HOW CERTIFICATIONS AND AWARDS BUILD CONSUMER TRUST

Every brand is trying to figure out how to get consumers to notice and trust their products. We see marketing strategies of every kind and on every sort of media — social media, radio, television, billboards, etc.

These campaigns can be effective, but they rely on many different methods to build awareness and trust. One of the most effective ways a brand can improve consumer trust is by earning third-party awards and certifications. These can be effective because not only do they make consumers aware of your brand, they provide a level of trust that advertising alone just can’t do.

Improve Consumer Trust With Awards and Certification…Here’s How:

Provide Credibility
As mentioned above, the recognition that comes with earning an award or certificate means something to the average consumer looking for higher-quality products. The idea behind these accolades is that the product or service in question has been tested — and passed.

Now, depending on the group making the determinations, these standards being tested might be concerning the product’s overall quality, safety, environmental impact or many other characteristics — but the important factor is that the brand passed the test, and consumers who care about those particular characteristics will see that award or certificate and react accordingly.

Provide a Sense of Objectivity
So, if the goal here is to have products that meet those standards, why not just do it yourself? It’s not hard to test your materials, services, goods, etc. and make those results known, right?

The problem has to do with objectivity. It might not seem fair, but this doesn’t make it any less true: consumers will never completely believe what you have to say about your own product. After all, your goal is to make money, right? You want to sell your brand, the thinking goes, so you’re going to say or do what you need to in order to make that happen. Add to that the fact that the average consumer has very little faith in companies and businesses to begin with, and you have a system where the objective word of a third-party group is an absolute necessity.

So, when an objective, outside group looks over your products or services and decides that they meet those standards, this means something important to a lot of consumers. This is especially true if the third-party group in question is known and has built up trust on its own also — like  PTPA Media. The Parent Tested Parent Approved Seal of Approval carries a lot of weight behind it on both parent tested products and parent approved products, and if you are hoping to build consumer confidence with your products, having the PTPA Media name in your corner is a good start.

Add a Layer of Accountability

In addition to the credibility and objectivity mentioned above, it is important to talk about accountability. Accountability is something that helps to ensure that people and corporations do the right thing. Even though we’d love to believe that everyone has the well-being of their fellow citizens at heart, let’s face it — there are entities out there that, if left unchecked, will not hesitate to cut corners in order to make an extra dime.

The idea that third party groups exist and are watching out helps to keep these people and businesses in check. The accountability and oversight these groups provide is invaluable, and it another way that consumer confidence and product trust increases. When you can be assured that no corners were cut — even if fear of being caught was the motivating factor — it helps you to put your faith in the product you are buying.

Provide Exposure

For consumers who care, the first step in shopping often begins by searching — but not for the product or brand itself. Instead, consumers might search for items that meet specific needs. For example, they might search for products that are certified safe, or BPA free, or locally-sourced or just about an infinite different qualities.

In searches like these, your brand will be left out of the loop unless your products meet those standards. And the only way that will happen is if they have been tested and received those certifications.

Get Your Brand in Front of 200K Parents With These B2C Marketing Strategies

Awards, influencer marketing, a Seal of Approval: they all build consumer trust and get your product in front of more consumers. Discover the B2C marketing strategies you can use right now to get your products in front of 200K eager parent consumers.