
Wednesday, January 29
12:00PM - 1:00PM
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It's trade show season! Join BBB of Upstate NY Marketing & Communications Specialist Lauren Kirchmyer from 12-1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, for tips, tricks and suggestions to put your best foot forward at your upcoming trade show.
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Protect Your Business From Email Compromise Scams
Monday, February 10
12:00PM - 1:00PM
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Join us from 12-1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 10, as we welcome BBB International Investigations Specialist Steve Baker, who will give us BEC red flags, real-life examples and tips on what to do if your business is a victim of this scam.
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ACCREDITED BUSINESS
NETWORKING BREAKFASTS
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Join us for a no-cost networking breakfast! Only available to BBB Accredited Businesses, these events allows you to:
- Meet and mingle with fellow BBB Accredited Business leaders
- Learn how to leverage and optimize your BBB Accreditation
Click the link below to view location details and to register to attend.
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Mid-Hudson Region
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
9:30-10:30am
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New York City
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
8:30-9:30am
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EXCLUSIVE OFFER: STAND OUT MORE WITH BBB ENHANCED LISTINGS
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As a BBB Accredited Business, you can take advantage of exclusive benefits that help you stand out, including a highly visible BBB Enhanced Listing. Be prominent on the bbb.org search page - where consumers are already looking for trustworthy companies like yours.
Limited Enhanced Listing opportunities are available in each industry category! Custom options can be designed to suit your budget and seasonal needs. Contact us now for details.
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2020 Brings Changes to New York Minimum Wage Laws
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New York State saw minimum wage increases effective December 31, 2019. In New York City, all businesses are now required to comply with the $15.00/hour minimum wage, which represents an increase from $13.50/hour for businesses with 10 or fewer employees. Minimum wage for businesses with 11 or more employees remains the same at $15.00/hour.
Certain industries are subject to "Wage Orders" that set industry-specific regulations, which include pay rates that may differ from the general minimum wage rate. To learn more about industry-specific regulations, visit
labor.ny.gov
.
In Long Island and Westchester, the minimum wage has been increased to $13.00/hour, while in the rest of New York State the minimum wage is now $11.80/hour. Annual increases for New York State will continue until the rate reaches $15.00/hour.
For more information on New York State minimum wage laws, visit
n
y.gov. For information regarding New York City regulations specifically, visit
nyc.gov.
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Sexual Harassment Statute of Limitations Extended
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According to the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL), the limitation time for employees submitting sexual harassment claims will be extended from one year to three years.
The changes in the law include several additional provisions, including that the required standard for what constitutes harassment has been lowered from "severe or pervasive." Domestic workers and contractors are now protected from all harassment, not just sexual harassment.
Learn more about how to best prepare and comply with these changes
here
.
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VEHICLE MAGNETS AND WINDOW DECALS - ORDER TODAY!
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BBB Accredited Business vehicle magnets and window decals are a great way to let consumers know that your company meets the BBB
Standards for Trust
.
Take advantage of these high-strength vehicle magnets and double-sided window decals and promote your BBB Accreditation. Prospective customers can easily see that you've earned the honor of displaying the BBB Seal.
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Magnets are 6.5" by 10" and come in BBB blue with a white background. BBB vehicle magnets are the only authorized way to display the BBB logo on vehicles; painted logos are not permitted. Decals are 5" by 3" and are double-sided. Order your vehicle magnet and window decals today!
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Not all businesses qualify for this distinction.
Make sure your BBB Accredited Business stands out.
Download the order form here
or contact us at 212-533-8050 to get your magnets and decals today.
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